How to Get Riptide in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Riptide is a trident enchantment that launches YOU when you throw the trident in water or rain - the trident never leaves your hand. Max level III. Get it from an enchanting table, librarian trades, loot chests or anvil combining, but it cannot be combined with Loyalty or Channeling.

What you need

Trident (from drowned)
Enchanting table, or anvil + Riptide enchanted book
XP levels
Mending (recommended - throws cost durability)

Step by step

Get a trident from a naturally spawned drowned holding one or from a trial chamber vault. Looting helps the drowned drop chance; tridents cannot be crafted.
Enchant the trident at a table, or apply a Riptide book on an anvil. Librarian trades, fishing treasure and structure loot are book sources.
Combine two Riptide I books or tridents for II, then two II for III. Higher levels give a larger launch.
Use it while in water or exposed to rain to launch yourself. Snow and overcast skies do not count as rain. Combining it with elytra can help travel, but clear weather stops rain-powered launches.
Riptide replaces the thrown projectile and is incompatible with Loyalty and Channeling. A launch consumes 1 durability in Java. Colliding with a mob to damage it consumes another point in both editions, so a Java launch with a collision can cost 2.

Java vs Bedrock

Both editions need water or rain and exclude Loyalty and Channeling. Java launches cost 1 durability; damaging collisions cost 1 in either edition. Snow does not activate Riptide. Watch fall height and durability.

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

Frequently asked questions

Riptide or Loyalty on my trident?

Loyalty is for a returning thrown weapon; Riptide is for movement in water or rain. They cannot coexist normally. Choose by use, or keep separate tridents.

Can I use Riptide in a cauldron or bubble column?

You need to be standing in water or exposed to falling rain - a cauldron's water does not count. Bubble columns in open water do, as long as you are inside the water.

Is Riptide worth it without elytra?

It can help with water and rainy-weather travel without elytra, but it is not an all-weather transport option. Watch where you land and the trident durability.