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

_Published October 16, 2026_

Impaling adds up to 12.5 bonus trident damage against aquatic mobs — and works completely differently in Java vs. Bedrock Edition.

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](/guides/ideal-trident), alongside either Riptide or Loyalty, optionally Channeling, Unbreaking, and Mending.

**Trident:** Impaling V, Riptide III, Unbreaking III, Mending I

[Build this trident in the calculator →](https://anvilcalc.com/#eyJpIjoidHJpZGVudCIsImUiOltdLCJwIjowLCJuIjoiIiwidCI6W1siaW1wYWxpbmciLDVdLFsicmlwdGlkZSIsM10sWyJ1bmJyZWFraW5nIiwzXSxbIm1lbmRpbmciLDFdXX0)

## Frequently asked questions

**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.