Minecraft wiki entry for Weapon, associated text: Axes in Java Edition deal more damage per hit than their sword counterparts, but have a slower cooldown. Wooden and stone axes have a cooldown time of 1.2 seconds, 80% slower than swords. Iron axes have a cooldown time of 1.1 seconds, 70% slower than swords. Golden, diamond, and netherite axes have a cooldown time of 1 second, 60% slower than swords. Axes are the only weapon type that can disable a shield, which can be lengthened with Cleaving‌[upcoming: JE Combat Tests]. In Bedrock Edition, axes deal one less damage than their sword counterparts.