How to Get Sweeping Edge in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Sweeping Edge is a Java Edition sword enchantment (max level III) that boosts sweep attack damage to 50%/67%/75% of your sword's damage against surrounding mobs. It does nothing on the mob you hit directly, and it does not exist in Bedrock. Get it from the enchanting table, librarian trades, fishing, or structure chests.

What you need

Sword (any tier)
Enchanting table + bookshelves, or anvil + Sweeping Edge book
XP levels
A crowd of zombies (optional)

Step by step

Check your edition. Sweeping Edge is Java Edition only - Bedrock swords have no sweep attacks at all, so the enchantment does not exist there.
Enchant a sword at the table. Any sword can roll Sweeping Edge up to III. Use 15 bookshelves for level 30 rolls.
Or find the book. Librarian trades, fishing treasure, monster room chests, ocean ruins chests and other non-village structure loot all carry it.
Learn the sweep. On Java, standing still on the ground and attacking with your cooldown at 84.8% or higher triggers a sweep: mobs in a small area around your target take the sweep damage and get knocked back.
Do the math. Sweep damage is 1 + sword damage × level/(level+1), plus any Sharpness-type bonus that applies to each mob: at III, 75% of the sword's damage splashes to nearby mobs. A diamond sword with Sharpness V and Sweeping Edge III sweeps 9.25 HP (about 4.6 hearts) to each mob caught.
Use it in crowds. Sweeping Edge shines in mob farms, zombie sieges and raid waves - anywhere enemies pack together. For single targets it adds zero damage.

Java vs Bedrock

JAVA EDITION ONLY. Bedrock has no sweep attack mechanic and no Sweeping Edge enchantment. On Java, the bonus applies only to surrounding mobs, never to the mob you hit directly.

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

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I get Sweeping Edge on Bedrock?

Because it does not exist there. Sweep attacks themselves are a Java-only mechanic - Bedrock swords swing differently, so the enchantment has nothing to boost. Mojang has tested combat changes, but as of now Sweeping Edge remains Java-only.

Does Sweeping Edge increase damage on my main target?

No - only the surrounding mobs caught in the sweep take the boosted damage. Your direct target takes the sword's normal hit. Pair it with Sharpness, which boosts both.

Sweeping Edge or Sharpness?

Not a choice - they stack on the same sword. Sharpness raises your direct hit (which also raises the sweep, since sweep damage scales off sword damage), and Sweeping Edge raises the splash percentage. The classic mob-farm sword has both.