Minecraft wiki entry for Combat, associated text: Using the combined effects of Depth Strider III, Speed II and sprinting, the player can actually swim faster than the guardians, allowing them to sneak up on them or to escape their beams. Players can also use trident with Riptide III and Impaling V, and when the guardian uses its laser attack, quickly use the trident and aim into it, so guardian will take damage from the trident and stop using its laser due to the player being too close.