Minecraft:Dual wielding

File:Dual wield preview.png

Player holding a trident with a shield in their off-hand

Dual wielding is a Minecraft:gameplay mechanic that allows players (and some Minecraft:mobs) to hold two Minecraft:items or Minecraft:blocksTemplate:Only simultaneously. For players, this allows for either of the held items to be used depending on the items' uses, the controls for using them, and the scenario. Additionally, it also enables some items to be used in conjunction with others in unique ways when both are held.

Usage

File:OffhandSlotHighlighted.png

The off-hand slot highlighted in the inventory

Players can equip an item to the Template:SlotSprite off-hand slot from the Minecraft:inventory, similarly to Minecraft:armor. Players can also select an item and press Template:Control to automatically equip it.Template:OnlyTemplate:Upcoming The off-hand slot then appears beside the Minecraft:HUD opposite from the main hand.Template:Only 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 Skin Customization menu.Template:Only

The off-hand can use the item it holds when there are no items with a Template:Ctrl function in the main hand (e.g. Minecraft:tridents, 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 copper block). Otherwise, the main hand takes priority over the off-hand. Players also cannot Template:Control blocks or Template:Control with the off-hand, even if nothing is held in the main hand.

Combat

File:DualWielding.png

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 Minecraft: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:Shields 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 Template:Ctrl functionality (such as a Minecraft:bow or Minecraft:spear).

Minecraft:Arrows 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

Template:IN, only a select few items can be placed in the off-hand slot and be dual-wielded:

• Template:ItemLink, can be activated by Template:Control.
• Template:ItemLink, functions properly.
• Template:ItemLink, Minecraft:tipped arrows, and Minecraft:firework rockets, used to give them priority in Minecraft:bows and Minecraft:crossbows over other projectiles in the inventory.
• Template:ItemLink (includes Minecraft:explorer maps and photosTemplate:Only), which are displayed as a smaller mini-map and cause maps in the main hand to be displayed as such as well.
• Template:ItemLink, held by Minecraft:drowned in the off-hand but has no special use for the player.
• Template:ItemLink,Template:Upcoming cannot be used in the off-hand.
• Template:ItemLink,Template:Only function normally.

Other items can be placed into the off-hand slot by using the Template:Cmd command, but most items are unusable.

Mobs

Some mobs are also able to dual-wield, albeit to a more limited degree. 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:Piglins temporarily dual-wield when Minecraft:bartering/inspecting a gold-related item while holding a weapon. When a mob picks up a Minecraft:shield, they place it in their offhand if the slot is available.

The following mobs can dual-wield items with Minecraft:commands:

• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink
• Template:EntityLink

Mobs do not actively use/consume most items or blocks in their off-hand, with a few exceptions:

• Template:ItemLink - used when the mob takes fatal damage.
• Template:ItemLink, Template:ItemLink, Template:ItemLink, Template:ItemLink - 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.

History

Gallery

Development images

• Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands
  Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands
• Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands
  Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands
• First image of a left hand
  First image of a left hand
• Minecraft:Dinnerbone dual wielding two types of fish
  Minecraft:Dinnerbone dual wielding two types of fish
• Minecraft:Dinnerbone dual wielding two swords
  Minecraft:Dinnerbone dual wielding two swords
• Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (Note: the information on this image is outdated.)
  Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (Note: the information on this image is outdated.)
• Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.)
  Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.)
• Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.)
  Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.)

See also

• Minecraft:Blocking
• Minecraft:Breaking