How to Use the Trident in Minecraft: Riptide, Channeling & Impaling

Key Takeaways

Point	Details
Tridents cannot be crafted;	Tridents cannot be crafted; you obtain them from drowned (8.5% JE / 25% BE drop chance) or from vaults.
Melee deals 9 HP	Melee deals 9 HP damage; thrown tridents have a ballistic trajectory and are not slowed by water.
Riptide replaces the throw	Riptide replaces the throw with a self-launch in water or rain, useful for mobility and elytra flight.
Channeling (level I) strikes	Channeling (level I) strikes the target with lightning during thunderstorms.
Impaling (up to level	Impaling (up to level V) increases damage against mobs/players in water or rain.
Java Edition tridents despawn	Java Edition tridents despawn after 60 seconds; Bedrock tridents do not despawn.

The trident is one of Minecraft's most versatile weapons, offering both melee and ranged attacks with unique enchantments. This quick reference covers everything you need to know about using the trident and its three exclusive enchantments: Riptide, Channeling, and Impaling.

How to Obtain a Trident

Unlike most weapons, the trident cannot be crafted. You'll need to find one in the world. The Minecraft Wiki explains:

It cannot be crafted, and is only obtainable rarely from vaults or trident-wielding drowned.

The primary source is drowned. According to the wiki:

6.25% of naturally-spawned drowned spawn with a trident of random durability as their natural weapon.

When you kill a drowned holding a trident (with a player or tamed wolf), there's a chance it drops. The drop rates differ between editions:

When a drowned with a trident is killed by a player or a tamed wolf, it has a 8.5%‌[JE only]/25%‌[BE only] chance of dropping the trident.

Each level of Looting increases the drop chance by 1%. Note that zombies converted to drowned never spawn with tridents. In Java Edition, drowned that spawn as reinforcements can carry tridents.

Melee and Ranged Attacks

You can use the trident in two ways:

• Melee attack: Press the attack button to strike enemies. The trident deals 9 HP (4.5 hearts) of damage and has an attack speed of 1.1 in Java Edition. It does not have any special melee mechanics.
• Ranged throw: Press and hold the use button to charge, then release to throw. The trident flies on a ballistic trajectory similar to an arrow. Unlike other projectiles, it is not slowed down by water or lava. If it hits a block, it sticks; if it hits an entity, it bounces off. It can be blocked by shields.

Thrown tridents can trigger wooden buttons, wooden pressure plates, and target blocks. You can also break chorus flowers or pointed dripstone by throwing the trident at them.

Each throw costs 1 durability, and if the trident has 1 durability or less remaining, you cannot throw it.

Riptide Enchantment

Riptide transforms the trident into a mobility tool. As the wiki states:

Riptide is an enchantment applied to tridents that causes the trident to launch the user when used in water or rain, replacing the trident's ability to be thrown as a projectile.

The Riptide-enchanted trident can only be thrown when you are standing in water or exposed to rain. When thrown, it launches you with it. This works in any water source, even a single block.

The distance you travel depends on the enchantment level:

• In rain or standing water: (6 × level) + 3 blocks
• Underwater: (4 × level) + 3 blocks

Riptide pairs exceptionally well with elytra. You can propel yourself through the air during rain or by diving into water, reaching speeds up to 500 blocks per second – much faster than firework rockets.

If you collide with a mob while using Riptide, you deal throwing damage (including critical damage if falling), break your movement, and consume an extra durability point. The attack bypasses shields.

Riptide cannot be used in biomes or altitudes where it doesn't rain, unless you are in water.

Channeling Enchantment

Channeling has only one level. According to the wiki:

Used on tridents to summon a lightning bolt on impact with a mob during thunderstorms.

This works only during thunderstorms. When you throw a Channeling trident at a mob or player, a lightning bolt strikes the target on impact. It's perfect for converting piglins to zombie piglins, or for charging creepers.

Note that Channeling requires a thunderstorm – regular rain won't work. The trident must hit the entity directly; hitting a block will not summon lightning.

Impaling Enchantment

Impaling increases damage against aquatic mobs and players in water or rain. The wiki explains:

Used on tridents to deal more damage to players and mobs in water or rain.

It goes up to level V. Each level adds a fixed damage bonus, making it especially effective for underwater combat or fighting guardians and elder guardians.

Key Edition Differences

• Despawning: In Java Edition, thrown tridents despawn after 60 seconds if not picked up. In Bedrock Edition, they do not despawn.
• Multiple targets: In Java Edition, a thrown trident only damages one entity. In Bedrock Edition, it can damage multiple.
• Drop rates: Drowned have 8.5% chance in Java vs 25% in Bedrock (before Looting).
• Drowned behavior: Riptide has no effect for drowned.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a trident quickly? Farm drowned at night in rivers or oceans. Use Looting III for the best drop chance. Alternatively, find tridents in vaults within Trial Chambers.

Does Channeling work without a thunderstorm? No, it only works during a thunderstorm. Regular rain or clear weather will not trigger lightning.