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Does Unbreaking Matter If You Have Mending? A Minecraft Durability Deep Dive

In short, yes, Unbreaking still absolutely matters even if you have Mending on your tools, armor, and weapons in Minecraft. While Mending is undeniably one of the most powerful enchantments, allowing you to repair your gear using experience points (XP), it doesn’t make Unbreaking obsolete. Think of them as a power couple, working together to make your precious diamond (or Netherite!) equipment last significantly longer.

Mending’s strength lies in its ability to repair durability by converting XP earned into restoration points. Every XP orb you collect repairs the item in your hand (or equipped if it’s armor). However, it’s reactive – it only works after durability has been lost. This means your item is still taking damage in the first place.

This is where Unbreaking steps in. This enchantment provides a chance to negate durability loss each time the item is used. Unbreaking III, the highest level, drastically reduces the likelihood of your item losing durability. This is hugely important because the less your item breaks, the less XP you need to spend on repairing it via mending, so you get maximum time use out of the enchanted item.

The key takeaway is that Unbreaking slows down the rate at which your item loses durability, while Mending repairs it. Using both together creates a synergistic effect: Unbreaking minimizes the need for repair, and Mending efficiently handles the inevitable damage that does occur. This means you can spend less time grinding for XP to mend your items and more time actually using them, exploring the world, and building amazing structures.

The Synergistic Power of Mending and Unbreaking

Imagine a scenario: you’re mining deep underground with a diamond pickaxe. Without Unbreaking, each swing reduces the pickaxe’s durability. With Mending alone, you’ll need a steady supply of XP orbs to keep it from breaking. If you’re in a sparsely populated cave, that can be a challenge. You are probably going to need a source of XP on hand.

Now, add Unbreaking III. Each swing now has a significantly reduced chance of decreasing durability. This means you can mine for a much longer time before needing to find XP to mend your pickaxe. You are now only losing small chunks of durability every once in a while, instead of every single hit! Mending keeps it patched up, and Unbreaking drastically reduces the number of patches needed.

The synergy extends beyond simple convenience. By reducing the frequency of repairs, Unbreaking indirectly conserves your XP. Each time Mending activates, it consumes XP that could otherwise be used for enchanting new items or increasing your character’s level. Using Unbreaking, you are able to save loads of XP. This makes your XP more valuable overall.

Why Unbreaking Is Still Valuable On Different Items

Tools (Pickaxes, Axes, Shovels): These tools are constantly used, making them prime candidates for both Mending and Unbreaking. The combination ensures they last through countless mining trips and building projects.
Weapons (Swords, Tridents): In combat, weapons take a beating. Unbreaking helps them withstand the constant onslaught, while Mending keeps them sharp and ready for the next fight.
Armor: Armor is your primary defense against damage. Unbreaking extends its protective lifespan, reducing the risk of being caught off guard with weakened or broken armor.
Elytra: These are arguably the most important items to put mending on. Mending allows you to use your Elytra for longer periods of time, especially when you’re travelling far distances, and taking hits every once in a while.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Neglect Unbreaking!

While Mending is a game-changer, it’s not a standalone solution. Unbreaking is still crucial for maximizing the lifespan of your items and optimizing your XP usage. Always strive to combine Mending with Unbreaking III on your valuable equipment for the best possible durability and long-term performance. They are a great combo, and you will never regret the use of both together.

This dual-enchantment strategy is a cornerstone of efficient resource management in Minecraft, allowing you to focus on exploring, building, and adventuring without constantly worrying about the state of your gear. It frees you up to tackle more challenging content and enjoy the game to its fullest. If you are looking for more tips and tricks on Minecraft, consider checking out resources from organizations like the Games Learning Society, found at GamesLearningSociety.org. These types of organizations provide educational and community resouces to Minecraft.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Mending or Unbreaking better on a sword?

Both are extremely valuable! If forced to choose, Mending is generally considered slightly better, as it effectively provides infinite durability with a constant source of XP. However, Unbreaking III is highly recommended in addition to Mending to minimize durability loss and maximize your sword’s lifespan. Without unbreaking, your weapon is much more likely to break, because it is going to lose durabilty on every single hit.

2. Can you put Mending and Infinity together on a bow?

No. Mending and Infinity are mutually exclusive enchantments for bows. You can only have one or the other. This is because having both would be considered too overpowered, rendering arrows virtually infinite and the bow indestructible.

3. Why is my Mending not working?

Several reasons could be the culprit:

You aren’t holding/wearing the item: Mending only repairs the item you’re holding or wearing when you gain XP.
The item is already at full durability: Mending won’t activate if there’s nothing to repair.
You have no XP: Mending requires XP orbs to function.
Bug: In rare cases, a bug might be preventing Mending from working. Try restarting your game.

4. Does Mending repair more durability with higher levels?

No. Mending doesn’t have levels. One point of XP will repair two points of durability. This value is constant. There is no “Mending II” despite rumors, as it is a single level enchantment.

5. Is Unbreaking 3 worth it?

Absolutely! Unbreaking III significantly extends the lifespan of your items, effectively quadrupling their durability on average. It’s always worth applying to valuable tools, weapons, and armor.

6. Can you get Mending from an Enchanting Table?

No. Mending cannot be obtained directly from an Enchanting Table. You must acquire Mending books through trading with Librarian villagers, fishing, or finding them in generated structures like mineshafts and temples.

7. How much does Mending repair per XP orb?

Mending repairs 2 durability points per XP orb (or 1 durability per XP point). This is a fixed rate, regardless of the item or its current durability.

8. What items should I put Mending on first?

Prioritize items that are expensive to replace or difficult to repair through other means. Good candidates include:

Elytra: Their high repair cost makes Mending essential.
Diamond/Netherite Tools: These are your primary workhorses.
Diamond/Netherite Armor: Protecting yourself is paramount.

9. Does looting affect XP drops?

No. Looting only increases the number of items dropped by mobs and the chances of rare drops. It does not affect the amount of XP they release.

10. Is it possible to get Mending as a first trade from a villager?

Yes! Mending can be a Librarian villager’s first trade, making it potentially accessible early in the game. Keep refreshing villager trades until you find one offering Mending.

11. Does Unbreaking affect armor differently than tools?

Yes, the calculation for durability reduction is slightly different for armor. The chance of negating durability loss for armor is calculated using the formula (60 + (40 / (level + 1)))%. This results in a slightly different percentage increase in lifetime compared to tools.

12. Can I use XP bottles to repair with Mending?

Yes! Throwing XP bottles will trigger the Mending enchantment, repairing the item you’re holding or wearing. It’s a convenient way to repair gear without having to find mobs or other XP sources.

13. Why can’t I combine certain enchantments?

Certain enchantments, like Mending and Infinity, are mutually exclusive because combining them would create overpowered combinations that disrupt game balance.

14. Does efficiency affect the durability of my pickaxe?

No. Efficiency only increases the mining speed of your pickaxe. It does not directly affect its durability. However, mining faster can indirectly increase durability loss per unit of time, as you’re using the pickaxe more frequently.

15. If I have a tool with Mending and I die, do I lose the XP stored in the tool?

No. The XP used to repair the tool is consumed during the repair process, not stored. When you die, you only lose the XP currently held in your experience bar, not any XP effectively “invested” in repairing your gear.

Does Unbreaking matter if you have mending?