Epic's Official Guide to 1.9 PvP

NOTICE: This isn't necessarily a guide on how to pvp, but more how to pvp in 1.9 with all of the new changes. Furthermore this thread will be updated when tweaks happen during snapshots, therefore all of your information will be up to date.


Hello everyone, my name is Epicdude141 and this is my guide to pvp. In this guide we will cover sections including: Swords, armor, bows, shields, and axes as well as the new offhand. So sit back, relax and enjoy pvp!


Changes

Pvp, simple as clicking a mouse, right? Well not anymore! Pvp has been changed a ton since the new update. To start.

• There is now an offhand where you could equip a second item
• Attacks now have a sort of "build-up" where if you wait until that buildup is over, you do max damage but if you don't, you do less which correlates to how soon you clicked it.
• There are now multiple types of arrows
• There are now three types of potions

Plus many more, however we will get to specifics in each individual section. First off, swords


Swords

Swords overall probably have one of the biggest changes of the update. Long gone are the times where you could spam your sharp 5 diamond sword and dispatch another player easily. Now it takes some skill, with multiple attributes that you have to take in account in order to chose your weapon. The first attribute we'll take to account, is attack speed.


Attack speed is an important aspect of pvp in the new 1.9 update. What it essentially means is that when you attack, its the amount of times you could use the item in a second to get the most damage. Although you could use it as much as you want, it will do little to no damage unless you wait for that attack meter to fill up. Each sword has an attack speed of 1.6 meaning that you could use it 1.6 times a second.


Another important aspect of 1.9 pvp is the damage done per maximum hit. When you charge up the all important attack meter, the damage done will change based on material as it always has.

• Wood- 4 (two hearts)
• Stone- 5 (two and a half hearts)
• Gold- 4 (two hearts)
• Iron- 6 (three hearts)
• Diamond- 7 (three and a half hearts)

Now with these numbers, we could combine them to figure out damage per second at a maximum hit.

• Wood- 6.4 DPS
• Stone- 8 DPS
• Gold- 6.4 DPS
• Iron- 9.6 DPS
• Diamond- 11.2 DPS

Based on these numbers, the best weapon if possible, is a diamond sword due to the amount of damage that it does. Wood and gold have the same stats meaning that it would be preferable to use a stone sword instead of either. These figures do not account for enchantments which will be accounted for in another section.

Axes

Axes are also the host to multiple changes to the update. The most notable being that they have a slower attack speed, but they do more damage compared to swords. For axes, the attack speed is...

• Wood- 0.8
• Stone- 0.8
• Gold- 1
• Iron- 0.9
• Diamond- 1

With this, it is shown that they have a much slower attack speed than swords. Meaning that diamond axes could only be used once per second compared to swords' 1.6 uses per second. This is however balanced with the amount of damage that they do.

• Wood- 7 (3.5 hearts)
• Stone- 9 (4.5 hearts)
• Gold- 7 (3.5 hearts)
• Iron- 9 (4.5 hearts)
• Diamond- 9 (4.5 hearts)

These numbers are huge compared to swords. With a diamond axe, you could do up to 9 hearts per fully changed swing compared to a diamond swords 7. With both of these numbers, we could compile them to figure out their total damage per second. These numbers could be compiled to figure out their total DPS.

• Wood- 5.6 DPS
• Stone- 7.2 DPS
• Gold- 7 DPS
• Iron- 8.1 DPS
• Diamond- 9 DPS

With these numbers, it suggests that using a sword would be better due to the 2.2 extra DPS is deals. However, with axes if you hit someone with a fully charged axe, it has a 25% chance disabling a player’s shield for 5 seconds, this is increased by 5% per level of efficiency enchantment plus 75% if sprinting. The choice would be best decided by you, based on your individual style of pvp.


Bows

Bows have also had a large update, mostly with the addition of new arrows. However there is one big change. You can use the bow in your offhand. Meaning that if you could use both a sword and a bow together. Doing this, takes the place of a shield. Again a decision that would have to be made based on your style of pvp. However with the new arrows, you could put a potion effect on the arrow. How would this be useful with pvp? Two words: Poison and instant damage. Until more information is obtained with the specifics, it is currently unknown how much/long each affect lasts but there is one arrow I do know about: Spectral arrows.


Spectral arrows have the ability to highlight a mob/player when hit. This allows the outline of the player to be seen behind walls and such. With it, you can chase a runaway player very easily. They last for ten seconds and it is not known if they do damage.


Armor

Armor has also been adjusted in the update. For it, it has a sort of threshold of which if the damage passes said threshold, it reduces the amount of damage it can reduce by 1 (half a heart). If it is below that threshold, it increases the damage it can reduce by 1 (half a heart). This mechanic is done for every 2 damage (1 heart) that is dealt.


Shields

Shields, probably the biggest part of the update. With it, if you are facing the player doing the melee attack, it will only do around 1/3 of the damage to you. With projectiles, it will do no damage if you are right clicking with the shield. However, you cannot attack while right clicking with the shield, so you have to time the shield well. Furthermore, with an axe, it will disable your important shield for five whole seconds.


Lingering Potions

To top it all off, we have our very own lingering potions. With these, they work as splash potions but keep the potion effect on the ground for a short amount of time. How could they be used in pvp? Imagine this, you are running and you pass a narrow area, the person is trailing behind so you pop a lingering potion. With the effect on the ground the person now has instant damage applied or whatever potion affect you have selected.


Conclusion

In conclusion, the combat in the new update has changed a lot. Somethings will be changed and others will be added or removed entirely. I suggest for pvp if you are in a long range bow and arrow shootout, to have both a shield and a bow. If you are in melee to have an axe and a shield in order to achieve the most damage as possible. Keep checking up on this thread as more information is included and as things change.


Last Updated: 9/13


Notice: The golden apple nerf has not been included due to Jeb stating he may change things after hearing the communities input. This guide will be updated as there is more information on the situation.

 

One other note to add to the above, enchanted golden apples (gapples, notch apples, whatever you call them) are no longer craftable as of the Combat Update. However, they can be found in loot chests (chests in desert temples, dungeons, End Cities, etc.), which is determined by the new loot table attribute.