I was reading the Minecraft Wiki about the enchantment "Bane of Arthropods" and the enchantment applies a slowness effect to spiders. But at the bottom of the enchantment there is a note that says:
Notably, the slowness effect applies not only to kills with the sword, but to any "arthropod" kills while holding the sword.
So what does that mean? Does it mean as long as a sword with that enchantment is in my inventory and/or my hotbar it applies the effect to Arthropods, or am I misunderstanding this?
22 Answers
Holding the sword literally means holding it - having it on your hotbar and selected (should appear in hand). How minecraft applies enchantments is when a player deals damage, it will check the player's selected slot for a enchanted item. if the item is enchanted, then the appropriate enchantment is applied. This works with any enchantment so a good trick is to throw an damage potion and then before the potion lands, switch to a looting sword and the looting will apply.
1The enchantment only applies if you are holding the sword, not just in your hotbar, it must be in your hand when the kill happens.
