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In Beta 1.8, right clicking with the sword equipped angles it in front of you, while decreasing your walking speed:

awesome sword animation. also tf2 hats.

What exactly is this doing? Does it provide any benefit to combat?

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According to the minecraft wiki article on swords, it blocks arrows and reduces damage done by attacks:

Swords will be able to block attacks by holding the right click in the Beta 1.8 update. This will block arrows as well as other projectiles, but will reduce the player to a speed slower than sneaking. Swords and all other player-dealt damage will be reduced by half a heart (like before Beta 1.5).

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    Against skeleton archers it doesn't seem to block arrows...possibly reduces damage
    – Domocus
    Sep 14, 2011 at 14:41
  • Yeah, it definitely doesn't block arrows.
    – user821
    Sep 14, 2011 at 16:25
  • it also reduces damage from creepers too
    – Marriott81
    Mar 31, 2014 at 13:22
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It is a block posture.

It decreases the damage taken from mobs' physical attacks, but not creeper's explosion because it is not a physical attack and it blocks projectiles, like arrows.

The disadvantage is that it decreases the movement speed.

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3

This is newly fixed / reimplemented blocking mechanic!

It is supposed to reduce damage done by mobs while you're in the blocking state.

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