Minecraft:Dual wield

File:Dual wield preview.png

Dual wielding is a Minecraft:gameplay mechanic that allows players (and Minecraft:mobs) to hold two Minecraft:items or Minecraft:blocksTemplate:Only simultaneously.

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:Key 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 Skin Customization menu.

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 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 bow or 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 Minecraft:items can be placed in the off-hand slot and be dual-wielded. Some are related to combat, like Minecraft:shields, Minecraft:arrows, Minecraft:tipped arrows, Minecraft:firework rockets or a Minecraft:totem of undying, while others are for exploring, like Minecraft:filled maps or Minecraft:explorer maps, and for aesthetic such as Minecraft:sparklersTemplate:Only and Minecraft:nautilus shells. Other items can be placed into the off-hand slot by using the Template:Cd 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:commands must be used in order for them to dual-wield.

The following mobs can dual-wield items:

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

• 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.

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:Piglins temporarily dual-wield when Minecraft:bartering/inspecting a gold-related item while holding a weapon.

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