Structured comparison
Multishot vs Piercing
Multishot fires three crossbow projectiles in a spread; Piercing sends one arrow through multiple entities and shields. They conflict in normal survival enchanting.
Multishot vs PiercingMultishot vs Piercing feature comparison
| Feature | Multishot | Piercing | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projectile pattern | Three-projectile horizontal spread | One arrow continues through aligned targets | Multishot covers width; Piercing rewards alignment. |
| Ammunition | Consumes one arrow or rocket for the spread | Works with arrows, not firework rockets | Multishot supports rockets; Piercing is arrow-specific. |
| Target count | Can hit separated targets but duplicate projectiles do not normally stack damage on one target | Level n can pierce n entities and hit up to n+1 | Piercing is predictable against a line of mobs. |
| Shield and recovery | Does not add Piercing's shield pass-through | Can pass through blocking shields and the arrow can be recovered | Piercing offers ammunition recovery and anti-shield utility. |
Which should you choose?
- Choose Multishot for groups, close spread and firework-rocket builds.
- Choose Piercing for aligned mobs, shield pressure and recoverable arrows.