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Imagine calling down a bolt of lightning exactly at the place where you throw your weapon in Minecraft. This is exactly what the Channeling enchantment does, and it can quickly make you feel like a powerful thunder god in the game. This way, you can turn any ordinary fight into a dramatic and electrifying one. So, check this guide to learn what Channeling does in Minecraft, where to get it from, and all of its uses as well.

What Does the Channeling Enchantment Do in Minecraft?

Channeling is one of the best Trident enchantments in Minecraft for receiving a special lightning ability. When you throw a Trident enchanted with Channeling, and it hits a target, it summons a bolt of lightning directly onto that target.

But before you get hold of this enchantment, learn how to get a Trident in Minecraft first. Now, to activate this ability, certain conditions must be met. Lightning can only be summoned when you throw the Trident enchanted with Channeling on an entity or a lightning rod during a thunderstorm.

Image Credit: Minecraft/Mojang (screenshot by Bipradeep Biswas/Beebom)

Other than this, you can summon lightning during a normal rainy day in the game, but the trident must be thrown at a lightning rod. Throwing it on an entity during rain will not summon the lightning. That being said, here is a brief breakdown of the Channeling enchantment in Minecraft.

CharacteristicDescriptionMaximum LevelChanneling I (Has only 1 level)Applicable onTridentAbility/EffectSummons a bolt of lightning on an entity or a lightning rod during a thunderstorm.Mutually Exclusive/Incompatible WithRiptideHow to ObtainEnchantment Table, Anvil (Using Enchanted Books)

How to Get Channeling in Minecraft

You can get the Channeling enchantment by using the Enchanting Table in Minecraft or by using an enchanted book on the Anvil. So, this is how you can get that using both methods:

Get Channeling Using Enchanting Table

The most direct way to get the Channeling enchantment in Minecraft is by using an enchanting table. Using a setup of a single enchanting table surrounded by 15 bookshelves will help you to get Channeling faster. Once your setup is complete, right-click on the table to open its UI.

Image Credit: Minecraft/Mojang (screenshot by Bipradeep Biswas/Beebom)

Now, place the Trident in the left slot and a Lapis Lazuli on the right. Three enchantment combinations will appear to your right. Choose the best one that has the Channeling enchantment along with other cool abilities like Mending, Unbreaking, and more.

Get Channeling Using Anvil

The second reliable method is using enchanted books and an Anvil in Minecraft. Firstly, you can get the enchanted books with the Channeling enchantment from fishing, trading with the Librarian villager, or by looting structures like Mineshafts, Desert Pyramids, Ocean Ruins, Strongholds, Ancient Cities, Trial Chambers, and so on.

Image Credit: Minecraft/Mojang (screenshot by Bipradeep Biswas/Beebom)

Once you get the book, place the anvil on the ground and right-click to open it. Next, place the Trident in the first slot and the book in the middle to get the Channeling enchanted Trident in the rightmost slot.

How to Use Channeling in Minecraft

So, if you were wondering what the Channeling enchantment does in Minecraft and how to use it, we have got you covered. All you need to make sure of is that it is currently thunderstorm weather in the game to make this enchantment work.

You can either wait for it to happen or simply enable the cheats in Minecraft and type in the following command to set the weather to thunderstorm:

/weather thunder

Once the weather is active, look for nearby entities to try this ability. Then, aim the trident at the entity and release to throw the weapon at it. As soon as the trident hits the entity, a bolt of lightning falls directly on it and ignites the nearby ground on fire.

However, there are also some conditions when this ability won’t work. Lightning will not fall on the target if it is submerged in water or standing under any cover. Despite these limitations, Channeling can be super rewarding. For instance, you can summon lightning on a Creeper to convert it into a Charged Creeper. And then you can set it off near Minecraft mobs to get the mob heads in the game.

Channeling Vs Riptide: Which Enchantment Should You Use on The Trident?

One important point about the Channeling in Minecraft is that it is mutually exclusive to the Riptide enchantment. So, choosing between the two entirely depends on your playstyle because they serve different purposes.

Channeling shines in situations where you want to create an additional damage effect on the mobs or even manipulate them. But, its only limitation is that the current weather condition should be a thunderstorm to use the enchantment.

Whereas Riptide can transform your Trident into a mobility tool, allowing you to travel short distances with a quick spiral dash. This ability works inside water and in the air as well, allowing you to fly for a while. However, the weather should be rainy, or at least you should be submerged in water. That said, here is a short comparison of using Channeling and Riptide in Minecraft.

PropertyChannelingRiptideEnchantment TypeCombatMobilityMaximum LevelChanneling IRiptide IIIPrimary FunctionSummons lightning on hit during a thunderstormLaunches the player forward with the Trident during rainIncompatibilityRiptideChanneling, Loyalty

All Minecraft Advancements with Channeling Enchantment

The Channeling enchantment also plays a role in completing certain Minecraft advancements. One notable advancement is called “Very Very Frightening,” which requires you to strike a villager with a lightning bolt.

The second advancement is called “Surge Protector,” which requires you to protect a villager from lightning without starting a fire.

So, that is all about what the Channeling enchantment can do in Minecraft, how to get it, and all the ways to use it in the game. So, which is your best Minecraft enchantment build using a Trident? Tell us in the comments below.

Does Channeling enchantment work in normal rain?

Yes, the channeling enchantment can work during normal rain, but it can only summon lightning on the lightning rods.

What are the best enchantments to pair with Channeling?

The best enchantments to pair up with Channeling are Mending, Unbreaking, Loyalty, and Impaling.

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