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. This enchantment page includes real crafting data, contextual links, and related Minecraft references, with version-aware coverage mapped across the last 11 major updates (1.21, 1.20, 1.19, 1.18, 1.17, 1.16, 1.15, 1.14, 1.13, 1.12, 1.11).
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 |
Secondary-compatible items
Items that accept Knockback through broader tags (durability, vanishing, equippable):
Compatible 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
Practical Guide
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.
Practical Steps
- Effect: Adds ~3 blocks of horizontal knockback per level on top of the sprint-attack knockback.
- 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.
- 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+.
Pro Tips
- Priority: PvP and boss-kite tool. Skip on PvE — pushes mobs out of reach and out of loot range.
- 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.
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.