Dual wielding

Dual wielding is a gameplay mechanic that allows players (and some mobs) to hold two items or blocks‌^{[Java Edition only]} simultaneously. For players, this allows for either of the held items to be used depending on the items' uses, the controls for using them, and the scenario. Additionally, it also enables some items to be used in conjunction with others in unique ways when both are held.

Usage

Players can equip an item to the off-hand slot from the inventory, similarly to armor. Players can also select an item and press Swap Off-Hand to automatically equip it.‌^{[JE only]}​^{[upcoming: BE 26.70]} The off-hand slot then appears beside the HUD opposite from the main hand.‌^{[JE only]} If the player is in first-person view, then the off-hand appears in the screen along with the held item. Whichever hand should be the main hand is configurable in the Skin Customization menu.‌^{[JE only]}

The off-hand can use the item it holds when there are no items with a use function in the main hand (e.g. tridents, which can be thrown), or the item held on the main hand cannot be used directly (e.g. axe while not looking at a log, wood, or an oxidized/waxed copper block). Otherwise, the main hand takes priority over the off-hand. Players also cannot break blocks or attack with the off-hand, even if nothing is held in the main hand.

Combat

A player can equip a bow, crossbow, spear, or trident in their off-hand. So far, these are the only weapons that can be used in the off-hand slot or in conjunction with another weapon. This allows for higher damage output, as players no longer have to switch between weapons; however, it disables the use of a shield. Players can left-click to attack with the equipped main-hand weapon (namely a sword or mace) and right click to attack with the off-hand weapon. However, if a player collides with an entity or another player while using a Riptide-enchanted trident, damage is dealt with the item in the player's main hand.

Shields can be held in the off-hand as defense. They do not take priority over the main hand, and cannot be used if the main hand item has a use functionality (such as a bow or spear).

Arrows held in the off-hand are prioritized over other arrows in the hotbar and the inventory. Players can equip a specific arrow in their off-hand slot to fire it with a bow. If the bow is held in the off-hand, then the arrow selected on the hotbar (with the main hand) is prioritized.

Tool use

When a tool with a right-click function is held in the off-hand with another tool or weapon selected in the hotbar, right-clicking on a block that is relevant to the off-hand tool uses that off-hand tool unless the selected tool in the hotbar can also be used on the same block, in which case the hotbar tool has priority.

When a firework is in the off-hand slot and is being used with a crossbow, right-click and hold to charge and when ready, right click again to fire a firework. Fireworks can be fired from crossbows only when in the off-hand slot.

Bedrock Edition

In Bedrock Edition, only a select few items can be placed in the off-hand slot and be dual-wielded:

• Shield, can be activated by sneaking.
• Totem of Undying, functions properly.
• Arrows, tipped arrows, and firework rockets, used to give them priority in bows and crossbows over other projectiles in the inventory.
• Filled maps (includes explorer maps and photos‌^{[edu only]}), which are displayed as a smaller mini-map and cause maps in the main hand to be displayed as such as well.
• Nautilus shell, held by drowned in the off-hand but has no special use for the player.
• Pocket jukeboxes,​^{[upcoming: Music Features Add-On]} cannot be used in the off-hand.
• Sparklers,‌^{[Minecraft Education only]} function normally.

Other items can be placed into the off-hand slot by using the /replaceitem command, but most items are unusable.

Mobs

Some mobs are also able to dual-wield, albeit to a more limited degree. Drowned are the only mob that can naturally spawn dual-wielding items, those being a trident/fishing rod in the main hand and a nautilus shell in the off-hand. Piglins temporarily dual-wield when bartering/inspecting a gold-related item while holding a weapon. When a mob picks up a shield, they place it in their offhand if the slot is available.

The following mobs can dual-wield items with commands:

• Zombie
• Husk
• Drowned
• Zombie Villager
• Skeleton
• Stray
• Bogged
• Parched
• Wither Skeleton
• Zombified Piglin
• Piglin
• Piglin Brute
• Pillager
• Vindicator
• Evoker
• Vex

Mobs do not actively use/consume most items or blocks in their off-hand, with a few exceptions:

• Totem of Undying - used when the mob takes fatal damage.
• Arrow, Spectral Arrow, Tipped Arrow, Firework Rocket - used when an applicable mob is holding a bow or crossbow in their main hand. The held item is consumed when used as ammunition.

History

Development

Java Edition

Java Edition Beta
1.6			Test Build 3				Added maps, which require both hands to hold.
Java Edition
1.9			15w31a				Added dual wielding.
1.16			pre3				Swap item in hand now works while hovering over an item in inventory.[1]

Bedrock Edition

Pocket Edition
1.1.0			alpha 1.1.0.0				Added the off-hand slot, which can be used by totems of undying and arrows only.
Bedrock Edition
1.2.0			beta 1.2.0.2				The player can now use maps in the off-hand slot.
1.4.0			beta 1.2.20.1				The player can now hold sparklers in the off-hand slot.
1.5.0			beta 1.5.0.0				The player can now hold nautilus shells in the off-hand slot.
1.8.0			beta 1.8.0.10				The player can now hold firework rockets in the off-hand.
1.10.0			beta 1.10.0.3				The player can now hold shields in the off-hand slot.
1.19.60			Preview 1.19.60.24				Using /replaceitem command can now put any item into the off-hand slot, but most items can not be used as when it is in the main hand.
Upcoming Bedrock Edition
26.70			Preview 26.70.20				New textures in gameplay atlas.png have been added for slot shield icon to match Ore UI.
			Preview 26.70.23				Added a control for swapping items with the offhand. This applies when holding items valid for the offhand.
							On keyboard and mouse, this is F by default.
							On a controller, replaces the control for "Crafting".
							On touch, there is a new offhand button.
							Currently, the offhand button does not work.

Legacy Console Edition

Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU53	CU43	1.49	1.50	1.49	Patch 23	1.0.3	Added the off-hand slot, which can be used by maps and arrows only. It currently does not use an inventory sprite.
TU54	CU44	1.52	1.52	1.52	Patch 24	1.0.4	The player can now hold the totem of undying.
			1.90				The off-hand slot now uses the sprite in the inventory.
							The player can now hold shields in the off-hand slot.
							The player can now hold firework rockets in the off-hand.

Issues

Issues relating to "Dual wield", "Dual wielding", or "Off-hand" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Gallery

Development images

• 
  Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands
• 
  Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands
• 
  First image of a left hand
• 
  Dinnerbone dual wielding two types of fish
• 
  Dinnerbone dual wielding two swords
• 
  Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (Note: the information on this image is outdated.)
• 
  Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.)
• 
  Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.)

See also

• Blocking
• Breaking

References