Why Doesn’t My Librarian Have Mending? The Definitive Guide to Mending Villagers
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The hunt for a Mending book in Minecraft can feel like searching for a diamond in a haystack. If your librarian isn’t offering Mending, it’s most likely due to a combination of factors: randomness in trade generation, incorrect villager type (especially in older versions), or simply not resetting the librarian’s trades effectively. The game generates trades randomly when a villager becomes a librarian, and Mending is just one potential enchantment among many. Patience and the right strategy are key.
Understanding Villager Professions and Trading
Before diving into the specifics of Mending, it’s crucial to understand how villager professions and trading work in Minecraft. Villagers gain professions by interacting with job site blocks. For a villager to become a Librarian, they need access to a Lectern. The moment a villager links to a lectern, they become a Librarian, and their trades are generated (or re-generated, if they were previously unemployed).
The most important thing to remember is that villager trades are somewhat random. Each Librarian has a selection of books they can offer, and Mending is just one possible enchantment among many. So, if you’re not seeing Mending, it’s often a simple matter of luck and persistence.
The Mending Trade: Version Differences and Swamp Librarians
The way Mending is obtained from villagers has changed in different Minecraft versions, and this is a common source of confusion. Older information may still be floating around, so it’s important to know what applies to your game version.
There was a point in Minecraft’s history where players believed (or data miners revealed evidence) that only Swamp Librarians could offer Mending. This meant creating a swamp village and converting villagers to librarians within that specific biome. This is no longer necessarily true in recent versions of the game.
In modern versions (specifically since the Villager Trade rebalance experimental datapack became standard), any librarian can offer Mending. However, Mending is considered a “treasure enchantment”, which means it is rarer to find compared to other enchantments.
The Importance of Resetting Trades
If your librarian isn’t offering Mending, the primary method for getting them to do so is to reset their trades. Here’s how:
- Remove the Lectern: Break the lectern that the villager is linked to. This will cause the villager to become unemployed after a short time (usually after they have been in direct contact with the Lectern.)
- Wait: Allow the villager to be unemployed for a short period.
- Replace the Lectern: Place the lectern back down. The villager should re-link to it and become a Librarian again, with a new set of trades.
- Check the Trades: Look at the villager’s new trades. If Mending isn’t there, repeat the process.
- Lock the trade: To secure this trade, you need to trade with the villager that has it.
Important Considerations:
- Bedrock vs. Java Edition: The mechanics are mostly the same between editions, but slight variations in the trading algorithm could influence the frequency of certain enchantments.
- Villager Workday: Villagers have a schedule. They work during the day and sleep at night. Trades can only be reset and generated during their active hours.
- Keeping the Villager Safe: Protect your villagers from zombies and other hostile mobs while you’re resetting their trades.
Beyond Librarians: Alternative Mending Sources
While trading with Librarians is the most reliable way to obtain Mending, there are other avenues to explore:
- Fishing: Enchanted fishing rods with Luck of the Sea and Lure can significantly increase your chances of catching enchanted books, including Mending.
- Loot Chests: Mending books can be found in loot chests in structures like Jungle Temples, Strongholds, and Ancient Cities.
- Raid Drops: In Bedrock Edition, Mending can be a possible drop from raid captains if you have the Bad Omen effect.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the process of obtaining Mending from villagers:
1. Can any librarian sell mending?
Yes, in modern versions of Minecraft (especially with the Villager Trade rebalance), any Librarian villager has the potential to offer Mending. The key is persistence in resetting their trades.
2. What are the odds of a librarian selling Mending?
The odds of a librarian offering Mending as one of their initial trades are relatively low. Estimates suggest it could be around 1/72 (this can vary slightly), which highlights the need to repeatedly reset trades until the desired enchantment appears.
3. Can a novice librarian have Mending?
Absolutely! Mending can be a Level 1 trade for a Librarian. You don’t need to level up the villager to unlock it.
4. How do I know if a librarian has Mending?
Check the librarian’s trades by interacting with them. The trade will show a book icon and, when selected, will display “Mending I” if it’s the Mending enchantment.
5. Can you get Mending from a Level 2 librarian?
Yes, Mending can be offered at any level of Librarian. Leveling up Librarians unlocks additional trades, but it doesn’t guarantee Mending. You can also find some great research related to gaming and learning at GamesLearningSociety.org.
6. Can librarians still give Mending in the latest version of Minecraft?
Yes, librarians can still offer Mending in the latest versions of Minecraft. However, always check the specific patch notes for any changes to villager trading mechanics.
7. How rare is it for a villager to sell a Mending book?
It is relatively rare. Due to the random nature of trade generation, it may take several attempts to reset a librarian’s trades before Mending appears.
8. Does Mending 2 exist?
No, there is no “Mending II” enchantment that can be obtained naturally. Mending always comes as Mending I. However, you can effectively create “Mending II” by combining two Mending I books on an Anvil. The result isn’t a Mending II book, but it effectively doubles the repair rate.
9. What is the best item to put Mending on?
Mending is highly valuable on items that are difficult to repair or have high repair costs. This includes the Elytra, Trident, and frequently used tools like pickaxes, axes, and shovels.
10. What happens if you break a lectern?
Breaking the lectern causes the villager linked to it to lose their Librarian profession and become unemployed. Placing the lectern back down allows them to regain the profession and generate new trades.
11. Why is Mending so hard to get?
Mending is a “treasure enchantment” that cannot be obtained from an enchanting table. This makes it more difficult to acquire than other enchantments, forcing players to rely on trading, fishing, or loot chests.
12. How can I increase my chances of getting Mending?
Focus on resetting librarian trades, enchanting a fishing rod with Luck of the Sea and Lure, and exploring structures that contain loot chests.
13. Can you still get Mending from villagers in 2024?
Yes, Mending is still obtainable from villagers in 2024 and beyond, assuming the game mechanics remain consistent through updates.
14. How do you reset villager trades?
Reset villager trades by removing the job site block (Lectern for Librarians), waiting for the villager to become unemployed, and then replacing the job site block. Repeat until the desired trade appears.
15. Does Mending take your XP?
Yes, the Mending enchantment uses experience points (XP) to repair damaged items. When you gain XP, a portion of it is diverted to repair any equipped items with the Mending enchantment.
Conclusion
Finding a Librarian with a Mending book trade can be a test of patience, but it’s a worthwhile endeavor. By understanding how villager trades work, utilizing the trade-resetting method effectively, and exploring alternative sources of Mending, you can significantly increase your chances of obtaining this essential enchantment and ensure the longevity of your most valuable gear. Good luck, and happy Minecrafting!