Combat · Gear
Best Combat Enchantments
The right enchants triple your survivability. This is the exact priority order for sword, armor and bow with real damage numbers, plus the level-30 sequence to apply them without wasting a single XP point.
The priority math
- 1Build a 15-bookshelf altarSurround the enchanting table with 15 bookshelves (1-block gap, same level or +1) to unlock level-30 enchants. Anything less caps your roll lower.
- 2Roll the sword firstSpend levels on the diamond/netherite sword at 30. Reroll on lapis until you hit Sharpness V (or Smite V for undead-heavy servers).
- 3Combine on an anvilUse an anvil to merge rolled books: Sharpness V + Sweeping Edge III + Fire Aspect II + Unbreaking III + Looting III + Mending onto one sword.
- 4Max the chestplate + bootsPrioritize Protection IV on all four armor pieces. Add Unbreaking III + Mending so the kit never breaks mid-fight.
- 5Add Mending to everythingMending beats Infinity and trades XP for durability. With Mending on all gear, your loadout self-repairs from mob/quest XP forever.
What you need
Enchanting Table
Sword to Roll
Anvil for Books
Level 30 XPQuick answers
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Sharpness V or Smite V?
Sharpness V adds +3.0 damage to every mob and is the default pick. Smite V adds +12.5 damage but ONLY to undead (zombies, skeletons, withers). Run Smite for wither/undead farms, Sharpness everywhere else.
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Is Protection IV better than Blast/Projectile Protection?
Protection IV reduces all damage types and stacks to roughly 64% reduction across four pieces. The specialized protections cap higher against one source but leave you exposed. For general combat, four Protection IV is the strongest single choice.
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Mending or Infinity on a bow?
Mending. Infinity saves arrows but blocks Mending on the same bow and won't fire tipped/spectral arrows for free. Carry a stack of arrows and run Power V + Mending + Unbreaking III + Flame instead.
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What level do I need for the best enchants?
Level 30 with 15 bookshelves. That is the cap for table enchanting and the only tier that can roll Sharpness V, Protection IV, and Power V.
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Does Looting affect combat?
Indirectly. Looting III on your sword raises rare drop rates and mob loot quantity but adds no damage. Always keep it on your main fighting sword.
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Should I use a sword or an axe?
Sword for sustained fights: faster attack speed, Sweeping Edge crowd control, and a shield in the off-hand. Axe out-damages per hit and breaks shields but its cooldown leaves you open. Sword wins for survival combat.