Impaling Enchantment in Minecraft: What It Does and How to Use It

Max level

V

Applies to

Trident

Incompatible with

Nothing

Obtained via

Enchanting table, anvil, villager trade

Impaling adds bonus trident damage against aquatic targets in Java Edition — or against anything in contact with water or rain in Bedrock, a meaningfully wider scope.

What Impaling actually does

Each level adds 2.5 extra damage per hit. In Java Edition, this only applies to aquatic mobs (guardians, elder guardians, dolphins, turtles, squids/glow squids, axolotls, fish) — not drowned, despite them living underwater. In Bedrock Edition, it applies much more broadly: any mob or player in contact with water (submerged, standing in rain, or in flowing water), with damage values rounded down to whole numbers.

How to use it

Impaling V is close to a default pick for any trident used in or near water — ocean exploration, guardian farms, elder guardian fights. It has no conflicts with any other trident enchantment, so it stacks freely alongside Loyalty/Riptide (pick one) and Channeling/Riptide (pick one).

Well-known builds that use it

Impaling V is standard on The Ideal Trident Enchantments, alongside either Riptide or Loyalty, optionally Channeling, Unbreaking, and Mending.

• Impaling V
• Riptide III
• Unbreaking III
• Mending I

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Frequently asked questions

Does Impaling work against drowned?

Not in Java Edition — despite living underwater, drowned don't count as "aquatic" for Impaling's purposes there. Bedrock's broader water-contact rule does cover them, though, since it checks water contact rather than mob type.

How much bonus damage does Impaling V give?

12.5 extra damage (2.5 per level) against qualifying targets.

Does Impaling conflict with Riptide or Loyalty?

No — Impaling has no conflicts with any other trident enchantment.