Fortune on Axe vs. Shovel: Which Tool Deserves the Enchant?
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The age-old Minecraft question: Is Fortune better on an axe or a shovel? The definitive answer, like many things in Minecraft, is: it depends. However, for most players, Fortune is generally more useful on a shovel than on an axe. This stems from the simple fact that a Fortune shovel provides a consistent and valuable return: increased flint drops from gravel. While Fortune on an axe has its niche uses, the benefits are often less consistent and impactful compared to a Fortune-enchanted shovel. Let’s delve into why.
The Shovel’s Fortune Advantage: Flint and Beyond
The primary and most significant benefit of Fortune on a shovel is the dramatically increased chance of obtaining flint from mining gravel. In vanilla Minecraft, gravel has only a 10% chance of dropping flint. This makes gathering enough flint for arrows (a vital early-game resource) and concrete (a late-game building material) a tedious task.
A Fortune-enchanted shovel changes everything:
- Fortune I: Increases the flint drop chance to 16%.
- Fortune II: Increases the flint drop chance to 25%.
- Fortune III: Guarantees a 100% flint drop rate from gravel. This essentially transforms gravel into a flint farm.
Beyond flint, Fortune on a shovel can also increase the number of clay balls dropped when digging clay deposits, though this use is less crucial for most players. A Fortune shovel is also helpful for mining soul sand, potentially offering slightly more XP from Wither fights, but this is a situational benefit.
The Axe’s Fortune Appeal: Niche Use Cases
Fortune on an axe, while not useless, is considerably more niche. Its primary benefits relate to increasing the drop rates of specific items when harvesting leaves:
- Saplings: Increases the number of saplings dropped, making tree farming more efficient.
- Apples: Increases the chance of obtaining apples, a decent early-game food source.
- Sticks: Increases the number of sticks dropped when breaking leaves.
Furthermore, a Fortune axe can increase the number of melon slices obtained from watermelons and the drop rate of grass and ferns. In some versions of the game, Fortune increases the drop rate of vines with Fortune III behaving similar to Silk Touch.
However, these benefits are often outweighed by the availability of alternative methods:
- Saplings: Tree farms are already relatively efficient without Fortune.
- Apples: Farming is more reliable for food.
- Sticks: Easily obtained from crafting wood planks.
- Melon Slices: Melon farms are productive enough without Fortune.
The inconsistency is the real problem. Unlike a Fortune shovel, which always provides a benefit when used on gravel, a Fortune axe only provides a benefit when used on leaves or specific crops. The main purpose of an axe is cutting trees for wood, which fortune does not enhance in any way.
The Verdict: Shovel Wins (Usually)
Ultimately, Fortune is generally more beneficial on a shovel due to the consistent and valuable increase in flint drops. A Fortune shovel streamlines early-game resource gathering and provides a sustainable source of flint for arrows and concrete.
While Fortune on an axe has its limited uses in increasing the drop rates of saplings, apples, and other items from leaves, the benefits are less impactful and consistent compared to the shovel. Unless you have very specific needs, prioritizing Fortune on your shovel is the better choice.
Of course, the best approach depends on your individual playstyle and priorities. If you find yourself constantly building with concrete or needing arrows, a Fortune shovel is a must-have. If you are trying to maximize your apple harvest, then use a Fortune axe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about Fortune on axes and shovels in Minecraft:
1. Does Fortune 3 on a shovel guarantee flint?
Yes, Fortune III on a shovel guarantees a 100% flint drop rate when mining gravel. Every gravel block will drop at least one piece of flint.
2. Does Fortune on an axe give more wood?
No, Fortune on an axe does not increase the amount of wood you obtain from cutting down trees. It only affects the drop rates of saplings, apples, and sticks from leaves.
3. Is Silk Touch or Fortune 3 better on an axe?
It depends on your goals. Silk Touch on an axe allows you to collect leaf blocks, which can be useful for decoration or moving bee nests. Fortune is useful for increasing the drop rates of apples, sticks, saplings, grass and ferns. Silk Touch tends to be the better choice.
4. Can I put Looting on an axe?
No, you cannot put the Looting enchantment on an axe in vanilla Minecraft. Looting is exclusively for swords.
5. What other tools can I put Fortune on?
The Fortune enchantment can be applied to pickaxes, shovels, axes, and hoes.
6. Does Looting give more XP?
No, the Looting enchantment does not affect the amount of XP you receive from killing mobs.
7. Does Fortune 3 on a shovel give more clay?
Yes, Fortune on a shovel increases the number of clay balls you obtain from digging clay deposits. Fortune III will drop 4 clay balls per drop instead of 1 clay ball per drop.
8. Does Sharpness make axes faster?
No, Sharpness only increases the damage dealt by an axe. It does not affect the speed at which you can swing the axe or break blocks.
9. Is Mending good on an axe?
Yes, Mending is an excellent enchantment for an axe. It uses XP to repair the axe’s durability, making it last much longer.
10. Does Fortune on an axe give more crops?
Fortune on an axe can increase the amount of melon slices from watermelons, but it doesn’t have a big impact on most other crops.
11. What is the maximum level for Fortune?
The maximum level for the Fortune enchantment is Level 3 (Fortune III).
12. How much better is Fortune 3 than Fortune 2?
Fortune 1 gives a 33% ( 1 ⁄ 3 ) chance to multiply drops by 2 (averaging 33% ( 1 ⁄ 3 ) increase), Fortune II gives a chance to multiply drops by 2 or 3 (25% ( 1 ⁄ 4 )… Fortune 3 on a shovel gives flint 100% of the time. When applied to an axe, Fortune 3 can give you up to four times as much loot as you would normally receive when breaking blocks.
13. Does Fortune axe work on mushroom?
Fortune does not affect the drop rate of mushrooms in any form. The blocks themselves can be retrieved only by using a tool enchanted with Silk Touch.
14. Does Fortune 3 affect Netherite?
No, it does not. Fortune affects every single ore except netherite since it is not an ore.
15. Can you smelt gravel to get flint?
No, there is no mechanic in vanilla Minecraft that allows you to smelt gravel into flint.
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Ultimately, choosing between Fortune on an axe or a shovel comes down to individual needs and playstyle. Understanding the specific benefits of each enchantment will help you make the best decision for your Minecraft adventures.