Mastering Mending: How Much Durability Does This Enchantment REALLY Give You in Minecraft?

Quick answer

This page answers How much durability does mending give? quickly.

Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.

Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.

Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.

The Mending enchantment in Minecraft is arguably one of the most sought-after enchantments in the game. It allows players to essentially have infinitely durable tools, weapons, and armor, as long as they continue to gather experience. But how exactly does this enchanting magic work, and how much durability does mending actually restore? In a game where resource management is key, understanding the mechanics of mending can significantly extend the life of your valuable gear.

The simple answer is: Mending restores two durability points for every one point of experience (XP) the player collects. This means every time you pick up an XP orb, two durability points will be applied to a damaged item that has the Mending enchantment and is currently held or worn.

However, the devil is in the details. Let’s delve into a comprehensive look at how mending works and what you need to know to maximize its effectiveness.

Understanding the Mechanics of Mending

Mending operates by drawing experience points from your overall XP pool and converting them into durability for your equipped items. When you collect XP from any source – killing mobs, mining ores, using a furnace, or even fishing – the game will check for any equipped items in your main hand, offhand, or armor slots that have the Mending enchantment and are not at maximum durability.

If such an item is found, the game randomly selects one of them. Two durability points are then restored to the selected item for each XP point collected. The remaining experience is added to your experience bar as usual.

Important Considerations:

Random Selection: Mending randomly selects an item with the enchantment and is not at maximum durability. If you want to focus mending on a specific item, it is best to only have that single item that is not at maximum durability equipped.
Equipped Items: The item must be in your main hand, offhand, or equipped as armor for mending to work. An item sitting in your inventory will not be repaired by mending.
Maximum Durability: Mending will not repair an item that is already at its maximum durability. Any experience points gained while all Mending items are at full durability will contribute directly to your player level.
Experience Splitting: If you have multiple damaged items with Mending equipped, the XP is applied randomly to them. This can lead to uneven repair and can be frustrating if you’re trying to mend a specific item quickly.
No Over-Repair: Mending will only restore durability up to the item’s maximum. It cannot exceed the item’s normal durability cap.

Optimizing Mending for Maximum Durability

To get the most out of mending, consider these optimization strategies:

Prioritize Single-Item Repair: If you need to quickly repair a specific item, such as your primary weapon, temporarily remove other Mending-enchanted armor pieces to ensure all XP is directed to the item in your hand.
XP Farms: Setting up an efficient XP farm (e.g., a zombie spawner, a skeleton farm, or an enderman farm) is crucial. This gives you a reliable and renewable source of experience, which translates directly into durability for your tools and armor. The Games Learning Society website can provide resources on learning the mechanics of games and applying that knowledge to Minecraft strategies. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.
Combine with Unbreaking: The Unbreaking enchantment significantly increases an item’s durability. By combining Mending with Unbreaking, you’re essentially creating an item that is both durable and self-repairing, dramatically extending its lifespan.
Selective Equipping: When engaging in activities that generate a lot of XP, equip your Mending gear. When performing tasks that don’t reward XP, switch to non-Mending equipment to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your valuable enchanted items.
Fishing for Enchanted Books: Fishing, especially with a Luck of the Sea enchanted fishing rod, offers a chance to obtain enchanted books, including Mending. While the chance is relatively low, it’s a passive way to acquire valuable enchantments.

Real-World Examples

Let’s look at a practical example. Suppose you have a diamond pickaxe with Mending equipped, and it’s missing 100 durability points. If you kill a few zombies and collect 50 XP orbs, the pickaxe will be repaired by 100 durability points (50 XP * 2 durability/XP = 100 durability). The pickaxe is now fully repaired.

If you have a full set of diamond armor, a sword, and a pickaxe all equipped with Mending, only one of those will be selected for each XP drop. Thus, prioritizing the item you want to repair by unequipping others can make all the difference.

The Verdict

Mending is an invaluable enchantment that can greatly simplify resource management in Minecraft. Understanding how mending works and implementing strategies to optimize its use will ensure that your most important tools and armor last virtually forever. While it doesn’t grant durability directly, it converts the experience you earn into durability, making it a game-changer for long-term survival and progress.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mending

1. Is Unbreaking 3 worth it if you have mending?

Absolutely. Mending repairs the item, while Unbreaking III increases the item’s base durability. Combining both makes your gear last significantly longer, reducing the frequency with which mending needs to kick in and saving you time and XP.

2. Does mending reduce durability in Minecraft?

No, mending repairs durability. It uses experience points to restore damaged items to their maximum durability.

3. Is mending 1 worth it?

Yes, Mending only has one level, and it’s incredibly valuable. Having Mending on your armor and tools ensures they can be repaired indefinitely as long as you continue to gain experience.

4. Is it worth putting Unbreaking on mending?

Yes, it’s highly recommended. Mending and Unbreaking work synergistically. Unbreaking extends the item’s lifespan, reducing the need for frequent repairs by Mending, and Mending makes it so it effectively never runs out.

5. How does mending work with XP farms in Minecraft?

XP farms are ideal for mending. You can passively gain a lot of experience, which will automatically repair any Mending-enchanted items you are wearing or holding. This allows you to keep your gear in top condition with minimal effort.

6. Is mending or infinity better?

It depends. Infinity is solely for bows and provides infinite arrows, but you can’t use enchanted arrows. Mending is more versatile, working on all tools, weapons, and armor. If you have a reliable arrow source and want to use enchanted arrows, mending is better for bows, as it works with other bows like crossbows and makes them infinitely durable.

7. Should I combine mending and Unbreaking?

Yes, combining Mending and Unbreaking is highly recommended for the best gear. It provides both durability and self-repair, making the item nearly indestructible.

8. Is mending a level 1 or 2 trade?

Mending is a Level 1 trade from Librarian villagers. You don’t need to level up a villager to unlock Mending. If you are trading for Mending make sure your villager doesn’t turn into a nitwit.

9. Does mending take away XP?

Yes, the Mending enchantment uses XP (experience) to mend your equipped tools, weapons, and armor. When you gain experience, it’s used to repair any damaged items first, then the remaining XP is added to your level bar.

10. What’s the highest mending you can get?

The maximum level for Mending is Level 1. There is no Mending II or higher.

11. Does mending fully repair?

Yes, Mending will repair an item until it reaches its maximum durability. It won’t over-repair or add extra durability beyond the maximum.

12. Is there mending 2?

No, there is no Mending 2. Mending only has one level, Mending 1.

13. Does mending cancel infinity?

Yes, Mending and Infinity are mutually exclusive on bows. You can’t have both enchantments on the same bow.

14. Why isn’t my armor mending?

If you have multiple items with Mending equipped, the game randomly selects one to repair. If the selected item is already at full durability, you get the XP instead. To ensure a specific item is repaired, unequip other Mending items.

15. What biome is mending?

Mending is not biome-specific. You can find Mending books through various methods, including trading with Librarian villagers, fishing, and looting chests in structures. It is easiest to acquire in villages, but villagers can be found in many different biomes.