Minecraft Axe vs Sword – Which is Better for Combat?

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I've recently started playing Minecraft, and I have been trying out some of the netherite tools, and I noticed that the axe does more damage, but it's slower than the sword. Does the axe get better in the long run, or why is the sword faster, and can it outclass the axe? Is there a reason why I see a lot of popular Minecraft YouTubers like Dream use axes in these places? It does seem unusual. I also saw a video by Technoblade saying that it would be more useful to use a sword, but I'm not exactly sure. Does the math add up, or is it a scam, and do people need to switch weapons? What weapon should I use?

Best Answer

An axe does 2 more damage than a sword would. If a diamond sword does 7 damage, then a diamond axe would do 9 damage. To get the most damage, you have to wait a bit more for the cooldown to finish. Using an axe is sometimes quicker because you need to hit an enemy once, and it might just die right then and there, whereas a sword would take 2 or 3 hits. Speedrunners use axes because it does more damage, but in a lets-play, it isn't a good idea because, for each hit, it takes away two durability.