Dual wield

Dual wielding is a gameplay mechanic that allows players to hold two items or blocks‌ simultaneously.

Usage

The off-hand slot highlighted in the inventory

Players can equip an item to the off-hand slot from the inventory, similarly to armor. Players can also select an item and press F by default to automatically equip it. The off-hand slot then appears beside the HUD opposite from the main hand. If the player is in first-person view, then the off-hand appears in the screen along with the held item. Whichever hand should be the main hand is configurable in the Skin Customization menu.

The off-hand can use the item it holds when there are no usable items on the main hand (e.g. swords), or the item held on the main hand cannot be used directly (e.g. shovel or hoe while not looking at a grass block). Otherwise, the main hand takes priority over the off-hand. Players also cannot break blocks or attack with the off-hand, even if nothing is held in the main hand.

Combat

A player holding a shield and an iron sword.

Arrows held in the off-hand are prioritized over other arrows in the hotbar and the inventory. Players can equip a specific arrow in their off-hand slot to fire it with a bow. If the bow is on the off-hand, then the arrow selected on the hotbar (with the main hand) is prioritized. Shields can be held in the off-hand as defense.

A player can also equip a bow, crossbow or trident in their off-hand. So far, these are the only weapons that can be used in this slot or in conjunction with another weapon. This allows for higher damage output, as players no longer have to switch between a melee and distance weapon; however, it disables the use of a shield. Players can left-click to attack with the equipped melee weapon, and right click to attack with the ranged weapon. However, if a player collides with an entity or another player while using a Riptide-enchanted trident, damage is dealt with the item in the player's main hand.

Tool use

When a tool with a right-click function is held in the off-hand with another tool or weapon selected in the hotbar, right-clicking on a block that is relevant to the off-hand tool uses that off-hand tool unless the selected tool in the hotbar can also be used on the same block, in which case the hotbar tool has priority.

When a firework is in the off-hand slot and is being used with a crossbow, right-click and hold to charge and when ready, right click again to fire a firework. Fireworks can be fired from crossbows only when in the off-hand slot.

Bedrock Edition

In Bedrock Edition, only a select few items can be placed in the off-hand slot and be dual-wielded. Some are related to combat, like shields, arrows, tipped arrows, firework rockets or the totem of undying, while others are for exploring, like filled maps or explorer maps, and for aesthetic such as sparklers‌ and nautilus shells. Other items can be placed into the off-hand slot by using /replaceitem command only, but most item are unusable.

History

[hide]Java Edition Beta
10 July 2011							Jeb states that "Notch is working on dual-wielding of items" during an interview.
1.6			Test Build 3				Added maps, which require both hands to hold.
[hide]Java Edition
1.9			May 28, 2015				Nathan Adams tweets a picture of dual-wielding fish.
			June 4, 2015				Nathan Adams tweets a short guide explaining how the dual-wielding system works.
			15w31a				Added dual wielding.
1.16			pre3				Swap item in hand now works while hovering over an item in inventory.
[hide]Pocket Edition
1.1.0			alpha 1.1.0.0				Added the off-hand slot, which can be used by totems of undying and arrows only.
[hide]Bedrock Edition
1.2.0			beta 1.2.0.2				The player can now use maps in the off-hand slot.
1.4.0			beta 1.2.20.1				The player can now hold sparklers in the off-hand slot.
1.5.0			beta 1.5.0.0				The player can now hold the nautilus shell in the off-hand slot.
1.8.0			beta 1.8.0.10				The player can now hold firework rockets in the off-hand.
1.10.0			beta 1.10.0.3				The player can now hold shields in the off-hand slot.
1.19.60			Preview 1.19.60.24				Using /replaceitem command can now put any item into the off-hand slot, but most items can not be used as when it is in the main hand.
[hide]Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU53	CU43	1.49	1.50	1.49	Patch 23	1.0.3	Added the off-hand slot, which can be used by maps and arrows only. It currently does not use an inventory sprite.
TU54	CU44	1.52	1.52	1.52	Patch 24	1.0.4	The player can now hold the totem of undying.
			1.90				The off-hand slot now uses the sprite in the inventory.
							The player can now hold shields in the off-hand slot.
							The player can now hold firework rockets in the off-hand.

Issues

Issues relating to "Dual wield", "Dual wielding", or "Off-hand" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Gallery

Development images

• 

  Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands.

• 

  Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands.

• 

  First image of a left hand.

• 

  Dinnerbone dual wielding two types of fish.

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  Dinnerbone dual wielding two swords.

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  Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding. (Note: the information on this image is outdated.)

• 

  Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.).

• 

  Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.).

See also

• Blocking
• Breaking