enchantment
Knockback in Minecraft | MinecraftBible
Knockback is a level 1-2 sword enchantment in Minecraft 1.21.4. Adds ~3 blocks of horizontal knockback per level on top of the sprint-attack knockback.
What does Knockback do?
Knockback is a Minecraft enchantment in the Sword category with a Uncommon rarity. It scales up to level 2. It is available from the enchanting table with sufficient bookshelves. Villager librarians can trade enchanted books of this enchantment.
Effect: Adds ~3 blocks of horizontal knockback per level on top of the sprint-attack knockback.
Priority: PvP and boss-kite tool. Skip on PvE — pushes mobs out of reach and out of loot range.
How to get Knockback
- Enchanting table
- Librarian villager trades
- Dungeon chests
Librarian trade: Cure or trap a villager, place a lectern to convert them to a librarian, then break and re-place the lectern to reroll trades until a Knockback book appears. Expected price: 8–32 emeralds at profession level 2+.
XP cost by level for Knockback
| Level | Min cost | Max cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 55 |
| 2 | 25 | 75 |
Items you can enchant with Knockback
You can apply Knockback at an enchanting table or anvil to any of these items:
Synergy enchantments with Knockback
These enchantments stack productively on the same item:
Enchantment properties
- Category: Sword
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Max level: 2
- Weight: 5
- Min cost formula: 20 × level + -15
- Max cost formula: 20 × level + 35
- Anvil item cost / level: 2×
- Anvil book cost / level: 1×
- Treasure only: No
- Tradeable: Yes
- Discoverable via enchanting table: Yes
- Curse: No
Overview
Knockback is an enchantment in Minecraft 1.21.4 with a maximum level of 2, usable on 6+ real item types. Adds ~3 blocks of horizontal knockback per level on top of the sprint-attack knockback.
Prerequisites and materials
- Obtainable from: Enchanting table; Librarian villager trades; Dungeon chests.
- Level 2 enchanting-table cost lands between 25 and 75 XP — budget your levels before committing.
Step-by-step walkthrough
- Effect: Adds ~3 blocks of horizontal knockback per level on top of the sprint-attack knockback.
- Apply to compatible gear such as Wooden Sword, Stone Sword, Golden Sword. See the Primary Items section for the full list.
- Librarian route: cure or trap a villager, place a lectern, and reroll trades by breaking + replacing the lectern until you see the book. Expect 8-32 emeralds at profession level 2+.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Priority: PvP and boss-kite tool. Skip on PvE — pushes mobs out of reach and out of loot range.
Pro tips
- Use a grindstone to safely strip this enchantment and reclaim a small XP refund.
- Before an anvil merge, confirm the two enchantments aren't in each other's exclusive list — conflicts turn the merge red and waste XP.
Difficulty and time commitment
- Difficulty: Easy
- Estimated time per run: 5-20 min
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Knockback do in Minecraft?
Adds ~3 blocks of horizontal knockback per level on top of the sprint-attack knockback. Max level is 2.
What is the max level of Knockback?
Knockback caps at level 2. At max level the enchanting-table cost formula lands between 25 and 75 XP.
How do I get Knockback?
Knockback can be obtained from: Enchanting table; Librarian villager trades; Dungeon chests. A librarian villager at profession level 2+ can sell an enchanted book of it for 8-32 emeralds.
Can I trade for Knockback with a villager?
Yes — cure a zombie villager or trap a fresh villager, place a lectern to convert them to a librarian, then break and replace the lectern until they roll a Knockback book. Expected price is 8-32 emeralds and requires villager level 2+.
Does Knockback conflict with other enchantments?
Knockback has no incompatible enchantments and can be freely combined with others.
What is the anvil cost for Knockback?
Applying Knockback to a target from an enchanted book costs 1× per level in anvil work units, or 2× per level when combining from another enchanted item. Every anvil use also doubles the prior-work penalty on the target.
What items can I put Knockback on?
Knockback belongs to the "Sword" enchantment category, covering items like Wooden Sword, Stone Sword, Golden Sword, Iron Sword, Diamond Sword, Netherite Sword.