AxeSwap
by ByForse
AxeSwap, a Fabric client mod, switches from a sword to an axe the moment a player strikes an opponent who is blocking with a shield.
What it does
Upon striking a target with a sword, the mod looks at whether that target is holding a raised shield. If it is, AxeSwap scans the whole inventory for an axe, from wooden through netherite, and uses the first one it finds. The chosen axe is swapped into the current sword slot, and the sword moves to the axe's former position, so nothing is deleted or duplicated.
The swap is meant for player-versus-player fights and for raids, where a shield can absorb most of a sword hit. Once the combat ends, the player switches back to the sword by hand. The mod needs no configuration, adds no items, and runs entirely on the client, so it works on a server that permits client-side mods without the server installing anything. Players add it to their own game, and a server needs no copy. The mod is for Fabric and is published for 1.21.4, with a single file, 1.0.0, released 2026-04-25. It is released under All rights reserved, so it is not open source.
Key features
Automatic axe swap
A sword strike on a blocking target instantly brings an axe into the sword slot, without any key press.
Whole-inventory search
The axe is taken from anywhere in the inventory or hotbar, so the player does not have to hold it in a fixed slot.
Item preservation
The sword and axe trade places, so no item is lost, dropped or duplicated during the swap.
Zero configuration
The swap works out of the box, with no settings to adjust before a fight.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Who it’s for: Players who fight other players or raid outposts with a sword and often meet shielded opponents. The mod suits anyone on a Fabric client running 1.21.4.
How it compares
Shield to Sword Block is a Fabric client-side mod for 1.21.11 under the MIT License, and it is not open source. Old Combat System is a Fabric mod for 1.21.5 – 1.21.8 that is required on the server, with the client optional, and it uses the MIT License without being open source. Simple Hotbar Switcher is open source under the MIT License, supports 1.21.11 on Fabric, and either side may run it without the other.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AxeSwap | Fabric | 1.21.4 | Client-side only | 2026-04-25 |
| Shield to Sword Block | Fabric | 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-03-26 |
| Old Combat System | Fabric | 1.21.5 – 1.21.8 | Server required, client optional | 2025-08-13 |
| Simple Hotbar Switcher | Fabric | 1.21.11 | Client or server, optional | 2026-04-12 |
Questions
Does AxeSwap need to be installed on the server?
Which loader and game version does AxeSwap support?
Does AxeSwap change the sword after the fight?
Can AxeSwap pick any axe in the inventory?
In the catalog
AxeSwap is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 5,930 Management mods for Fabric. 17,979 mods support Minecraft 1.21.4.
Similar mods
What the author says
Automatically swaps your sword to an axe when hitting a blocking enemy ShieldSwap is a client-side Fabric mod that automatically replaces your sword with an axe the moment you strike an enemy who is blocking with a shield. You no longer need to manually switch hotbar slots in the heat of battle — the mod does it for…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/axeswap
- Owner
- ByForse
- Published
- 2026-04-25
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-04-25
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15