AdvancedEnchantments vs ExcellentEnchants vs EcoEnchants
Comparison of AdvancedEnchantments, ExcellentEnchants, and EcoEnchants for adding custom enchantments to Minecraft servers, covering enchant counts, configuration, economy integration, and performance.
Custom enchantments transform generic diamond gear into unique, server-specific loot. The advancedenchantments vs excellentenchants comparison also includes EcoEnchants, which takes a config-driven approach backed by the Eco plugin suite. Each option targets a different balance between features, performance, and configuration complexity. For a setup walkthrough, see our custom enchants guide.
AdvancedEnchantments (AE)
AdvancedEnchantments is a premium plugin with 200+ pre-built enchantments, a tinkerer (enchant recycling), an alchemist (book combining), and custom enchant application items (black scrolls, white scrolls, transmog scrolls). AE is designed for large factions and prison servers where enchantment progression is a core gameplay loop. Players obtain enchant books through an in-game shop, crates, or mob drops, then apply them with success/failure mechanics.
The plugin is feature-complete out of the box. Operators configure which enchants are active and their rarity, but creating entirely new enchant effects requires the developer API or custom addons. The advancedenchantments vs excellentenchants debate often centers on whether you want pre-built content or full customization.
ExcellentEnchants
ExcellentEnchants is a free, open-source plugin that registers custom enchantments as native Minecraft enchantments. This means they appear in enchanting tables, anvils, and villager trades alongside vanilla enchants. The enchant list is smaller than AE (around 60 enchants) but each one integrates seamlessly with vanilla mechanics. No special application items or failure chances, just standard enchanting behavior.
ExcellentEnchants works well for SMP and semi-vanilla servers where the enchanting experience should feel native rather than gamified. Configuration per enchant includes enable/disable, level caps, and trigger chances.
EcoEnchants
EcoEnchants is part of the Eco plugin ecosystem (by Auxilor). It provides 200+ enchantments with extensive YAML configuration for every parameter: trigger conditions, potion effects, damage multipliers, cooldowns, and target filters. EcoEnchants integrates with EcoItems, EcoArmor, and Talismans for a unified custom-item ecosystem. If you already run other Eco plugins, EcoEnchants fits naturally into the stack.
The config-driven approach means operators can tweak every enchant's behavior without writing code. Want Lifesteal to heal 5% at level I and 15% at level V? Change two numbers. EcoEnchants also supports creating entirely new enchant effects through config, which neither AE nor ExcellentEnchants offers without code.
Comparison table
| Feature | AdvancedEnchantments | ExcellentEnchants | EcoEnchants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enchant count | 200+ | ~60 | 200+ |
| Price | Premium | Free | Free (Eco suite) |
| Application method | Custom items, success/fail | Native enchanting | Native enchanting |
| Config customization | Moderate | Basic | Extensive (per-param) |
| Create new effects via config | No | No | Yes |
| Ideal server type | Factions, Prison | SMP, semi-vanilla | Any (config-driven) |
Performance
All three plugins fire event listeners on combat and tool-use events. AE's large enchant pool means more checks per event, which can show up in timings reports on high-population factions servers. EcoEnchants uses a condition cache to reduce repeated evaluations. ExcellentEnchants is the lightest simply because it has fewer enchants to process. If TPS is tight, audit which enchants are active and disable any your players do not use.
Our recommendation
Pick AdvancedEnchantments for a gamified, factions-style enchant economy with scrolls and tinkerers. Pick ExcellentEnchants for a lightweight, vanilla-feeling enchant expansion on SMP. Pick EcoEnchants for maximum configurability and tight Eco-suite integration. The advancedenchantments vs excellentenchants choice ultimately depends on whether your server treats enchanting as a progression system or a natural extension of vanilla gameplay.
See plugins in action: Astroworld MC, IP play.astroworldmc.com, Java + Bedrock.