Should You Put Thorns on Your Armor? A Minecraft Deep Dive

So, you’re pondering the thorny question of whether or not to invest those valuable enchantment slots in the Thorns enchantment. The short answer? It’s complicated. Whether Thorns is right for you depends entirely on your play style, your gear, and what you’re trying to accomplish in the vast, blocky world of Minecraft. Ultimately, Thorns is a tactical choice, not a default “must-have” enchantment like Protection or Mending. Let’s break it down.

The Pros and Cons of Thorns

The Upsides: Aggressive Offense

• Extra DPS: The most obvious benefit is the added damage output. When an enemy attacks you, Thorns reflects a portion of that damage back at them. This can significantly speed up mob clearing, especially against weaker foes like zombies or skeletons. In certain scenarios, like tanking bosses with high damage output in modded Minecraft or Skyblock, this extra damage can be crucial.

• AFK Farming Potential: As the source article mentions, with high-level Thorns and excellent armor, you can create semi-AFK farms. Think of passively taking down hordes of mobs while you’re grabbing a snack. However, this is heavily reliant on having Mending and very durable armor like Netherite.

• Early Game Advantage: Early in the game, before you have access to top-tier enchantments, Thorns can give you an edge. It helps even the odds when your gear isn’t the best.

The Downsides: Durability and Tactics

• Armor Degradation: This is the big one. Thorns significantly increases armor durability loss. Every time it reflects damage, it applies an additional durability penalty. This can quickly turn your precious Netherite armor into dust if you’re not careful.

• First Strike Problems: In competitive scenarios, like PvP or some Skyblock challenges, Thorns can interfere with First Strike enchantments or abilities. If Thorns deals damage before you can land your first blow, you might miss out on that crucial damage bonus.

• Unpredictability: The trigger rate for Thorns is not guaranteed. It’s a chance-based effect, meaning it won’t activate every single time you’re hit. This inconsistency can be frustrating in situations where you’re relying on it to save you.

• Situational Usefulness: Thorns is most effective against mobs that deal high damage but have low health. Against heavily armored enemies, the reflected damage might be negligible.

When Should You Use Thorns?

• Tank Builds: If you’re building a character designed to soak up damage, especially in modded Minecraft or Skyblock, Thorns can be a powerful addition.

• Early-Mid Game Progression: As mentioned earlier, it can provide a boost when your gear is still developing.

• Specific Farming Setups: If you’re intentionally creating AFK or semi-AFK farms, Thorns can be a key component.

When Should You Avoid Thorns?

• General Exploration/Survival: If you’re just exploring and adventuring, the increased durability loss usually isn’t worth the added damage.

• High-Stakes PvP: The unpredictability and potential First Strike interference make it a risky choice.

• When Durability is Paramount: If you have limited resources for repairing your armor, avoid Thorns at all costs.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to put Thorns on your armor is a strategic one. Weigh the benefits against the drawbacks, consider your play style and goals, and choose what works best for you. There is no “right” or “wrong” answer. Experiment, have fun, and see if Thorns gives you the edge you’re looking for! You can learn more about the intersection of games and learning through organizations such as the Games Learning Society, which is accessible at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Thorns

1. Does Thorns stack per armor piece?

No, Thorns does not stack. Having it on multiple armor pieces gives you multiple chances for it to trigger, but it doesn’t increase the damage reflected. The game makes multiple rolls to see if Thorns activates, one for each piece of armor enchanted with it.

2. Can you put Thorns and Protection together?

Yes, you absolutely can! Thorns and Protection are compatible enchantments. You’ll need to use an anvil to combine enchanted books with your armor. Remember to apply the more expensive enchantments first to minimize the experience cost.

3. Does Thorns still damage armor?

Yes! This is a crucial point. Thorns adds a durability penalty to your armor every time it triggers. It effectively reduces the armor’s durability by an additional 2 points.

4. Is Protection IV the best?

For general damage reduction, Protection IV is indeed the best overall choice. However, Blast Protection, Fire Protection, and Projectile Protection can be more effective in specific situations.

5. Is Thorns a good enchantment?

Thorns is good for aggressive players who don’t mind the increased armor degradation. It’s a tactical enchantment, not a universally “good” one.

6. How many levels is too expensive in Minecraft?

Anvil repairs and enchantment combinations become “too expensive” when they cost 40 experience levels or more.

7. Should I upgrade to Netherite or enchant first?

Always enchant your diamond tools before upgrading them to Netherite. Netherite items retain their enchantments when upgraded, and enchanting Netherite directly costs more experience.

8. Is Netherite better than diamond?

Yes! Netherite is significantly better than diamond. It has higher durability, toughness, and knockback resistance. Netherite weapons also deal more damage.

9. What is the weakest Minecraft armor?

Leather armor offers the least protection, followed by Gold, Chainmail, and Iron.

10. What does Thorns do?

Thorns is an armor enchantment that reflects damage back to the attacker when they hit you. The amount of damage reflected depends on the level of the enchantment.

11. How many bookshelves for Thorns 2?

To maximize your chances of getting higher-level enchantments like Thorns II or Thorns III, you need 15 bookshelves placed around your enchanting table.

12. What is the best armor setup in Minecraft?

The “best” armor setup is subjective, but generally includes Netherite armor with Protection IV, Mending, Unbreaking III, and possibly other enchantments like Feather Falling IV on boots.

13. What order should you enchant armor?

There are different schools of thought on this, but a good general strategy is to prioritize enchantments that are more difficult to obtain and that have a greater impact on survivability (like Protection IV and Mending). Apply the most expensive combinations first to avoid hitting the “too expensive” limit.

14. Is Thorns worth it with Mending?

Mending mitigates the armor degradation caused by Thorns, making it a much more viable option. However, you’ll still need to actively repair your armor by gaining experience while wearing it.

15. What is the secret armor in Minecraft?

There’s no specific “secret armor” in the traditional sense in vanilla Minecraft. However, some armor combinations or enchanted sets can provide unique advantages depending on the situation. In some modded versions of Minecraft, there are secret armor sets that provide distinct bonuses when all pieces are worn together.