What Does Fortune 2 on a Pickaxe Do?
Fortune 2 on a pickaxe significantly increases the number of items dropped when mining certain blocks in Minecraft. Specifically, it provides a higher chance of obtaining multiple drops of ores like coal, iron, gold, diamond, emerald, lapis lazuli, and nether quartz, as well as materials like flint from gravel. While the exact mechanics involve weighted probabilities, a Fortune 2 pickaxe provides a substantial boost in resource gathering compared to a standard pickaxe or one enchanted with Fortune 1. It does NOT affect the yield of blocks that always drop one of an item, such as stone or deepslate.
Diving Deeper into Fortune Enchantment
The Fortune enchantment is a game-changer for players looking to maximize their resource collection in Minecraft. Understanding how it works, and how the different levels of Fortune stack up, can dramatically improve your efficiency and help you acquire valuable materials faster. Let’s break down the key aspects of Fortune and its impact on your mining expeditions.
Fortune Levels and Drop Rates
There are three levels of the Fortune enchantment: Fortune 1, Fortune 2, and Fortune 3. Each level offers a progressively better chance of increasing the number of items dropped. While the specific probabilities are complex (involving random number generation and weighted chances), the general effect is as follows:
- Fortune 1: Offers a moderate increase in drop rates compared to an unenchanted pickaxe.
- Fortune 2: Provides a significant increase in drop rates compared to Fortune 1. This is often considered a “sweet spot” by many players, offering a good balance between enchantment cost and reward.
- Fortune 3: Provides the highest possible increase in drop rates. While it can be more difficult and expensive to obtain, it offers the maximum potential for resource gathering.
The exact percentage increase is not a simple linear progression. Instead, it involves complex algorithms that affect both the average number of drops and the maximum possible drops. Generally, each level gives a better chance of getting higher numbers of drops when the resources are mined.
What Blocks are Affected by Fortune?
It’s crucial to understand which blocks are actually affected by the Fortune enchantment. Not all blocks benefit from it, and using a Fortune pickaxe on the wrong block will yield no additional resources. Here’s a breakdown of blocks affected by Fortune:
- Ores (Coal, Iron, Gold, Diamond, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli, Nether Quartz): These are the primary targets for Fortune. You’ll get multiple drops of the ore itself (e.g., more raw iron, more diamonds). Note that with the introduction of ore smelting, the drop is for the raw ore now.
- Gravel: Increases the chance of obtaining flint.
- Wheat: Increases the number of wheat stalks received.
- Carrots & Potatoes: Increases the number of carrots/potatoes received.
- Melon: Increases the number of melon slices received.
- Sea Pickles: Increases the number of sea pickles received.
- Chorus Flower: Increases the number of chorus flowers received.
- Nether Wart: Increases the number of nether warts received.
Important Note: Fortune does not increase the amount of experience points (XP) gained from mining. The XP awarded remains the same regardless of the Fortune enchantment level. Also, it does not affect the drop of blocks which drop one of an item (e.g. cobblestone from stone or deepslate from deepslate)
Obtaining a Fortune 2 Pickaxe
There are several ways to acquire a pickaxe with the Fortune 2 enchantment:
- Enchanting Table: This is the most common method. Place a pickaxe on an enchanting table and use experience levels and lapis lazuli to attempt to get the enchantment. The higher your experience level, the better your chances of getting a higher-level enchantment. However, the enchantment you get is random, so you might not get Fortune 2 on your first (or even tenth) try.
- Trading with Villagers: Villager librarians can sometimes offer enchanted books with Fortune. This is a reliable (though potentially expensive) way to get the enchantment.
- Loot Chests: Enchanted books and tools with Fortune can be found in loot chests in various structures, such as dungeons, mineshafts, and temples.
- Combining Enchanted Books: You can combine two Fortune 1 enchanted books in an anvil to create a Fortune 2 enchanted book. Similarly, combining two Fortune 2 books will give you Fortune 3. This method is crucial for reaching higher enchantment levels.
Combining Fortune with Other Enchantments
The Fortune enchantment can be combined with other useful enchantments on your pickaxe to create a truly powerful mining tool. Some popular combinations include:
- Fortune + Efficiency: Efficiency increases your mining speed, allowing you to gather resources even faster.
- Fortune + Unbreaking: Unbreaking increases the durability of your pickaxe, reducing the frequency of repairs.
- Fortune + Mending: Mending allows your pickaxe to repair itself using experience orbs collected while mining, making it virtually indestructible.
Caution: Fortune and Silk Touch are mutually exclusive. You cannot have both enchantments on the same pickaxe. Silk Touch allows you to mine blocks and obtain the block itself (e.g., mining diamond ore and getting the diamond ore block), rather than the resource it drops.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Fortune
1. Does Fortune work on Ancient Debris?
No, Fortune does not affect Ancient Debris. Ancient Debris always drops one item per block, regardless of enchantments.
2. Can I get Fortune 4 or higher?
No, the maximum level of Fortune is Fortune 3. There are no legitimate ways to obtain Fortune 4 or higher in standard gameplay.
3. Does Fortune increase the amount of XP I get from mining?
No, Fortune only increases the number of items dropped, not the amount of experience gained.
4. Is Fortune better than Silk Touch?
It depends on your goals. Fortune is better for maximizing resource yields, while Silk Touch is better for obtaining the actual block. For example, use Fortune on diamond ore to get more diamonds, but use Silk Touch if you need to relocate the diamond ore block itself.
5. Does Fortune work on Redstone Ore?
Yes, Fortune works on Redstone Ore, increasing the number of redstone dust drops.
6. How does Fortune affect crops like wheat and potatoes?
Fortune increases the number of wheat stalks, potatoes, or carrots dropped when harvesting them.
7. Can I combine Fortune with other enchantments like Efficiency?
Yes, Fortune can be combined with enchantments like Efficiency, Unbreaking, and Mending. However, it cannot be combined with Silk Touch.
8. What’s the best way to get a Fortune 3 pickaxe?
The best approach involves multiple steps: First, set up an enchantment table. Second, trade for Fortune enchanted books to reach higher enchantment levels if needed. Finally, use an anvil to combine books to the desired level, and then apply the highest-level Fortune to a pickaxe.
9. Does Fortune affect the mining of Netherite Scraps from Ancient Debris when using a blast furnace?
No, Fortune does not affect the number of Netherite Scraps gained from smelting Ancient Debris. You will always get one Netherite Scrap per Ancient Debris smelted, irrespective of Fortune.
10. How do I increase my chances of getting higher-level enchantments at the enchanting table?
To increase your chances, have a bookshelf setup surrounding the enchanting table. The optimal number of bookshelves is 15, placed one block away from the table, and at the same height as the table, with one block of air between the table and the bookshelves.
11. Can Fortune break my tools faster?
No, Fortune itself doesn’t directly affect the durability of your tools. However, since you’re mining more blocks and getting more resources, you’ll naturally be using your pickaxe more, which can indirectly lead to faster wear and tear.
12. Where can I find enchanted books with Fortune easily?
Trading with villager librarians is often the most efficient way to obtain enchanted books, including Fortune. Keep refreshing their trades until they offer the desired enchantment.
13. Does Fortune work on sea pickles?
Yes, Fortune works on sea pickles, increasing the number of sea pickles you get when harvesting them.
14. Does Fortune work on Nether Wart?
Yes, Fortune works on Nether Wart, increasing the number of Nether Wart you get when harvesting them.
15. What happens if I use Fortune on blocks that aren’t affected by it?
If you use Fortune on a block that isn’t affected by it (like stone), it will function like a normal pickaxe without any bonus drops. You won’t get any extra cobblestone.