Unbreakable and Everlasting: Understanding Mending and Unbreaking in Minecraft
Yes, absolutely! You can have both Unbreaking and Mending on the same item in Minecraft. In fact, combining these two enchantments is a cornerstone of late-game item management, allowing you to effectively have tools and armor that last indefinitely. Let’s delve into why this combination is so powerful, how it works, and address some common questions surrounding these essential enchantments.
The Dynamic Duo: Mending and Unbreaking Explained
What is Mending?
Mending is an enchantment that utilizes experience points (XP) to repair damaged items. Whenever you gain XP while holding an item with Mending (or wearing it, in the case of armor), a portion of that XP is diverted to repair the item’s durability. This means your item slowly repairs itself as you play, making it incredibly convenient and resource-efficient.
What is Unbreaking?
Unbreaking, on the other hand, increases the durability of an item by giving it a chance to avoid losing durability each time it’s used. Each level of Unbreaking increases the chance of the item not losing durability. Unbreaking III, the highest level obtainable without commands, gives a significantly increased chance.
Why Are They So Powerful Together?
The combination of Mending and Unbreaking creates a truly potent effect. Unbreaking increases the base durability of your items, making them last longer before needing repair. Mending then steps in, using your everyday XP gains to repair the little durability they do lose. This synergy makes items exceptionally resilient, saving you valuable resources and time. You spend less time crafting and repairing, and more time exploring, building, and battling.
How to Acquire These Enchantments
- Mending: The primary method for obtaining Mending is through trading with villager librarians. You can also find Mending books as rare treasure while fishing or in generated structures like dungeons and temples.
- Unbreaking: Unbreaking can be found on enchanted books in many places, including villager trades, loot chests, and fishing. It can also be directly applied through an enchantment table.
Tools and Armor that Benefit the Most
While you can technically put Mending and Unbreaking on almost any enchantable item, some items benefit more from this combination than others:
- Armor: A full set of armor with both enchantments is a game-changer, providing substantial protection and negating the need for constant repairs.
- Tools (Pickaxes, Axes, Shovels): Having your primary mining and building tools enchanted in this way ensures you can work for extended periods without interruption.
- Elytra: The Elytra, which allows you to fly, is expensive to repair. Mending and Unbreaking are highly valued on an Elytra.
- Trident: As a versatile weapon, and tool for travel, the trident benefits greatly from Unbreaking and Mending.
Important Considerations
- XP Management: When using Mending, be mindful of your XP bar. If you have a high XP level and an item that needs significant repair, all that XP might be converted into durability, potentially causing you to lose levels if you die soon after.
- Prioritize Mending First: When applying enchantments, it is recommended to first add mending to your item to get the full benefit.
- Cost: Keep an eye on the anvil cost. Combining multiple enchantments on one item can quickly become expensive, requiring more and more levels for each subsequent application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can you have both Mending and Infinity on a bow?
No. Mending and Infinity are mutually exclusive enchantments on bows. You can only have one or the other. The developers made this choice to prevent what they considered an overpowered combination.
2. What happens if I combine Mending and Infinity using commands?
If you use commands to bypass the restriction and apply both enchantments to a bow, they will both function as normal. However, this requires using commands and isn’t possible in standard survival gameplay.
3. Is Mending or Infinity better for a bow?
The better choice depends on your playstyle and resources. If you have a reliable source of arrows (like a skeleton farm), Mending is usually preferable. If you struggle to obtain arrows, Infinity allows you to shoot indefinitely with just one arrow.
4. Can you put Unbreaking on a bow?
Yes, you can put Unbreaking on a bow. It’s a very useful enchantment that increases the bow’s overall durability.
5. Can you get a skeleton to drop a bow with both Mending and Infinity?
No, it is not possible for a skeleton to drop a bow with both Mending and Infinity, even in rare cases like skeleton horsemen. The game mechanics prevent these two enchantments from existing together on a bow naturally.
6. Is there a limit to the Mending enchantment level?
Yes. The maximum level for the Mending enchantment is Level I (Mending I). There is no higher level available.
7. Can Mending be a villager’s first trade?
Yes, Mending can be the first trade a Librarian villager offers. This makes it possible to get Mending relatively early in the game. If the villager doesn’t offer mending, break the lectern to reset the trades offered.
8. How can I increase my chances of finding a Mending book?
The best way to improve your chances of getting a Mending book is to set up a villager trading hall and continuously check librarian trades until you find one offering Mending. Also, fishing with a rod enchanted with Luck of the Sea will help!
9. Will Unbreaking and Mending make my gear last forever?
While not literally forever, the combination of Unbreaking and Mending makes your gear incredibly durable. With consistent XP gains, your items can effectively last indefinitely under normal gameplay conditions.
10. Is Unbreaking III worth it if I already have Mending?
Yes! Unbreaking III significantly reduces the rate at which your items lose durability, which means Mending has to repair them less often. This makes the combination incredibly efficient and valuable.
11. My Mending pickaxe isn’t working; what’s wrong?
Make sure you are actively holding the pickaxe in your hand (either main or offhand) while gaining XP. Mending only repairs the item you’re holding or wearing. Also, make sure that it is not fully repaired. Mending will not work if the item is at 100% durability.
12. What is the Curse of Vanishing?
The Curse of Vanishing is a negative enchantment that causes an item to disappear upon the player’s death. It’s best to avoid items with this curse.
13. Can you put Mending and Unbreaking on an Elytra?
Yes! The Elytra is one of the best items to enchant with both Mending and Unbreaking, as it’s difficult and expensive to repair otherwise.
14. Does Mending work in the off-hand?
Yes, Mending will repair the item that is in your off-hand.
15. Are Unbreaking and Mending the most important enchantments?
While other enchantments can offer utility, it’s widely agreed that the Unbreaking and Mending are two of the most important enchantments in the game.
The Last Word
Combining Unbreaking and Mending in Minecraft is a crucial step towards efficient resource management and long-term survival. This synergy lets you focus on exploring, building, and battling without constantly worrying about your gear breaking. So, get out there, find those enchantments, and make your equipment truly unbreakable!
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