Bane of Arthropods Vs. Sharpness Vs. Smite: Which Should You Choose?
Q1: Does Bane of Arthropods work on the Warden, Ender Dragon, or Creepers?
No. The Warden, the Ender Dragon, Creepers, and standard nether mobs do not possess the arthropod tag. Against these targets, a sword carrying this modifier functions exactly like a standard unenchanted weapon, dealing only its base material damage.
Q2: Can I combine Bane of Arthropods and Sharpness using an anvil?
No. In survival mode, Sharpness, Smite, and Bane of Arthropods are mutually exclusive. If you place a sword enchanted with Sharpness into an anvil alongside a Bane of Arthropods book, the anvil will reject the combination and prevent the secondary damage trait from applying.
Q3: Does the Slowness IV effect trigger on every single hit?
Yes. Whenever you hit an eligible arthropod mob with an enchanted weapon, the Slowness IV effect applies automatically. The duration scales with the tier of the enchantment, fluctuating randomly between 1.0 and 3.5 seconds at tier V.
