Smite is a Minecraft Java Edition enchantment in the weapon group, with a maximum level of V.
minecraft:smite
Adds 2.5 damage per level against undead mobs — zombies, skeletons, drowned, the wither, and more. Smite V adds 12.5 damage (6.25 hearts) per hit against them.
Tip: Smite V one-to-two-shots most undead and is the standard wither-killing sword. Against anything alive it adds exactly zero damage.
Smite is a specialist: against undead it out-damages Sharpness four-to-one, which makes it the pick for wither fights, zombie or skeleton farms, and drowned hunting on Java (where Impaling does not work on drowned). Against creepers, spiders, players, or anything alive it contributes nothing at all — so most players keep it on a dedicated second sword rather than their main one.
Enchanting table (sword), Librarian villager trades, structure chest loot, and fishing treasure. Apply to axes with a book on an anvil.
Hold a valid item in your main hand, then run (Java Edition 1.13+; the level is optional and defaults to 1):
This example applies the maximum level V. An anvil combines two matching levels only up to this maximum — higher levels exist only through commands.
Smite applies to swords, spears, axes, the mace. Items from the reviewed catalog in this group:
These enchantments cannot be on the same item as Smite (source: minecraft-data 1.21 registry):
Sharpness V adds +3 damage against everything; Smite V adds +12.5 but only against undead. Main sword: Sharpness. Wither fight or undead farm: Smite. They are mutually exclusive, so this is a real choice per weapon.
Bane of Arthropods is the same +2.5-per-level formula aimed at spiders, silverfish, and other arthropods — a much smaller mob family than undead. Smite is almost always the more useful specialist.
Bedrock Edition: Smite works the same in Bedrock Edition: +2.5 damage per level against undead mobs.
The enchantment ID for Smite is minecraft:smite. Java Edition 1.13+ commands such as /enchant use this namespaced form. On Java 1.12.2 and earlier the numerical ID was 17.
Smite goes up to level V (level 5). Run /enchant @p minecraft:smite 5 while holding a valid item to apply the maximum level.
Yes — the wither is undead, so Smite V's +12.5 damage per hit applies. A Smite V sword (or axe) is the standard melee choice for wither fights.
Yes, drowned are undead and take the full Smite bonus. This matters on Java Edition, where Impaling does not work on drowned — Smite is the anti-drowned enchantment there.
Only against undead. Smite V adds 12.5 damage to undead but nothing to anything else, while Sharpness V adds 3 to everything. General sword: Sharpness. Dedicated undead weapon: Smite.
Yes, via an anvil and a Smite book. A Smite V netherite axe is one of the hardest-hitting hits in the game against undead.