Understand Power
Useful when…
- Increasing damage from arrows shot by a bow.
- Investing in a bow used as a regular ranged weapon.
How does Power change arrow damage?
Power increases arrow damage by 25% × (level + 1), rounded up to the nearest half-heart. That means Power I gives a 50% increase and Power V gives a 150% increase. The effect is tied to arrow damage: the documented effect rule applies when the direct attacker is an arrow.
When is it useful?
Use it on a bow when you want each arrow to deal more damage. The reference's damage examples vary with bow charge: at Power V, a fully charged shot deals 15 HP, while a critical shot can deal a random 12.5–25 HP. These are listed outcomes for the stated charge conditions, not a guarantee that every shot reaches the critical range.
What equipment and ammunition does it affect?
Power is supported on bows and reaches level V. If placed on a crossbow by commands or in Creative, it boosts projectile damage when firing arrows, but not when firing firework rockets. If placed on a trident by those means, it does not boost the trident's projectile damage. Those special cases do not make crossbows or tridents ordinary supported items for Power.
What should I avoid assuming?
Power increases arrow damage; it does not make an uncharged shot behave like a fully charged one. Damage examples differ by charge and critical-hit conditions, so do not treat the listed critical range as the result of every shot. The crossbow and trident cases require command or Creative application and have the limits described above.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- Power is a direct damage choice for bows and does not improve rocket damage in the documented Creative crossbow case.
- Its benefit applies to arrows; charge level still affects the shot.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Treating the maximum critical-shot range as guaranteed damage.
- Expecting Power to boost crossbow firework rockets or trident projectile damage.