Understand Trident
Useful when…
- Attacking at close range or charging a ranged throw.
- Using Loyalty for return after a throw.
- Using Channeling under its lightning conditions or Riptide in water or rain for movement.
Melee and thrown attacks
In Java, a melee hit deals 9 HP and the trident has an attack speed of 1.1. A fully charged throw deals 8 HP and takes 0.5 seconds to charge. The throw follows a ballistic path, sticks in blocks or bounces off entities, and is blocked by shields. It does not slow down in water or lava, and each Java throw damages only one entity. Melee damage and throwing consume 1 durability; a failed melee attack is not stated to consume durability.
Loyalty, Channeling, and Riptide
Loyalty makes a thrown trident return after it lands, with higher levels shortening recovery time. Channeling summons lightning when the trident hits a mob or player standing in rain during a thunderstorm, or a lightning rod placed in rain. Riptide launches the player instead of throwing the trident. It can be used while standing or swimming in water, or when rain is falling on the block where the player stands. Each level adds six blocks of travel: levels I, II, and III travel 9, 15, and 21 blocks. Loyalty, Channeling, and Riptide are mutually exclusive.
Durability, retrieval, and repair
The trident has 250 maximum durability. Melee damage and each throw consume 1 durability; a trident with 1 durability or less cannot be thrown. Java thrown tridents despawn after 60 seconds if not picked up. The described repair method is combining it with another trident, adding a 5% durability bonus; anvil combination preserves enchantments. No unit-repair material is listed.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Melee damage and throws use durability, and throwing is unavailable at 1 durability or less.
- Loyalty supports return, Channeling depends on its Java target and weather conditions, and Riptide replaces throwing with conditional movement.
- Repair requires another trident.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to throw a Riptide trident as a projectile.
- Attempting to throw a trident with 1 durability or less.
- Leaving a Java thrown trident uncollected beyond its 60-second despawn window.
- Assuming a lightning-rod hit requires a thunderstorm, or that Java throws hit multiple entities.