Why is it so Hard to Get a Mending Villager?
Securing a Mending villager in Minecraft can feel like an epic quest in itself. The short answer is that the difficulty stems from a confluence of factors: randomness, enchantment rarity, and specific villager profession mechanics. Mending is a treasure enchantment, meaning it can’t be directly acquired through the enchanting table. It’s a rare drop from chests in specific structures, from fishing, and, critically, from trading with Librarian villagers. However, the Librarian villager offers a random enchanted book from a vast pool, making the odds of getting Mending relatively low. Furthermore, the villager profession system requires breaking and replacing a lectern to reset a villager’s trades until you find the desired Mending book, which is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process.
Understanding the Mechanics of Mending Acquisition
The core problem lies in the probabilities involved. When a villager becomes a Librarian, they are assigned trades randomly. They can either trade enchanted books or bookshelves. If they trade books, there are numerous possible enchantments, and Mending is just one of them. The exact probabilities have varied slightly across different Minecraft versions (Java vs. Bedrock), but the fundamental challenge remains the same: Mending is a rare trade.
Randomness and Enchantment Pools
The number of enchantments a villager can potentially offer is significant. While older sources might cite specific numbers, the general principle is that the larger the pool of possible enchantments, the lower the probability of getting Mending. Each time you break and replace the lectern, you’re rolling the dice again, hoping for a favorable outcome.
Villager Profession Resetting
This mechanic adds another layer of complexity. To repeatedly reroll a villager’s trades, you need to break their lectern, wait for them to lose their profession, and then replace the lectern for them to become a Librarian again. This process can be tedious, especially if you’re dealing with multiple villagers or limited resources.
Swamp Librarians: A Bedrock Edition Caveat
In Bedrock Edition, there was a time when only Swamp Librarian villagers offered Mending books. This drastically increased the difficulty, as there are no naturally occurring swamp villages. Players had to create their own swamp villages, making the process even more cumbersome. While this restriction might not be in all current versions, it highlights the version-specific nuances that can affect the difficulty of obtaining a Mending villager.
Strategies to Increase Your Chances
Despite the challenges, there are ways to improve your odds of finding a Mending villager:
- Villager Trading Halls: Create a dedicated space to house multiple villagers. This allows you to quickly reset trades for numerous Librarians simultaneously, increasing your chances of finding Mending.
- Curing Zombie Villagers: Curing zombie villagers provides significant trade discounts. This can reduce the cost of Mending books, making the process more sustainable.
- Patience and Persistence: It’s crucial to understand that finding a Mending villager takes time and effort. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find one immediately. Keep resetting trades, and eventually, you’ll succeed.
- Check all Trades: Even if a villager offers trades you don’t immediately need, always check all their trades. Sometimes, Mending is buried further down the list.
Is it Worth the Effort?
Absolutely! Mending is arguably the most valuable enchantment in Minecraft. It allows you to repair your tools, weapons, and armor simply by gaining experience. This eliminates the need to constantly craft new items, saving you valuable resources and time. A Mending villager is a long-term investment that pays off handsomely.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the probability of a Librarian villager offering Mending?
The exact probability varies depending on the Minecraft version and other factors, but it’s generally considered to be a low chance. Estimates range from 1/36 to 1/106, depending on the number of possible enchanted books a villager can trade.
Can I get Mending from the enchanting table?
No, Mending is a treasure enchantment and cannot be obtained directly from the enchanting table.
Does the level of the Librarian villager affect the chance of getting Mending?
No, the level of the Librarian villager does not affect the chance of getting Mending. Any Librarian can offer the trade, regardless of their experience level.
What are the best items to put Mending on?
Mending is best used on items that are difficult or expensive to repair, such as Elytra, diamond tools, and diamond armor. It’s also valuable on items with high repair costs, like Tridents.
Can Mending be combined with Infinity on a bow?
No, Mending and Infinity are mutually exclusive enchantments and cannot be combined on a bow.
How does Mending work?
Mending uses experience orbs to repair damaged tools, weapons, and armor. When you gain experience, the experience points are automatically used to repair any equipped items enchanted with Mending.
Why is my villager not restocking Mending?
Villagers need access to their workstation (lectern) during their work hours (mid-day). Ensure the lectern is placed directly in front of the villager and that they are not blocked or confined in a way that prevents them from using it. Villagers also restock twice per day, so if they’ve maxed out their trades for the day, you’ll need to wait until the next in-game day for them to restock.
Is there a limit to how many Mending books I can buy from a villager?
No, there is no limit to how many Mending books you can buy from a villager, as long as their trades continue to renew and you have enough emeralds. However, the price of trades may increase temporarily if you buy too many items from a villager in a short period.
Does Mending exist in Bedrock Edition?
Yes, Mending exists in Bedrock Edition. It’s a treasure enchantment, meaning it can be found in chests, through fishing, and by trading with Librarian villagers.
Can I get Mending II?
No, there is no Mending II enchantment. Mending only has one level. Some sources may erroneously claim otherwise.
What is the best way to get emeralds for trading with villagers?
There are several efficient ways to get emeralds, including trading crops with Farmer villagers, paper with Librarian villagers, and stone tools with Stone Mason villagers. Find the trades that offer the best emerald-to-resource ratio and focus on those.
Are there any datapacks or mods that make it easier to get Mending villagers?
Yes, there are datapacks and mods that can alter villager trade mechanics to make Mending more common or even guarantee it. However, using these may be considered cheating, depending on your perspective and the context of your gameplay.
What happens if a villager dies after I’ve found a Mending trade?
If a villager with a Mending trade dies, the trade is lost. You’ll need to find another villager and repeat the process of resetting trades until you find Mending again. It’s wise to protect your valuable villagers from harm.
How do discounts affect the price of Mending books?
Discounts, such as those gained by curing zombie villagers or through the Hero of the Village effect, can significantly reduce the price of Mending books, making them much more affordable.
Where can I learn more about Minecraft game mechanics and probabilities?
You can explore resources like the official Minecraft Wiki, various Minecraft content creators on YouTube, and communities like the Games Learning Society, where educational aspects of games are discussed. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more information.
Finding a Mending villager is undoubtedly a challenging endeavor, but with patience, persistence, and the right strategies, you can significantly increase your chances of success and obtain this invaluable enchantment. Happy Minecrafting!