Blocking



Blocking is a feature implemented in the Adventure Update. When the player holds the right mouse button while wielding a sword, he or she will be able to block attacks, including arrows and explosions; blocked attacks deal only half damage. Blocking works with any sword, and does not decrease the sword's durability.

The player moves at a speed slower than the speed of sneaking when blocking while moving.

Trivia

 * Currently the fastest possible movement in Minecraft Beta 1.8 can occur when the player sprints and jumps while in a 2-block high space/tunnel on top of ice. This causes the player to move at about 16 blocks per second. Contrasting that is the slowest possible movement in Minecraft, which can occur when the player blocks and moves forward while going through cobwebs placed on top of soulsand that is placed on top of ice. This causes the player to move at about 1/32 blocks a second, or 1/2 pixel a second on a default 16x16 texture pack versus the 16 block per second with the previous trick. If you sneak at the same time, you go even slower, at roughly 2.385496183206e-2.


 * Sneaking and blocking while moving through cobwebs on soulsand which is placed under ice makes the player move at the slowest speed known: about 1/32 blocks a second, or 1/2 pixel a second on default texture pack resolution (16x16).

Bugs

 * (?)You can mine blocks while blocking.
 * If you try to attack while blocking, the attack will only register when you let go of the block button.
 * If blocking while swimming, you will be able to float faster.