The trident is one of the most versatile weapons in Minecraft. With the right enchantments, it can deal massive damage, control crowds, and even let you fly in storms. This guide ranks every useful trident enchantment and shows the best combinations for PvP, PvE, and utility.
How Trident Enchantments Work
Tridents can have multiple enchantments simultaneously. The combinations are limited by the Enchanting Table level and the player's XP levels. The best way to get multiple enchantments is to use an Anvil to combine enchanted books.
S Tier: Must-Have Enchantments
Loyalty III
Loyalty III throws the trident and returns it to the player. It is essential for ranged combat.
How to get: Enchanting Table (max level 30) or enchanted books from drowned.
Channeling
Channeling summons a lightning bolt when thrown at a mob during a thunderstorm. It instantly kills most mobs.
How to get: Enchanting Table (random chance) or enchanted books.
Impaling V
Impaling V adds extra damage to aquatic mobs (drowned, guardians, elder guardians). It is essential for Ocean Monument raids.
How to get: Enchanting Table (max level 30) or enchanted books.
Unbreaking III
Unbreaking III extends the trident's durability by 3x. It is essential for any tool you plan to keep.
How to get: Enchanting Table or enchanted books.
Mending
Mending repairs the trident using XP orbs. It is essential for any tool you plan to keep.
How to get: Found in End City chests or traded with Villagers.
Riptide III
Riptide III launches the player when thrown in water or rain. It is the only way to fly in Minecraft without an Elytra.
How to get: Enchanting Table (max level 30) or enchanted books.
A Tier: Strong Choices
Thorns III
Thorns III deals damage to attackers. It is useful for defensive builds.
How to get: Enchanting Table or enchanted books.
Aqua Affinity
Aqua Affinity speeds up underwater mining. It is useful for underwater exploration.
How to get: Enchanting Table or enchanted books.
Depth Strider III
Depth Strider III speeds up underwater movement. It is useful for underwater exploration.
How to get: Enchanting Table or enchanted books.
Respiration III
Respiration III extends underwater breathing time. It is useful for underwater exploration.
How to get: Enchanting Table or enchanted books.
Best Combinations for PvP
The Lightning Trapper
- Channeling
- Loyalty III
- Impaling V
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
This combination lets you summon lightning bolts during thunderstorms while throwing the trident for ranged combat.
The Riptide Flyer
- Riptide III
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
This combination lets you fly during thunderstorms or in water. It is the most fun combination for PvP.
Best Combinations for PvE
The Ocean Raider
- Loyalty III
- Impaling V
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
This combination is essential for Ocean Monument raids. The Impaling V deals massive damage to guardians.
The Lightning Rod
- Channeling
- Loyalty III
- Impaling V
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
This combination lets you summon lightning bolts to convert witches and pillagers in one hit.
The All-Around Trident
- Loyalty III
- Impaling V
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
This combination is the best for general PvE. It provides ranged combat with massive damage to aquatic mobs.
How to Get a Trident
Tridents are dropped by drowned mobs with a trident. To farm tridents:
- Build a drowned farm.
- Wait for drowned to spawn.
- Kill the drowned with a melee weapon (to avoid breaking the trident).
- The trident will drop with random durability.
Trident drops are rare (about 6.5% chance), so you need to kill many drowned.
How to Get Loyalty III
Loyalty III can be obtained through:
- Enchanting Table with max-level setup (random chance).
- Combining two Loyalty II books.
- Trading with Villagers.
The most reliable way is to combine lower-level Loyalty books at an Anvil.
How to Get Channeling
Channeling is one of the rarer enchantments. It can be obtained through:
- Enchanting Table (random chance, very rare).
- Looting in Ocean Ruins chests.
- Fishing for enchanted books.
- Trading with Villagers.
The most reliable way is to set up a Villager trading hall.
Channeling Tips
Channeling only works in the following conditions:
- During a thunderstorm.
- When looking at a mob with an unobstructed view.
- During the day (lightning is more visible).
Use a /weather thunder command to force a thunderstorm.
Riptide Tips
Riptide only works in the following conditions:
- When thrown in water.
- When thrown during rain.
- When thrown during a thunderstorm.
Use Riptide to fly up hills, across rivers, or for general mobility.
Common Mistakes
- Don't use Riptide and Loyalty together. They are incompatible.
- Don't use Channeling during rain. The lightning might hit you.
- Don't use Riptide near cliffs. You might fly off the edge.
- Don't use the trident as a melee weapon only. It is more effective at range.
Best Trident Combinations
The best overall trident combination is:
- Loyalty III
- Impaling V
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
- Channeling (for PvP) or Riptide III (for utility)
This combination gives you ranged combat with massive damage and either lightning or flight utility.
How to Repair a Trident
Tridents can be repaired through:
- Combining two damaged tridents at an Anvil.
- Using the Mending enchantment to repair with XP.
- Using the Repair spell (the new 1.20+ mechanic).
Final Tips
- Always carry a backup trident with different enchantments.
- Use Channeling during thunderstorms for instant kills.
- Use Riptide for fast travel and exploration.
- Combine Loyalty with Impaling for Ocean Monument raids.
With this tier list, you will know which trident enchantments to prioritize and how to build the perfect trident for your play style.