Minecraft: how to take advantage of spear range while using sword enchantments? Everything you need to know about attribute swapping

The spear gives you real extra melee range, but on its own, it’s clearly weaker than a sword when it comes to enchantments. That’s where what many people call attribute swapping comes in, even though the term is often misunderstood. In reality, it’s not modding or item fusion at all, but a very fast switch between two weapons placed next to each other in your hotbar.

The idea is simple. You put your spear in one slot, your sword right next to it. When you attack with the spear, you instantly switch to the sword at the exact moment of the hit. The game then applies the sword’s effects, while still benefiting from the spear’s range. The result is simple: you hit like you’re using a spear, but the damage and effects come from the sword.

That’s why this technique is so strong. The spear lets you stay out of reach of mobs or players, while the sword brings all the real combat bonuses. Without this trick, the spear is comfortable to use, but clearly falls behind a well-enchanted sword.

For this to work properly, your sword needs to be fully optimized, because it’s the base for all the effects. Most players go for Sharpness V for raw damage, Looting III to maximize drops, Fire Aspect II if you want extra DPS, and of course Unbreaking III + Mending so you never have to repair it. Knockback is optional, useful in survival, often avoided in PvP.

In practice, you play as if the spear were your main weapon. You attack from a distance, control space, and secure fights. Creepers become much less dangerous, hoglins are easier to manage, and in PvP you can hit before your opponent, which makes all the difference. The switch quickly becomes automatic, and with a bit of practice, it feels completely smooth.