The Iron Ingots Dilemma - Flint & Steel or Iron Sword?

[StanMiniShow]

Ever had that moment when you have 1 or 2 iron ingots, and you do not know whether to use them to craft an Iron Sword, or to use them to craft Flint & Steels? Well, today, I'd tell you exactly what to use them on.

First off, Iron Swords are very similar to Stone Swords. Both will give 2 hearts of damage to people with full leather armor, both will give 1 and a half hearts of damage to people with full gold or full chain armor, and both will give 1 heart of damage to people with full iron armor.
(More information on sword damages here: http://www.minecraftsurvivalgames.com/threads/weapon-damages-against-full-armor.96062/)
Using this information, if you already have a Stone Sword, you better use those iron ingots to craft Flint & Steels. This is because people who walk into the fire you set with your Flint & Steel will have at least 4 hearts of damage. Not only that, but they will slow down because of the 8 constant ticks they get. This is also a very good way to get rid of teams for you get to give damage to everyone all at once (You'll need practice if you want to get better with Flint & Steels ). Also, while they're burning, you get to finish them off with your bow.

These are the only conditions that you might want to consider crafting an iron sword:
1. You have no weapon
2. You have a wood axe
3. You have a stone axe
4. You have a wood sword
5. Playing on maps with a majority of snow/ice
6. You want to use your flints for arrows
7. You already have a couple of flint & steels
8. You don't know how to use the flint & steel

That's all I have to say! I hope this little info/tip helped! If it did, make sure to leave a like. Any comments?

 

[ChallengerSRT]

This helped .
I don't use rod or bow as much I just use fns or sword
Now I know how to decide thanks !!!

 

[StanMiniShow]

This helped .
I don't use rod or bow as much I just use fns or sword
Now I know how to decide thanks !!!

No problem!

 

[darkai202]

Iron Swords do more damage than stone, assuming you're in an equal armor wise in a swore fight 1v1 and trade hits equally the iron sword will win.

 

[RC_4777]

I'll pick the flint and steel every time because that's definitely of more use than an iron sword for me.

Iron Swords do more damage than stone, assuming you're in an equal armor wise in a swore fight 1v1 and trade hits equally the iron sword will win.

This thread will disagree. Also, "trade hits equally" is the big problem XD In a sword fight against a decent player I can assume I won't get an equal exchange and a flint and steel will be more useful.

 

[StanMiniShow]

Iron Swords do more damage than stone, assuming you're in an equal armor wise in a swore fight 1v1 and trade his equally the iron sword will win.

Hmmm, not that much though. According to the wiki, it does the same damage. I calculated how much damage each gives by deducting the percentage of protection from armors, and iron swords do a very little more damage than stone sword that they're almost equal. Basically, flint & steel should be preferred.

 

[StanMiniShow]

I'll pick the flint and steel every time because that's definitely of more use than an iron sword for me.

Definitely.

 

[WilloWizard]

This thread sums up my whole Flint and Steel dilemma.

1. If I only had a wood sword or any type of axe, I'd make an Iron Sword. If I had a stone sword and decent armour (6+ armour bars) I'd make a Flint and Steel.. I don't always have decent armour when I make Flint and Steel though. Flint and Steel is an aid to help someone in battle. Say someone had full Iron in the DM and you only had full chain. If you got them on fire when about to Sword-Fight, it gives you the advantage. Most people would think "Better sword = more chance of winning a fight, but that is pretty much never the case...

P.S. The funny thing is, my avatar is holding both an Iron Sword and Flint and Steel. How ironic.

 

[darkai202]

Hmmm, not that much though. According to the wiki, it does the same damage. I calculated how much damage each gives by deducting the percentage of protection from armors, and iron swords do a very little more damage than stone sword that they're almost equal. Basically, flint & steel should be preferred.

Flint and steels are also a dangerous item, 99% of the time you're going to take a hit if you miss your FnS which is probably going to mess the fight up. I'd prefer the sword honestly.

 

[RC_4777]

Flint and steels are also a dangerous item, 99% of the time you're going to take a hit if you miss your FnS which is probably going to mess the fight up. I'd prefer the sword honestly.

That's why I'll fall back if I miss and either try again if I think I can hit it or try something else. As the other thread pointed out, iron sword's damage advantage is pretty negligible.

 

[StanMiniShow]

That's why I'll fall back if I miss and either try again if I think I can hit it or try something else. As the other thread pointed out, iron sword's damage advantage is pretty negligible.

^

 

[darkai202]

That's why I'll fall back if I miss and either try again if I think I can hit it or try something else. As the other thread pointed out, iron sword's damage advantage is pretty negligible.

If the person isn't a complete idiot, that one hit can cost you the game. If you're going to run back, depending on the angle they can still kill you. (Unless you're like on flatlands, lol)

Anyway.. I never find myself with a small amount of iron ingots or FnS'. If you aren't completely aggressive and go on a rampage after you get a sword you should probably have a decent chest route.. Which should probably get you one FnS at the least, one is enough generally. Fire spamming will generally be less beneficial to the person that did it.

Summing up, if you need that many FnS' to negate making an iron sword you're probably clueless on how to use a FnS efficiently or just love spamming fire xD

Some people just want to watch the world burn.