Bane of Arthropods enchantment in Minecraft
Bane of Arthropods adds 2.5 damage per level against spiders, cave spiders, silverfish, endermites and bees, and its melee hits also give them Slowness IV for a moment. It is the most specialised damage enchantment: strong on paper, rarely the best choice.
Bane of Arthropods at a glance
- Max level
- V
- Works on
- Spear, Sword, Axe and Mace
- Enchanting table
- Yes
- Rarity
- Uncommon (weight 5)
- Anvil cost
- ×2 on an item, ×1 on a book
What does Bane of Arthropods do?
Adds 2.5 damage per level against arthropods (spiders, cave spiders, bees, silverfish, endermites) and slows them down for a moment.
Bane of Arthropods IBane of Arthropods IIBane of Arthropods IIIBane of Arthropods IVBane of Arthropods V How to get Bane of Arthropods
Best wayEnchanting tableAppears on the table for spear and sword. The level depends on the XP you spend and your bookshelves.
RandomLibrarian villagersLibrarians can sell a Bane of Arthropods book. Reset an unemployed villager’s lectern until the trade appears.
RandomChests and fishingEnchanted books in structure chests, and fishing treasure, can carry Bane of Arthropods.
CombineAnvilCombine a Bane of Arthropods book with the item on an anvil.
Items that take Bane of Arthropods
Primary items show up on the enchanting table; the others only get it through an anvil.
Combining Bane of Arthropods
Can’t combine withSharpnessMutually exclusive: an item can only carry one of them.
Can’t combine withSmiteMutually exclusive: an item can only carry one of them.
Can’t combine withImpalingMutually exclusive: an item can only carry one of them.
Can’t combine withDensityMutually exclusive: an item can only carry one of them.
Can’t combine withBreachMutually exclusive: an item can only carry one of them.
Commands
/enchant @s minecraft:bane_of_arthropods 5/give @s minecraft:enchanted_book[stored_enchantments={"minecraft:bane_of_arthropods":5}]Which mobs count as arthropods?
Only five: the spider, the cave spider, the silverfish, the endermite and the bee. Nothing else gets the bonus. Endermen, for instance, take normal damage.
Is Bane of Arthropods worth it?
Rarely. It shares an exclusive group with Sharpness and Smite, so picking it means giving up the bonus against everything else. Spiders and silverfish are weak enough that a Sharpness weapon already kills them quickly.
It has a few niche uses:
- Clearing a cave spider spawner in a mineshaft.
- Fighting through the silverfish of a stronghold.
- A dedicated weapon at a spider farm.
The Slowness only comes from a direct melee hit, and it keeps a spider from closing in again right after your swing.
Which weapons take it
Swords and spears can get it from the enchanting table; axes and maces only through an anvil. On a mace, Density or Breach are almost always better picks. If you only want one weapon, follow the best sword enchantments build, which keeps Sharpness.
✓ Checked in Java Edition 26.3 · updated 1 November 2026
Bane of Arthropods — FAQ
Does Bane of Arthropods work on endermen?
No. Endermen are not arthropods. Only spiders, cave spiders, silverfish, endermites and bees take the bonus.
Is Bane of Arthropods better than Sharpness against spiders?
Yes: Bane of Arthropods V adds +12.5 damage against them, Sharpness V only +3. But Sharpness works on every mob, which matters more for a main weapon.
How strong is the slowness from Bane of Arthropods?
The game files apply Slowness IV, for a short time that grows with the enchantment level. It only triggers on a direct melee hit.
Can you get Bane of Arthropods from an enchanting table?
Yes. Bane of Arthropods can appear on the enchanting table for spear and sword.
What is the max level of Bane of Arthropods?
Bane of Arthropods goes up to level V.