Overview
Punch adds knockback to arrows, and the further the target flies, the longer it takes to reach you — which is the entire tactical content of the enchantment. A skeleton knocked back is a skeleton that must walk the distance again before it fires, and a creeper knocked back is a creeper that never gets close enough to detonate. On a bow used for defence rather than damage, that spacing is worth more than a damage upgrade, because a mob that never arrives deals no damage at all. It also opens up positional kills: shooting a mob off a ledge, off a bridge, or into water is often faster than killing it, and against players on a server a Punch II bow is a straightforward way to remove someone from a rooftop. The cost is the same one Knockback has on a sword. Shoving mobs around scatters a group you were trying to funnel, and pushing something out of your arrow's reach is counterproductive when you wanted it dead rather than distant. It stacks with Power, Flame and Infinity without conflict, so on a general-purpose bow there is no reason to refuse it.
Keeping melee mobs at a distance while you keep firing, and knocking targets off ledges, bridges and cliffs where the fall finishes what the arrow started.
Adds knockback to arrows. Handy for keeping mobs off you at range, and for launching mobs off ledges.
The highest level of Punch is II. It is standard, so it sits in the enchanting table's own offer pool.
At weight 2 it takes up about 10% of the offer pool for an item that accepts it; the larger that share, the less rerolling a level-30 table costs you.
How to get it
Enchant a Bow at a table with 15 bookshelves, or combine 2 level I books on an anvil for level II. Weight 2 makes it an uncommon offer compared with Power's 10, so a librarian book is often quicker.
Tips
- Against creepers it is defensive: a shot that pushes them out of blast range is worth more than damage.
- It scatters a grouped crowd, so leave it off the bow you use at a mob farm.
- It stacks with Power and Flame, so a general bow can carry all three.
- Knocking a mob into water removes it from the fight entirely without spending another arrow.
What each level does
Level by level, this is what you get. Most of the gain is in reaching II, and two I books on an anvil make one II.
Punch II adds substantial arrow knockback.
| Level | Effect |
|---|---|
| I | arrows knock the target back 3 extra blocks |
| II | arrows knock the target back 6 extra blocks |
Properties
An enchanting table can offer it directly, and a librarian villager will sell it as a book — rerolling a librarian's trade by breaking and replacing their lectern is the cheapest route to it.
- Maximum level
- II
- Type
- Standard
- From enchanting table
- Yes
- Villager trading
- Yes
- Weight
- 2 (10%)
What it can be applied to
Punch can be applied to Bow.
- Bow
Gear it goes on
How to get it
Enchanting table or an enchanted book.
The level-30 slot at a fifteen-bookshelf table is where to look; a smaller ring means lower levels and a thinner offer pool.
Command
If cheats are on, use the first line to add Punch II to the item you are holding, or the second to be handed one outright — written with the 1.20.5 "enchantments" component.
Apply it
/enchant @s minecraft:punch 2Give an enchanted item
/give @s bow[enchantments={levels:{"minecraft:punch":2}}]Guides and tools that cover this
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum level of Punch?
Punch goes up to level 2. Punch II adds substantial arrow knockback.
How do you get Punch in Minecraft?
Enchanting table or an enchanted book.
What does Punch II do?
Punch II arrows knock the target back 6 extra blocks.
