Does it Cost More XP to Enchant Netherite? Unveiling the Truth About Netherite Enchanting in Minecraft

The short answer is a bit nuanced: no, enchanting Netherite gear directly at an enchanting table doesn’t inherently cost more experience points than enchanting Diamond gear. The XP cost for enchantments is primarily determined by the enchantments you’re aiming for and the level of those enchantments. However, Netherite is harder to obtain, making the process of enchanting it feel more expensive overall, and there’s a common misconception that it is more costly due to factors surrounding its acquisition and upgrade path. Let’s dive deeper into the details!

The Illusion of Increased Cost: Why Netherite Enchanting Feels Pricier

While the actual act of enchanting using an enchantment table isn’t more expensive for Netherite, several factors contribute to the feeling that it is:

• Netherite’s Scarcity: Netherite is significantly harder to acquire than Diamond. Finding Ancient Debris in the Nether, smelting it into Netherite Scraps, and then combining those with gold to create Netherite Ingots is a time-consuming and often dangerous process. The sheer effort required to get Netherite makes any investment, including experience points, feel more valuable and any XP spent less efficient..

• Upgrading Diamond Gear: Netherite gear is obtained by upgrading Diamond gear at a smithing table. This means you’re already investing experience points into enchanting your Diamond equipment before even starting the Netherite upgrade process. This initial investment makes the entire project feel more costly.

• Anvil Use: Many players use anvils to combine enchantments from multiple items to get the desired set of enchantments on their items. Anvil uses increase the “prior work penalty” of items, making them exponentially more expensive to enchant in the future. This leads to situations where an anvil-manipulated Netherite item becomes incredibly expensive.

• Higher Enchantability: Netherite has a higher enchantability (15) than Diamond (10). While this means you get “better” enchantments from the table more consistently, it doesn’t directly mean it costs more XP. However, you are more likely to get rarer and more powerful enchantments (which you probably want), and those naturally cost more levels.

Understanding Enchanting Mechanics

To truly understand the cost, we need to understand the basic enchanting mechanics in Minecraft:

• Enchanting Table: This is the primary method for applying enchantments. The enchantment table uses Lapis Lazuli and experience levels to generate random enchantments on an item. The higher level you select (1, 2, or 3), the more powerful the potential enchantments.

• Anvil: Anvils allow you to combine enchanted items, repair damaged items, and rename items. However, each use increases the “prior work penalty,” which drastically raises the XP cost of subsequent anvil operations.

• Enchantment Weights: Each enchantment has a different “weight” that influences how likely it is to appear on an item. Powerful enchantments like Sharpness V, Efficiency V, or Fortune III are rarer and therefore require more attempts (and XP) to obtain.

Optimizing Your Enchanting Strategy

Here’s how to make the most of your enchanting efforts, especially with Netherite:

• Maximize Your Enchanting Table Setup: Ensure you have a full setup of 15 bookshelves surrounding your enchanting table, spaced one block away. This provides the highest-level enchantments.

• Target Specific Enchantments: Use enchanting calculators or experiment to identify which levels at the enchanting table are most likely to give you the enchantments you want.

• Use Villagers for Enchanted Books: Set up a villager trading hall to acquire enchanted books. This allows you to get specific enchantments without relying on the randomness of the enchanting table. Mending is particularly good to get this way.

• Manage Anvil Use Carefully: Plan your anvil combinations strategically to minimize the “prior work penalty.” Combining similar level items is generally more efficient.

• Consider Grindstones: Grindstones can remove enchantments from items, allowing you to reclaim some XP. Use this if you accidentally put the wrong enchantment on an item.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Netherite Enchanting

1. Does upgrading to Netherite remove enchantments?

No, upgrading Diamond gear to Netherite gear using a smithing table preserves all existing enchantments. This is a crucial aspect of the Netherite upgrade process.

2. How much more durable is Netherite than Diamond?

Netherite has a higher durability than diamond, with Netherite pickaxe durability being 2031 and Diamond pickaxe durability being 1561. Netherite is roughly 1.3x more durable than diamond.

3. Can Netherite tools get Efficiency 5 on an enchantment table?

Yes, tools made of wood, gold, iron, and Netherite can receive all five levels of Efficiency through an enchanting table. Diamond and stone tools can only get up to level IV initially.

4. Does Looting give more XP?

No, the Looting enchantment only affects the quantity and rarity of items dropped by mobs. It does not affect the amount of experience gained.

5. Is a Netherite sword worth it?

Absolutely. A Netherite sword deals more damage than a Diamond sword, making it a valuable weapon, especially in the Bedrock version where it has a base attack damage of 9 (4.5 hearts).

6. Can you swim in lava with Netherite armor?

While Netherite armor doesn’t completely negate fire damage from lava like fire resistance, it significantly reduces it. You’ll take only 1 HP damage per tick from lava while wearing full Netherite armor. The armor also does not burn or lose durability in lava.

7. Is a Netherite pickaxe slower than a Diamond pickaxe?

No, a Netherite pickaxe is actually faster than a Diamond pickaxe. While the difference is small, Netherite outperforms Diamond in mining speed.

8. Does armor trim stay when upgrading to Netherite?

Yes, if your Diamond armor has an armor trim and you upgrade it to Netherite, the trim will remain on the Netherite armor.

9. Is Netherite armor better than Diamond armor?

Yes, Netherite armor is superior to Diamond armor. It offers higher toughness, durability, and knockback resistance.

10. Do Diamond pickaxes keep enchantments when turned into Netherite?

Yes, Diamond pickaxes retain all enchantments when upgraded to Netherite.

11. Does Netherite gear burn in lava?

No, Netherite items are fireproof and lava-proof in item form, meaning they will not be destroyed if dropped in lava.

12. What is the best use of Netherite?

The best use of Netherite is to upgrade Diamond gear to create more powerful and durable tools, weapons, and armor.

13. What is the best pickaxe in Minecraft?

While both Diamond and Netherite pickaxes are viable, the Netherite pickaxe is generally considered the best due to its increased durability and mining speed.

14. Is Netherite fireproof?

Yes, almost everything made from Netherite is fire-resistant in item form. However, wearing Netherite armor does not make you immune to fire damage.

15. How many Diamonds do you need for full Netherite armor and a trim?

In Minecraft 1.20, you need a total of 116 Diamonds for full Netherite armor with a Diamond trim.

Conclusion

While enchanting Netherite doesn’t inherently cost more experience points than enchanting Diamond, the scarcity of Netherite and the upgrade process can make it feel that way. By understanding the enchanting mechanics and optimizing your strategy, you can efficiently enchant your Netherite gear and enjoy its superior performance. Remember to consider the overall investment, including the time spent gathering resources and the anvil costs involved. Happy enchanting, and remember to check out the Games Learning Society for more information on educational games! (GamesLearningSociety.org)