Some of the best enchantments in Minecraft refuse to share an item, so picking the right set matters. This Apex Hosting guide lists top picks for each item and the pairs that clash. It then covers four ways to get them: the enchanting table, librarian villagers, loot and fishing, and the anvil.
Best Enchantments for Each Item
Use this table to choose a target set before you spend any levels.
| Item | Enchantments to Prioritize | Max Level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword | Sharpness, Looting, Mending | Sharpness V, Looting III | Mending never appears on an enchanting table. Get it from trades, loot, or fishing. |
| Pickaxe | Efficiency, Fortune, Unbreaking, Mending | Efficiency V, Fortune III | Fortune and Silk Touch conflict, so many players carry a second pickaxe for Silk Touch. |
| Bow | Power, Infinity or Mending | Power V, Infinity I | Infinity and Mending cannot share a bow. Choose one. |
| Armor | One Protection type, Thorns | Thorns III | Thorns reflects damage back at attackers. Only one Protection type fits on a piece. |
| Mace | Density, Breach, Wind Burst | Density V, Breach IV, Wind Burst III | Pick by playstyle. |
Enchantments That Cannot Be Combined
Vanilla rules block these groups from sharing one item. Pick one from each group.
| Group | Applies To | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpness, Smite, Bane of Arthropods | Swords | Only one of the three |
| Protection, Fire Protection, Blast Protection, Projectile Protection | Armor | Only one of the four |
| Fortune, Silk Touch | Tools | Only one of the two |
| Infinity, Mending | Bows | Only one of the two |
How to Get Strong Enchantments
Four routes cover almost everything, and each one fills a different gap.
Using an Enchanting Table
The table is the starting point because it works on gear and on plain books.
- Surround the table with up to 15 bookshelves.
- Open the table and place your item in the first slot.
- Place lapis lazuli in the second slot.
- Click one of the options your levels allow.
The enchantment named beside each option is only a preview, so the final result can include more. Each option costs 1 to 3 lapis lazuli. The best offer needs level 30 and 3 lapis lazuli, and it needs the full 15 bookshelves. Extra bookshelves beyond 15 add nothing. Treasure enchantments such as Mending never appear here.
Trading With Librarian Villagers
Librarians sell enchanted books with random enchantments, and Mending can show up among them. Prices vary by enchantment and level, so check each offer before you buy. If the first offer is poor, break the lectern and place it again to reroll. Do this before you trade, because completing any trade locks the profession.
Finding Enchanted Books in Loot and Fishing
Dungeon and mineshaft chests can hold enchanted books. Fishing works too, since enchanted books count as treasure catches. Luck of the Sea on your rod raises the treasure chance and lowers the junk chance. A fished book can carry any enchantment, Mending included.
Combining Books at an Anvil
An anvil moves enchantments from a book onto your gear. It costs levels, not raw experience points.
- Place the item you want to enchant in the first slot.
- Place the enchanted book in the second slot.
You need enough levels to pay the cost, and the enchantment must be compatible with the item. In survival, the anvil refuses any job costing 40 levels or more and shows “Too Expensive!”, so 39 is the practical ceiling. Creative mode has no such cap. Every earlier anvil job adds a penalty to the next one, so plan your order. Players often merge books with each other before applying them to gear. Merging two books raises the penalty of the resulting book, so it is a tradeoff. Each use also has a 12% chance to wear the anvil down until it breaks.
Earning Experience Levels
Every method above spends levels, so keep a steady stream of XP flowing.
- Kill mobs yourself or at a mob farm. Mobs only drop XP when you hit them shortly before they die.
- Smelt items in a furnace. Valuable items such as gold and diamond pay more than iron.
- Mine ores. Some of them drop XP when you break them.
- Breed animals for a quick boost.
- Trade with a master-level Cleric villager for Bottle o’ Enchanting at 3 emeralds each.
On your own dedicated server, you can allow cheats or make yourself an operator, then add levels with the /xp command. To keep your items when you die, turn on keeping the inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Enchantment in Minecraft?
It depends on the item. Sharpness V is a top pick for swords, Efficiency V for pickaxes, and Power V for bows. Mending suits gear you want to keep repaired, since it uses XP orbs you collect to restore durability.
How Do You Get Enchanted Books?
Enchant a plain book at an enchanting table, buy one from a librarian villager, or pull one from dungeon chests and fishing treasure. Mending never comes from the table, so use trades, fishing, or loot for it.
How Do You Enchant With Books?
Use an anvil. Put your item in the first slot and the enchanted book in the second. The enchantment must be compatible, and you need enough levels to pay the cost.
Can You Put Fortune and Silk Touch on the Same Pickaxe?
No. Vanilla rules make them exclusive, so only one can sit on a tool. Many players craft two pickaxes and switch between them.
Conclusion
Choose your item first, pick one enchantment from each clashing group, and then gather books to match. Use the table for a base, librarians and loot to fill gaps, and the anvil to combine them without passing 39 levels.
