Dual wield

Dual wielding is a gameplay mechanic that allows players (and mobs) to hold two items or blocks‌^{[Java Edition only]} simultaneously.

Players can equip an item to the 👁 SlotSprite Offhand.png: Sprite image for Offhand in Minecraft
off-hand slot from the inventory, similarly to armor. Players can also select an item and press 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 items with a use function in the main hand (e.g. tridents, which can be thrown), or the item held on the main hand cannot be used directly (e.g. axe while not looking at a log, wood, or an oxidized/waxed copper 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.

A player can equip a bow, crossbow, spear, or trident in their off-hand. So far, these are the only weapons that can be used in the off-hand slot or in conjunction with another weapon. This allows for higher damage output, as players no longer have to switch between weapons; however, it disables the use of a shield. Players can left-click to attack with the equipped main-hand weapon (namely a sword or mace) and right click to attack with the off-hand 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.

Shields can be held in the off-hand as defense. They do not take priority over the main hand, and cannot be used if the main hand item has a use functionality (such as a bow or spear).

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 held in the off-hand, then the arrow selected on the hotbar (with the main hand) is prioritized.

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.

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 a totem of undying, while others are for exploring, like filled maps or explorer maps, and for aesthetic such as sparklers‌^{[Minecraft Education only]} and nautilus shells. Other items can be placed into the off-hand slot by using the /replaceitem command, but most items are unusable.

Some mobs are also able to dual-wield, albeit to a more limited degree. For mobs that cannot pick up items, commands must be used in order for them to dual-wield.

The following mobs can dual-wield items:

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  Zombie
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  Husk
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  Drowned
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  Zombie Villager
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  Skeleton
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  Stray
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  Bogged
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  Parched
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  Wither Skeleton
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  Zombified Piglin
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  Piglin
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  Piglin Brute
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  Pillager
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  Vindicator
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  Evoker
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  Vex

Mobs do not actively use/consume most items or blocks in their off-hand, with a few exepctions:

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  Totem of Undying - used when the mob takes fatal damage.
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  Arrow, 👁 Image
  Spectral Arrow, 👁 Image
  Tipped Arrow, 👁 Image
  Firework Rocket - used when an applicable mob is holding a bow or crossbow in their main hand. The held item is consumed when used as ammunition.

When a mob picks up a shield, they place it in their offhand if the slot is available.

Drowned are the only mob that can naturally spawn dual-wielding items, those being a trident/fishing rod in the main hand and a nautilus shell in the off-hand.

Piglins temporarily dual-wield when bartering/inspecting a gold-related item while holding a weapon.

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

• 👁 Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands.
  
  Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands.
• 👁 Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands.
  
  Dev image of incorrectly positioned hands.
• 👁 First image of a left hand.
  
  First image of a left hand.
• 👁 Dinnerbone dual wielding two types of fish.
  
  Dinnerbone dual wielding two types of fish.
• 👁 Dinnerbone dual wielding two swords.
  
  Dinnerbone dual wielding two swords.
• 👁 Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding. (Note: the information on this image is outdated.)
  
  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.).
• 👁 Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.).
  
  Dinnerbone's original guide on dual wielding (cont.).

• Blocking
• Breaking