How to Get Knockback in Minecraft (Knockback II)

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Knockback makes swords and spears launch enemies: +2.586 blocks of horizontal knockback per level, about 6.7 blocks with Knockback II. Get it from enchanting tables, librarian trades, fishing, monster rooms or structure loot.

What you need

Sword or spear
Enchanting table + bookshelves
Librarian + lectern for the book
Anvil for combining to II

Step by step

Enchant a sword: Knockback rolls on enchanting tables for swords and maxes at level II, so a single table roll can finish it. Spears accept it too.
Trade with librarians: reroll a lectern for a Knockback book, lock it, and combine to II on an anvil if needed.
Fish and loot: fishing books, monster room chests and non-village structure loot carry it; Bedrock raid mobs drop books too.
Know the numbers: each level adds 2.586 blocks of horizontal knockback on top of the base 1.552 - Knockback II sends mobs flying about 6.7 blocks. Vertical knockback also rises from 0.8125 to 1 block at any level.
Stack it: Knockback piles onto sprint-knockback attacks, and sword sweep attacks are affected too - sprint-swing into a crowd and everything scatters.
Shield split: if your Knockback hit gets blocked by a shield, the knockback is cancelled in Java but still applies in Bedrock.
Know the immovable: iron golems, wardens and shulkers ignore knockback completely, squid resist it out of water, and damage-immune targets (like players right after being hit) take none.
Java quirks: you can knock armor stands around with it (Bedrock can't), and off-hand spear charge attacks don't apply Knockback - an unresolved bug.
Command trivia: on a trident applied via commands, Knockback works for melee hits but not throws; beyond level II, extra levels have diminishing returns against players but not mobs.
Verdict: great for defense and knockback games (hello, bridge PvP), but many players skip it on boss swords - it pushes mobs out of your own follow-up swings.

Java vs Bedrock

Knockback numbers match across editions (+2.586 blocks per level). Two splits: shield-blocked hits keep their knockback in Bedrock but lose it in Java, and only Java lets you knock armor stands with it (plus the off-hand spear bug is Java-only).

Versions: Describes the current Java and Bedrock releases. See the edition note for differences.

Frequently asked questions

What does Knockback do in Minecraft?

It increases melee knockback by 2.586 blocks per level - Knockback II launches enemies about 6.7 blocks horizontally and bumps vertical knockback from 0.8125 to 1 block. It works on swords and spears, stacks with sprint attacks, and affects sword sweep attacks.

Is Knockback worth it on a sword?

Depends on the job: for defending yourself, fighting near cliffs or lava, and PvP it's excellent. For pure damage races against bosses it can hurt - you knock the mob out of your own combo range. Many players keep a dedicated Knockback II sword and a separate Sharpness sword.

Which mobs are immune to Knockback?

Iron golems, wardens and shulkers are completely unaffected by knockback. Squid and glow squid resist it while out of water, and any target in its post-hit damage-immunity window takes no knockback at all.