The Spear Arrives in Minecraft
If you have ever wished for a melee weapon in Minecraft that lets you hit enemies from a safer distance without switching to a bow, the new spear is exactly what you are looking for. Added as part of the Mounts of Mayhem drop, the spear sits somewhere between a sword and a ranged weapon, giving you extra reach and a unique moveset that rewards timing and positioning.
The spear might look simple at first, but it introduces new ways to fight and control space in combat. With multiple material variants and special attack types, it can quickly become one of your go to tools for survival and adventure worlds.
How to Craft a Spear in Minecraft
Crafting a spear is straightforward once you know the exact pattern. The trick is that the materials must be placed diagonally on the crafting grid. If you place them in a straight vertical line, you will accidentally create a shovel instead, which is far less effective as a weapon.
Here is how to craft a spear:
- Open a crafting table.
- Place one stick in the bottom left slot of the grid.
- Place the second stick in the center slot of the grid.
- Place your chosen weapon material in the top right slot.
As long as your sticks and material form a diagonal from bottom left to top right, you will get a spear instead of a tool. The material you use will define how strong and durable your spear is, just like with swords and pickaxes.
There are currently seven spear variants you can craft or upgrade to:
- Wooden spear
- Stone spear
- Copper spear
- Iron spear
- Gold spear
- Diamond spear
- Netherite spear
Wood is the easiest starting option since wooden planks are everywhere, but you will quickly want to move up to stone and iron for more damage and durability. Copper and gold can be fun mid game options, while diamond and Netherite are where the spear really starts to shine in tougher fights.
The Netherite spear works slightly differently from the others. You cannot craft it directly at a regular crafting bench. Instead, you follow the same upgrade process used for other Netherite tools and armor:
- First craft a Diamond spear using the normal recipe.
- Head to a smithing table.
- Combine your Diamond spear with a Netherite ingot and a Netherite upgrade template.
This will convert your Diamond spear into a Netherite spear, giving it increased durability and better overall stats, making it ideal for late game survival, boss fights, and dangerous exploration.
How to Use the Spear and Master Its Moves
The spear stands out from Minecrafts classic weapons because it has more than one attack type and a longer reach than anything else in your melee arsenal. If you are used to simply spamming sword swings, you will need a bit of practice to get the most out of it.
The spear has two main attacks: the jab and the charge.
Jab and Charge Attacks Explained
Jab attack
The jab is your default spear strike and acts a lot like a quick sword swing.
- Press the left mouse button quickly to perform a jab.
- Damage depends on the material of your spear, so iron, diamond, and Netherite will hit much harder than wood or stone.
- This is your bread and butter attack for close range combat or when you need fast hits.
The jab is perfect when you are face to face with mobs in tight spaces like caves or corridors. It does not require charging or setup, so you can keep moving and land rapid pokes as enemies close in.
Charge attack
The charge attack turns the spear into a heavier hitting, more tactical weapon.
- Hold the right mouse button to begin charging while facing your target.
- Release the button to unleash a powerful thrust.
- The charge attack deals more damage than a regular jab.
- If your enemy is riding a mount, a charged hit can knock them off, which is great for disrupting mounted mobs or players.
Because the charge takes a moment to prepare, it rewards planning and timing. Use it when you have a clear line of sight and a bit of breathing room, or when you want to open an engagement with a strong first hit.
Extended attack range
One of the biggest advantages of the spear is its reach. Most melee weapons in Minecraft have a standard range of roughly 3 blocks. The spear extends this to about 4.5 blocks, letting you hit enemies that would normally be just out of reach.
This extra distance is especially useful when:
- Fighting dangerous melee mobs like zombies, husks, or piglins while staying safely out of their swing range.
- Controlling crowds by poking enemies from behind a wall of shields or friendly mobs.
- Fighting while mounted, giving you a strong, long reaching attack from horseback or other mounts.
The combination of jab, charge, and extra reach makes the spear a flexible part of your combat loadout. You can open with a heavy charge from just outside enemy range, then follow up with quick jabs as they close in, all while staying that little bit safer than you would with a standard sword.
It may take some time to get used to the spear and its rhythm, but it is worth investing the effort. With the right material choice and some practice, the spear can become one of your most reliable weapons in both survival and adventure play, giving you a fresh way to approach Minecraft combat.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/minecraft-spear-crafting-recipe/
