How Many Bookshelves for Fortune 4 in Minecraft?
The short answer is: you cannot get Fortune 4 in vanilla Minecraft. The maximum level for the Fortune enchantment is Fortune III. The number of bookshelves you place around your enchanting table influences the level of enchantments you can obtain, but it will never allow you to bypass the hard-coded limit of Fortune III. Fifteen bookshelves are needed to maximize the enchanting table’s power, giving you the best chance of getting high-level enchantments, including Fortune III, but Fortune IV is unattainable without the use of mods or commands.
Understanding the Fortune Enchantment
The Fortune enchantment is a cornerstone for any serious Minecraft player looking to maximize resource gathering. It directly impacts the number of items you receive when mining certain blocks, making resource acquisition far more efficient. Understanding how to optimize your enchanting setup to reliably obtain Fortune III is crucial for maximizing your in-game productivity.
Bookshelves and Enchanting: The Mechanics
The enchanting table’s effectiveness is directly tied to the number of bookshelves surrounding it. Each bookshelf contributes to the potential level of enchantments available.
The 15 Bookshelf Rule
To achieve the highest possible enchantment levels, you need 15 bookshelves. These bookshelves must be placed in a specific configuration:
- They must be one block away from the enchanting table.
- There must be no objects (torches, carpets, etc.) between the bookshelves and the table.
- The ideal arrangement is a 5×5 square with the enchanting table in the middle, leaving the corners open for entry.
Why 15 Bookshelves?
Each bookshelf effectively adds levels to the enchanting process. With 15 bookshelves correctly placed, you unlock the potential for level 30 enchantments. While level 30 doesn’t guarantee Fortune III, it drastically increases the odds of obtaining it. The enchanting system randomly selects enchantments based on the level you choose, and higher levels allow for more powerful enchantments to appear.
Level 30 Enchantments and Fortune III
Even with 15 bookshelves, obtaining Fortune III is not guaranteed. The enchanting system still involves an element of randomness. You may need to enchant multiple pickaxes (or books) before Fortune III appears. The key is to consistently aim for level 30 enchantments to increase your chances.
Alternatives to Fortune IV
While Fortune IV is impossible in vanilla Minecraft, there are ways to achieve similar effects:
- Mods: Mods can be installed to alter the game mechanics, allowing for Fortune levels beyond III. These mods can be found on various Minecraft modding websites.
- Commands: In Creative mode, commands can be used to give yourself items with custom enchantments, including Fortune IV. However, these commands will not work in Survival mode unless cheats are enabled.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Fortune and Bookshelves
1. Can I get Fortune IV using commands?
Yes, you can use commands in Creative mode or in a Survival world with cheats enabled to give yourself a pickaxe with Fortune IV. The command would look something like this: /give @p minecraft:diamond_pickaxe{Enchantments:[{id:"minecraft:fortune",lvl:4}]} 1.
2. How does Fortune affect different ores?
Fortune increases the drops from ores like diamond, emerald, coal, lapis lazuli, redstone, nether quartz, nether gold, and copper. It also affects amethyst clusters. Fortune does not work on ores that require smelting to obtain the resource (e.g., iron, gold, netherite).
3. Does Fortune work on bookshelves?
No, the Fortune enchantment does not affect the loot obtained from breaking bookshelves.
4. What is the highest level of Fortune I can get without bookshelves?
Without any bookshelves, the highest enchantment level available is 8. It’s possible, but rare, to get Fortune I at these lower levels. Fortune I has shown as low as level 3 for gold and level 7 for iron (diamond requires at least level 9 so you need at least one bookshelf).
5. Does Fortune work on sugar cane?
Yes, Fortune works on the top and middle pieces of sugar cane when harvesting.
6. Does Fortune work on Netherite?
No, Fortune does not work on Netherite ore because Netherite scraps must be smelted to obtain Netherite ingots. Fortune only works on ores that drop the usable resource directly.
7. Is Fortune better than Silk Touch?
It depends on your goal. Fortune increases the quantity of drops, while Silk Touch allows you to obtain the block itself. For example, with Fortune, you’ll get more diamonds from diamond ore. With Silk Touch, you’ll get the diamond ore block, which you can place elsewhere or use for decoration.
8. Can I get Fortune on an axe?
Yes, you can get Fortune on an axe. It will improve the drop rates of apples, sticks, and saplings from leaves, as well as vines, grass, and ferns.
9. How do I maximize my chances of getting Fortune III?
Ensure you have 15 bookshelves correctly placed around your enchanting table. Aim for level 30 enchantments, and be prepared to enchant multiple items until you get the desired enchantment.
10. Does Fortune affect XP drops?
No, Fortune only affects the quantity of items dropped. It does not affect the amount of experience points (XP) gained. The Looting enchantment (on swords) increases the chance and amount of rare drops from entities, but it also does not affect experience.
11. What is the ideal arrangement for bookshelves around an enchanting table?
The ideal arrangement is a 5×5 square, one block away from the enchanting table, with the corners left open. This ensures that the enchanting table receives the maximum level boost from the bookshelves.
12. What happens if I place something between the bookshelves and the enchanting table?
If you place any item (e.g., a torch, carpet) between the bookshelves and the enchanting table, the table will not receive the full effect of the bookshelves. This will lower the maximum enchantment level you can achieve.
13. What other enchantments are good for mining?
Besides Fortune, Efficiency (increases mining speed) and Unbreaking (increases durability) are highly valuable enchantments for mining tools. Mending is also extremely useful, as it repairs the tool using experience orbs collected while mining.
14. Is Fortune I worth it?
Yes, even Fortune I is beneficial. It provides a chance to multiply ore drops, increasing your overall resource yield. For example, Fortune I gives a 33% (1/3) chance to multiply drops by 2.
15. Where can I learn more about Minecraft and education?
You can explore resources and research about the educational aspects of Minecraft at the Games Learning Society website, GamesLearningSociety.org, to learn more about how games like Minecraft can be used in learning environments. The Games Learning Society is an excellent resource to know more.
Final Thoughts
While you can’t get Fortune 4 in regular Minecraft, understanding how to maximize your enchanting setup to consistently achieve Fortune III is vital. Optimize your bookshelf placement, aim for level 30 enchantments, and you’ll be well on your way to amassing a wealth of resources.