Tutorial:Best enchantments guide
Reason: All items should be laid out in Minecraft Wiki standard. Reference other pages when styling.
This guide will give an explanation and walk-through of the best enchantments that can be applied to all enchantable items.
This page assumes that the world is created and played in the latest game version.
Enchantments with an anvil sign means that the enchantment cannot be obtained via the enchanting table and must be added through an anvil.
While there are several mutually exclusive enchantments, some will be the preferred choice meaning others can be ignored, while others have both distinct and useful applications, requiring multiples of the same gear with a mutually exclusive enchantment each.
Armor
Unbreaking is not as necessary on armor as on tools and weapons. Unbreaking III on a piece of armor only makes it last about 43% longer, but for a tool or a weapon, its durability is effectively quadrupled.
- Mending
- Protection IV[a]
- Unbreaking III
- Respiration III
- Aqua Affinity
- Thorns III
- Optional
- Consumes extra durability
- May be inconvenient for mob transport as mobs may die to the effect.
There are multiple enchantment orders with the same cost in levels. At the same total costs in levels the cost in XP can still be different. For example two steps costing 2 and 4 levels require more XP than two steps costing 3 levels each.
The optimal enchantment order with Thorns III is:
- Add
Thorns III (12XP) - Combine and add Respiration III + Unbreaking III (3XP + 11XP)
- Add Protection IV (14XP)
- Add Mending (2XP)
with a cost of 12 + 3 + 11 + 2 + 3 + 14 = 45 levels.
The optimal enchantment order without Thorns III is:
- Add Respiration III (6XP)
- Combine and add Protection IV + Mending (2XP + 8XP)
- Combine and add Unbreaking III + Aqua Affinity (2XP + 9XP)
with a cost of 6 + 2 + 8 + 2 + 9 = 27 levels.
- Mending
- Protection IV[a]
- Unbreaking III
- Thorns III
- Optional
- Consumes extra durability
- May be inconvenient for mob transport as mobs may die to the effect.
The optimal enchantment order with Thorns III is:
- Add Thorns III (12XP)
- Combine and add Unbreaking III + Mending (2XP + 7XP)
- Add Protection IV (7XP)
with a cost of 12 + 2 + 7 + 7 = 28 levels.
The optimal enchantment order without Thorns III is:
- Add Protection IV (4XP)
- Combine and add Unbreaking III + Mending (2XP + 7XP)
with a cost of 4 + 2 + 7 = 13 levels.
- Mending
- Protection IV [a]
- Unbreaking III
- Thorns III
- Optional
- Consumes extra durability
- May be inconvenient for mob transport as mobs may die to the effect.
- Swift Sneak III
The optimal enchantment order with Thorns III is:
- Add Swift Sneak III (12XP)
- Combine and add Thorns III + Mending (2XP + 16XP)
- Combine and add Protection IV + Unbreaking III (3XP + 11XP)
with a cost of 12 + 2 + 16 + 3 + 11 = 44 levels.
The optimal enchantment order without Thorns III is:
- Add Swift Sneak III (12XP)
- Combine and add Unbreaking III + Mending (2XP + 7XP)
- Add Protection IV (7XP)
with a cost of 12 + 2 + 7 + 7 = 28 levels.
Swift Sneak
Swift Sneak can be obtained only from loot chests in ancient cities. The chests can contain enchanted books with any level of Swift Sneak (up to 3).
- Mending
- Protection IV[a]
- Feather Falling IV
- Unbreaking III
- Depth Strider III or Frost Walker II
- Depth Strider is typically preferred, as it is used in more circumstances. Frost Walker can be an inconvenience in situations where it is not a adequate suit.
- Soul Speed III
- Optional
- Consumes extra durability
- Thorns III
- Optional
- Consumes extra durability
- May be inconvenient for mob transport as mobs may die to the effect. Also gives mobs 0.5 seconds of invincibility.
There are multiple enchantment orders with the same cost in levels. At the same total costs in levels the cost in XP can still be different. For example two steps costing 2 and 4 levels require more XP than two steps costing 3 levels each.
The optimal enchantment order with Thorns III is:
- Add Soul Speed III (12XP)
- Combine and add Thorns III + Mending (2XP + 16XP)
- Combine and add Depth Strider III + Feather Falling IV (4XP + 14XP)
- Combine and add Protection IV + Unbreaking III (3XP + 15XP)
with a cost of 12 + 2 + 16 + 4 + 14 + 3 + 15 = 66 levels.
The optimal enchantment order without Thorns III and Soul Speed III is:
- Add Depth Strider III (6XP)
- Combine and add Protection IV + Unbreaking III (3XP + 9XP)
- Combine and add Feather Falling IV + Mending (2XP + 10XP)
with a cost of 6 + 3 + 2 + 9 + 10 = 30 levels.
Feather Falling
When obtaining Feather Falling from an enchanting table, the player should not enchant at level 30, but reduce to levels 22, 24 or 26. At level 30, there is only about a 3% chance to obtain Feather Falling on a pair of diamond boots; but using level 24 and 26, the chance is a much-higher 30%; at level 22, the chance is as high as 44%. The enchantment level can be reduced by placing torches or most other blocks between the enchanting table and bookshelves, preventing the enchanting table from detecting the bookshelves.
Weapons
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
- Sharpness V (for general use)
- or Smite V
- For fighting undead mobs, such as the wither and wither skeletons.
- Allows one-hit killing of most common undead mobs.
- or Bane of Arthropods V
- For fighting arthropods, such as the spider and cave spider.
- Allows one-hit killing of all arthropods.
- or Smite V
- Sweeping Edge III[Java Edition only]
- Deals more damage to multiple mobs while standing still, useful for XP farms.
- May deal high amounts of damage to friendly mobs if they're too close to the target.
- Looting III
- Increases the amount of loot from fighting mobs, very useful for farming.
- Fire Aspect II
- Optional
- Makes endermen more difficult to fight because they constantly teleport as a result of the fire.
- Zombies and their variants ignite the player if aflame when they hit their target.
- Looting bonuses do not apply when a mob dies from fire damage.
- Cooks the meat dropped by all mobs, even if they're underwater.
- Useful against players because of the obscuring effects of fire.
- Knockback II
- Optional
- Makes ranged targets more difficult to fight.
- Makes chaining hits together much harder without a wall.
- May push targets into environmental hazards such as lava.
- Effective against pressuring melee attackers such as creepers and piglin brutes.
To reduce the various negative effects of Knockback, it may be wise to enchant a sword with Knockback I or to forgo it altogether.
The optimal enchantment order is:
- Add Looting III (6XP)
- Combine and add Sweeping Edge III + Unbreaking III (3XP + 11XP)
- Combine and add Sharpness V + Knockback II (2XP + 11XP)
- Combine and add Fire Aspect II + Mending (2XP + 14XP)
with a cost of 6 + 3 + 11 + 2 + 11 + 2 + 14 = 49 levels.
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
- Efficiency V
- Sharpness V
- or Smite V
- Allows killing most undead mobs (e.g., zombies, wither skeletons, and phantoms) with one hit
- Allows killing a Zombified Piglin with one hit and without a critical strike, preventing others from attacking.
- The combination of a smite axe with a sharpness sword is a versatile setup for dealing with both undead and other mobs with minimal inventory clutter.
- or Cleaving III[upcoming JE Edition Combat Tests]
- Increases damage and extends shield stun duration.
- Useful for PVP.
- or Smite V
- Silk Touch
- Incompatible with Fortune.
- Useful for getting melons, bookshelves, beehives, and mushroom blocks.
- Allows collection of leaves, which may be unintentional when harvesting trees for wood.
- Fortune III
- Incompatible with Silk Touch.
- Has less versatility because most blocks mined with axes are better harvested by Silk Touch.
The optimal enchantment order is:
- Add Sharpness V (5XP)
- Combine and add Efficiency V + Unbreaking III (3XP + 10XP)
- Combine and add Silk Touch + Mending (2XP + 10XP)
with a cost of 5 + 3 + 10 + 2 + 10 = 30 levels
- Power V
- Unbreaking III
- Infinity
- Mutually exclusive with Mending.
- Allows for infinite usage of normal arrows.
- Incompatible with tipped arrows and spectral arrows.
- Will require replacing the bow after some time.
- or Mending
- Mutually exclusive with Infinity.
- Allows for infinite durability at the cost of finite arrows.
- Flame
- Punch II
There are multiple enchantment orders with the same cost in levels. At the same total costs in levels the cost in XP can still be different. For example two steps costing 2 and 4 levels require more XP than two steps costing 3 levels each.
The optimal enchantment order is:
- Add Power V (5XP)
- Combine and add Infinity or Mending + Unbreaking III (3XP + 9XP)
- Combine and add Punch II + Flame (2XP + 10XP)
with a cost of 5 + 3 + 2 + 9 + 10 = 29 levels.
![Invicon Arrow Loaded Crossbow.png: Inventory sprite for Arrow Loaded Crossbow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Crossbow Projectile: [Arrow] Piercing IV Quick Charge III Unbreaking III Mending](./_assets_/5af80496508534f4cdd561aac15bbc50/Invicon_Arrow_Loaded_Crossbow.png){kind=icon}
![Invicon Firework Loaded Crossbow.png: Inventory sprite for Firework Loaded Crossbow in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Crossbow Projectile: [Firework Rocket] Flight Duration: 3 Piercing IV Quick Charge III Unbreaking III Mending](./_assets_/5af80496508534f4cdd561aac15bbc50/Invicon_Firework_Loaded_Crossbow.png){kind=small}
- Quick Charge III
- Multishot
- Incompatible with Piercing.
- May unintentionally hit other mobs.
- Cannot hit the same target multiple times in one shot.
- Uses 3 durability per shot.
- Piercing IV
- Incompatible with Multishot.
- May hit other mobs if they're in the path of the arrow.
- Arrows can be retrieved, including tipped arrows.
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
Crossbows can only receive up to Quick Charge II through an enchanting table. Quick Charge III must be obtained via other means: either by combining two crossbows in an anvil, using enchanted books, or via mob drops.
- Mending
- Highly recommended as tridents can otherwise only be repaired with other tridents.
- Unbreaking III
- Loyalty III
- Channeling
- Large crowd control while a thunderstorm is occurring.
- May unintentionally lead to some mobs transforming into more powerful versions of themselves.
- Large crowd control while a thunderstorm is occurring.
- Riptide III
- Incompatible with Loyalty and Channeling.
- Replaces the throw attack with a dash that allows rapid transport while touching water.
- Rain counts as water for these purposes, allowing incredibly fast transport while using an elytra.
- Snow does not count as water for these purposes.
- Impaling V
- On Java Edition, Impaling makes the trident deal increased damage to marine mobs (not including Drowned). On Bedrock Edition, Impaling makes the trident deal increased damage to any entities that are touching water or rain.
- Unbreaking III
- Density V
- or Smite V
- For fighting undead mobs, such as wither and wither skeleton farms.
- Allows for the one-hit killing of most common undead mobs.
- or Breach IV
- Reduces the effectiveness of armor by 60%
- For fighting other players, as most other entities do not have strong enough armor for it to make a difference compared to the other damage enchantments
- or Smite V
- Mending
- Wind Burst III
- Optional
- Very difficult to obtain.
- Creates a wind charge when a player, after falling from a great height, hits a mob
- Fire Aspect II
- Optional
- Causes immunity to be applied to the mob, which may cause the Wind Burst enchantment not to activate.
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
- Sharpness V
- or Smite V (deals more damage to undead mobs)
- or Bane of Arthropods V (deals more damage to arthropods)
- Lunge III
- Looting III
- Fire Aspect II
- Knockback II
Tools
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
- Fortune III
- Incompatible with Silk Touch.
- Multiplies block drops, increases the chances for rare drops.
- Massively increases yield from ores.
- Silk Touch
- Incompatible with Fortune.
- Useful for collecting the base form of blocks rather than what they drop, such as ice, stone or ender chests.
- Since both Fortune III and Silk Touch pickaxes are useful, many players make both pickaxes.
- Efficiency V
- Allows instant mining of many blocks depending on the level.
- Efficiency V combined with Haste II allows the instant mining of stone.
- Efficiency V pickaxes can be too powerful for delicate tasks, especially when working with netherrack. A weaker pickaxe can come in handy depending on the situation.
- Allows instant mining of many blocks depending on the level.
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
- Efficiency V
- Optional
- Most materials mined using shovels are soft. Efficiency V shovels can be too powerful for delicate tasks.
- Efficiency IV is already enough to instant-mine every block whose preferred tool is the shovel as long as the shovel is stone or better.
- Silk Touch
- Incompatible with Fortune.
- Allows the collection of gravel without the chance of flint.
- Fortune III
- Incompatible with Silk Touch.
- Useful for getting flint.
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
- Efficiency V
- Allows instant mining of all blocks mineable with a hoe except sculk catalysts, sensors, and shriekers.
- Silk Touch
- Incompatible with Fortune
- Useful for obtaining leaves or blocks in the sculk family
- Fortune III
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
- Luck of the Sea III
- Lure III
If a fishing rod is used only for fishing, the Unbreaking enchantment can be skipped in favor of only including Mending, as a damaged fishing rod with Mending will repair itself with the experience gained from fishing at a faster rate than it is damaged by fishing even without any Unbreaking enchantment.
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
- Efficiency V
- Allows instant mining of wool.
It is usually not recommended to enchant shears at all as they can only be enchanted through an anvil and are crafted with iron ingots which are very easy to come by in late-game. If shears are to be enchanted, note that despite being enchantable with Silk Touch in Bedrock Edition, this has no practical purpose and can be skipped.
Flint and Steel, 
Shield, 
Carrot on a Stick, 
Warped Fungus on a Stick, 
Brush, and 
Elytra
- Unbreaking III
- Mending
Similar to shears, it is not recommended to enchant the flint and steel, carrot on a stick, warped fungus on a stick, or brush, but it may prove useful at times.
When a pair of elytra does not have Mending, it can only be repaired with phantom membranes or another pair of elytra in an anvil. The XP level cost increases with every anvil operation. Eventually, the repair becomes too expensive to perform. The optimal enchantment order is:
- Add Unbreaking III (3XP)
- Add ( Mending (3XP)
with a cost of 3 + 3 = 6 levels.
Mutually-exclusive enchantments
Mutually-exclusive enchantments are enchantments that cannot be combined on the same armor, weapon or tool without /give[Java Edition only] or changing the playerdata.nbt file using a NBT editor. The following enchantments cannot be combined:
- Protection, Projectile Protection, Blast Protection, and Fire Protection cannot be combined in most versions, however between 19w02a and 1.14.3 Pre-Release 1, they could be combined. Armor with multiple protection enchantments obtained in these versions still functions normally after being upgraded to 1.14.3 Pre-Release 2 and later.
- Sharpness, Smite, Bane of Arthropods, and Cleaving[upcoming JE Combat Tests] cannot be combined.
- Silk Touch and Fortune cannot be combined.
- Infinity and Mending cannot be combined since 16w50a. Bows that had both enchantments obtained prior to that version still function normally after being upgraded to 16w50a and later.
- Piercing and Multishot cannot be combined.
- Loyalty and Channeling cannot be combined with Riptide, but they can be combined with each other.
- Frost Walker and Depth Strider cannot be combined.
Footnotes
- ↑ a b c d While putting Protection IV on all armor pieces is generally the best way to enchant your armor, it may be worth it to put Blast Protection IV, Projectile Protection IV, or Fire Protection IV on one armor piece while putting Protection IV on all other armor pieces if you will take frequent damage from explosions (such as in Crystal PVP), projectiles, or fire and lava. In the 19w02a snapshot for Java Edition 1.14, all four enchantments could be combined. In 1.14.3 Pre-Release 2 these enchantments became impossible to combine again and cannot be combined since this version, hence the player could downgrade their world to 19w02a, enchant a full set of diamond armor, upgrade to the latest version, add Swift Sneak and Soul Speed to the leggings and boots, and then upgrade their armor to netherite to get an armor set with all four Protection enchantments. However, it is recommended that the player sets their rendering distance to as lowest as possible after downgrading their versions, because the chunks of the world could potentially get corrupted, and then set it back to normal after adding the enchantments and switching the versions.
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
