Getting a trident in Minecraft is quite rare, with the exact drop chance from a Drowned being 0.53125% without any enchantments. This translates to roughly 1 in 188 Drowned killed. The rarity can be slightly improved by using the Looting enchantment.
Understanding Trident Drop Mechanics
Tridents are exclusive drops from Drowned, an underwater zombie variant found in oceans and rivers. The process of obtaining a trident involves two primary probabilities:
- Drowned Spawning with a Trident: Only a small percentage of Drowned spawn naturally holding a trident. This chance is fixed and not affected by player actions or enchantments.
- Drowned Dropping the Trident: If a Drowned is holding a trident, there's a specific chance it will drop it upon death. This particular chance is affected by the Looting enchantment.
Trident Drop Rate Breakdown
To get a trident, both conditions must be met: a Drowned must spawn holding one, and then it must drop it when defeated.
- Chance for a Drowned to Spawn with a Trident: Approximately 6.25% (or 1 in 16 Drowned).
- Base Drop Chance (if holding a trident, no Looting): 8.5%
- Looting Enchantment Effect on Drop Chance (if holding a trident): The Looting enchantment increases the drop chance by 1% per level:
- Looting I: 9.5%
- Looting II: 10.5%
- Looting III: 11.5%
Combining these probabilities gives the overall chance of any given Drowned dropping a trident.
Overall Trident Drop Probabilities
The following table summarizes the overall chance of obtaining a trident from any Drowned, based on the presence and level of the Looting enchantment:
| Condition | Exact Drop Percentage | Approximate Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Without Looting | 0.53125% | About 1 in 188 |
| With Looting I | 0.59375% | About 1 in 168 |
| With Looting II | 0.65625% | About 1 in 152 |
| With Looting III | 0.71875% | About 1 in 140 |
As shown, even with Looting III, the chance remains under 1%, making tridents one of the rarer drops in Minecraft.
Strategies for Trident Farming
Given the low drop rates, actively farming Drowned is the most efficient way to acquire tridents.
- Equip a Looting III Sword: This is crucial for maximizing your drop chances. A sword enchanted with Looting III will provide the highest possible probability for a Drowned to drop its trident.
- Find Drowned Spawning Locations:
- Oceans and Rivers: Drowned frequently spawn in most ocean biomes and rivers, especially at night or in dark underwater areas.
- Underwater Ruins: These structures are often populated by Drowned, making them good spots for initial hunting.
- Build a Drowned Farm: For dedicated players, constructing an automated Drowned farm can significantly increase trident acquisition over time. These farms typically utilize water currents to funnel Drowned into a killing chamber, allowing for efficient, often AFK (away from keyboard), farming.
- Underwater Exploration: Simply exploring the ocean depths and engaging Drowned you encounter can yield tridents, though less efficiently than a dedicated farm.
The Value of Tridents
Despite their rarity, tridents are highly sought after for their unique abilities:
- Melee and Ranged Weapon: They can be thrown at enemies or used in close combat.
- Riptide Enchantment: Allows players to propel themselves through water or in the rain when thrown.
- Loyalty Enchantment: Causes the trident to return to the player after being thrown.
- Channeling Enchantment: Summons a lightning bolt at the target during a thunderstorm (requires a direct hit).
Because of their versatile enchantments and utility, tridents are considered valuable tools for exploration, combat, and movement within Minecraft.
