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[[File:Dual wield preview.png|200px|right]]
'''Dual wielding''' is a [[Minecraft:gameplay]] mechanic that allows players (and [[Minecraft:mob]]s) to hold two [[Minecraft:item]]s or [[Minecraft:block]]s{{only|Java}} simultaneously.

== Usage ==
[[File:OffhandSlotHighlighted.png|thumb|The off-hand slot highlighted in the inventory]]

{{see also|Tutorial:Dual wielding}}

Players can equip an item to the
{{slotSprite|Offhand|scale=0.5|align=text-top}} off-hand slot from the [[Minecraft:inventory]], similarly to [[Minecraft:armor]]. Players can also select an item and press {{key|F}} by default to automatically equip it. The off-hand slot then appears beside the [[Minecraft:HUD]] opposite from the main hand. If the player is in [[Minecraft:first-person view]], then the off-hand appears in the screen along with the held item. Whichever hand should be the main hand is configurable in the [[Minecraft:Options#Skin Customization|Skin Customization]] menu.

The off-hand can use the item it holds when there are no items with a {{ctrl|use}} function in the main hand (e.g. [[Minecraft:trident]]s, which can be thrown), or the item held on the main hand cannot be used directly (e.g. [[Minecraft:axe]] while not looking at a [[Minecraft:log]], [[Minecraft:wood]], or an [[Minecraft:oxidized]]/[[Minecraft:waxed]] [[Minecraft:Copper#Oxidizing blocks|copper block]]). Otherwise, the main hand takes priority over the off-hand. Players also cannot {{control|break}} blocks or {{control|attack}} with the off-hand, even if nothing is held in the main hand.

=== Combat ===
[[File:DualWielding.png|thumb|250px|A player holding a [[shield]] and an [[Minecraft:iron sword]].]]

A player can equip a [[Minecraft:bow]], [[Minecraft:crossbow]], [[Minecraft:spear]], or [[Minecraft:trident]] in their off-hand. So far, these are the only weapons that can be used in the off-hand slot or in conjunction with another weapon. This allows for higher damage output, as players no longer have to switch between weapons; however, it disables the use of a [[Minecraft:shield]]. Players can left-click to attack with the equipped main-hand weapon (namely a sword or [[Minecraft:mace]]) and right click to attack with the off-hand weapon. However, if a [[Minecraft:player]] collides with an [[Minecraft:entity]] or another player while using a [[Minecraft:Riptide]]-enchanted trident, damage is dealt with the item in the player's main hand.

[[Minecraft:Shield]]s can be held in the off-hand as defense. They do not take priority over the main hand, and cannot be used if the main hand item has a {{ctrl|use}} functionality (such as a bow or spear).

[[Minecraft:Arrow]]s held in the off-hand are prioritized over other arrows in the [[Minecraft:hotbar]] and the inventory. Players can equip a specific arrow in their off-hand slot to fire it with a bow. If the bow is held in the off-hand, then the arrow selected on the hotbar (with the main hand) is prioritized.

=== Tool use ===
When a tool with a right-click function is held in the off-hand with another tool or weapon selected in the hotbar, right-clicking on a block that is relevant to the off-hand tool uses that off-hand tool unless the selected tool in the hotbar can also be used on the same block, in which case the hotbar tool has priority.

When a [[Minecraft:firework]] is in the off-hand slot and is being used with a crossbow, right-click and hold to charge and when ready, right click again to fire a firework. Fireworks can be fired from crossbows only when in the off-hand slot.

=== ''Bedrock Edition'' ===
{{IN|bedrock}}, only a select few [[Minecraft:item]]s can be placed in the off-hand slot and be dual-wielded. Some are related to combat, like [[Minecraft:shield]]s, [[Minecraft:arrow]]s, [[Minecraft:tipped arrow]]s, [[Minecraft:firework rocket]]s or a [[Minecraft:totem of undying]], while others are for exploring, like [[Minecraft:filled map]]s or [[Minecraft:explorer map]]s, and for aesthetic such as [[Minecraft:sparkler]]s{{Only|education}} and [[Minecraft:nautilus shell]]s. Other items can be placed into the off-hand slot by using the {{cd|/replaceitem}} command, but most items are unusable.

=== Mobs ===
Some mobs are also able to dual-wield, albeit to a more limited degree. For mobs that cannot pick up items, [[Minecraft:command]]s must be used in order for them to dual-wield.

The following mobs can dual-wield items:
* {{EntityLink|Zombie}}
* {{EntityLink|Husk}}
* {{EntityLink|Drowned}}
* {{EntityLink|Zombie Villager}}
* {{EntityLink|Skeleton}}
* {{EntityLink|Stray}}
* {{EntityLink|Bogged}}
* {{EntityLink|Parched}}
* {{EntityLink|Wither Skeleton}}
* {{EntityLink|Zombified Piglin}}
* {{EntityLink|Piglin}}
* {{EntityLink|Piglin Brute}}
* {{EntityLink|Pillager}}
* {{EntityLink|Vindicator}}
* {{EntityLink|Evoker}}
* {{EntityLink|Vex}}

Mobs do not actively use/consume most items or blocks in their off-hand, with a few exepctions:
* {{ItemLink|Totem of Undying}} - used when the mob takes [[Minecraft:death|fatal damage]].
* {{ItemLink|Arrow}}, {{ItemLink|Spectral Arrow}}, {{ItemLink|Tipped Arrow}}, {{ItemLink|Firework Rocket}} - used when an applicable mob is holding a [[Minecraft:bow]] or [[Minecraft:crossbow]] in their main hand. The held item is consumed when used as ammunition.

When a mob picks up a [[Minecraft:shield]], they place it in their offhand if the slot is available.

[[Minecraft:Drowned]] are the only mob that can naturally spawn dual-wielding items, those being a [[Minecraft:trident]]/[[Minecraft:fishing rod]] in the main hand and a [[Minecraft:nautilus shell]] in the off-hand.

[[Minecraft:Piglin]]s temporarily dual-wield when [[Minecraft:bartering]]/inspecting a gold-related item while holding a weapon.

== History ==
=== Development ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine||10 July 2011|link=http://minetimes.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/interview-mit-jeb-ihr-konntet-die-fragen-stellen/|[[Minecraft:Jeb]] states that "Notch is working on dual-wielding of items" during an interview.}}
|{{HistoryLine||May 28, 2015|link={{tweet|Dinnerbone|603872971963392000}}|[[Minecraft:Dinnerbone]] tweets a picture of dual-wielding [[Minecraft:fish]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||June 4, 2015|link={{tweet|Dinnerbone|606438717893570560}}|Dinnerbone tweets a short guide explaining how the dual-wielding system works.}}
}}

=== ''Java Edition'' ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|java beta}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.6|dev=Test Build 3|Added maps, which require both hands to hold.}}
|{{HistoryLine|java}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.9|dev=15w31a|{{SlotSprite|Offhand}} Added dual wielding.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.16|dev=pre3|{{Control|Swap item in hand}} now works while hovering over an item in inventory.<ref>{{bug|MC-84610||Off-hand hotkey doesn't work in inventories|Fixed}}</ref>}}
}}

=== ''Bedrock Edition'' ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|pocket}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.1.0|dev=alpha 1.1.0.0|{{SlotSprite|Offhand BE}} Added the off-hand slot, which can be used by [[Minecraft:totems of undying]] and [[Minecraft:arrow]]s only.}}
|{{HistoryLine|bedrock}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.2.0|dev=beta 1.2.0.2|The [[Minecraft:player]] can now use [[Minecraft:map]]s in the off-hand slot.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.4.0|dev=beta 1.2.20.1|The player can now hold [[Minecraft:sparkler]]s in the off-hand slot.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.5.0|dev=beta 1.5.0.0|The player can now hold [[Minecraft:nautilus shells]] in the off-hand slot.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.8.0|dev=beta 1.8.0.10|The player can now hold [[Minecraft:firework rocket]]s in the off-hand.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.10.0|dev=beta 1.10.0.3|The player can now hold [[Minecraft:shield]]s in the off-hand slot.}}
|{{HistoryLine||1.19.60|dev=Preview 1.19.60.24|Using {{cmd|replaceitem}} command can now put any item into the off-hand slot, but most items can not be used as when it is in the main hand.}}
}}

=== Legacy Console Edition ===
{{HistoryTable
|{{HistoryLine|console}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU53|xbone=CU43|ps3=1.49|psvita=1.49|ps4=1.50|wiiu=Patch 23|switch=1.0.3|Added the off-hand slot, which can be used by [[Minecraft:map]]s and [[Minecraft:arrow]]s only. It currently does not use an inventory sprite.}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=TU54|xbone=CU44|ps3=1.52|psvita=1.52|ps4=1.52|wiiu=Patch 24|switch=1.0.4|The [[Minecraft:player]] can now hold the [[Minecraft:totem of undying]].}}
|{{HistoryLine||xbox=none|xbone=none|ps3=none|psvita=none|ps4=1.90|wiiu=none|switch=none|The off-hand slot now uses the {{SlotSprite|Offhand BE}} sprite in the inventory.|The [[Minecraft:player]] can now hold [[Minecraft:shield]]s in the off-hand slot.|The player can now hold [[Minecraft:firework rocket]]s in the off-hand.{{check version|Might have been added in 1.83 already, since I believe this was already on bedrock in 1.8.0 even without experimental gameplay enabled.}}}}
}}

== Issues ==
{{issue list|Dual wield|Dual wielding|Off-hand}}

== Gallery ==
=== Development images ===
<gallery>
Weird Hands.png|Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands.
Detached Hand.png|Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands.
Left Hand.png|First image of a left hand.
DualWieldingFish.png|[[Minecraft:Dinnerbone]] dual wielding two types of fish.
Dual Wielding Swords.png|[[Minecraft:Dinnerbone]] dual wielding two swords.
DualWieldingTip1.png|Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding. (''Note: the information on this image is outdated.'')
DualWieldingTip2.png|Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.).
DualWieldingTip3.png|Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.).
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Minecraft:Blocking]]
* [[Minecraft:Breaking]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Navigation ==
{{Navbox gameplay}}

[[Minecraft:de:Zweihandsystem]]
[[Minecraft:es:Mano secundaria]]
[[Minecraft:fr:Système à deux mains]]
[[Minecraft:ja:二刀流]]
[[Minecraft:ko:양손 쓰기]]
[[Minecraft:pl:Dwuręczność]]
[[Minecraft:pt:Empunhadura dupla]]
[[Minecraft:th:การถือของสองมือ]]
[[Minecraft:zh:双持]]

Minecraft:Dual wield - Revision history

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