Riptide enchantment in Minecraft
Riptide turns a trident throw into a launch: in water or in the rain, using the trident propels you forward with it instead of throwing it. Higher levels send you further. It cannot be combined with Loyalty or Channeling.
Riptide at a glance
- Max level
- III
- Works on
- Trident
- Enchanting table
- Yes
- Incompatible with
- Loyalty, Channeling
- Rarity
- Rare (weight 2)
- Anvil cost
- ×4 on an item, ×2 on a book
What does Riptide do?
Throwing the trident in water or rain launches you with it. It then can't be thrown normally. Can't be combined with Loyalty or Channeling.
Riptide IRiptide IIRiptide III How to get Riptide
Best wayEnchanting tableAppears on the table for trident. The level depends on the XP you spend and your bookshelves.
RandomLibrarian villagersLibrarians can sell a Riptide book. Reset an unemployed villager’s lectern until the trade appears.
RandomChests and fishingEnchanted books in structure chests, and fishing treasure, can carry Riptide.
CombineAnvilCombine a Riptide book with the item on an anvil.
Items that take Riptide
Primary items show up on the enchanting table; the others only get it through an anvil.
Combining Riptide
Can’t combine withLoyaltyMutually exclusive: an item can only carry one of them.
Can’t combine withChannelingMutually exclusive: an item can only carry one of them.
Commands
/enchant @s minecraft:riptide 3/give @s minecraft:enchanted_book[stored_enchantments={"minecraft:riptide":3}]When Riptide works, and when it does not
Only while you are in water or standing in the rain. On dry land in clear weather, nothing happens, and a Riptide trident cannot be thrown at all. Rain also has to actually fall where you stand: it never does in the desert, the savanna or the badlands, and in cold biomes such as the snowy plains it snows instead, so Riptide stays dead there.
What it is good for
- Crossing oceans and rivers at high speed.
- Flying in the rain: launch yourself, then open your elytra to keep gliding, or use the launch to boost a flight.
- Spin attacks: you hurt the mobs you crash into during the launch.
The trade-off
A Riptide trident is no longer a ranged weapon, and it cannot carry Loyalty or Channeling. It does combine with Impaling, Unbreaking and Mending. Most players keep two tridents: Riptide for travel, Loyalty and Channeling for combat. If you swap Loyalty for Riptide on the best trident enchantments build, Channeling has to go as well.
✓ Checked in Java Edition 26.3 · updated 1 November 2026
Riptide — FAQ
Why doesn't my Riptide trident work?
You need to be in water or in the rain. In deserts, savannas and badlands it never rains, and in cold biomes it snows, so Riptide does nothing there.
Can you throw a Riptide trident?
No. A trident with Riptide always launches you instead, and only in water or rain.
Does Riptide work with elytra?
Yes. In water or rain, a Riptide launch can start or boost an elytra flight.
Can you get Riptide from an enchanting table?
Yes. Riptide can appear on the enchanting table for trident.
What is the max level of Riptide?
Riptide goes up to level III.