Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft players with enchanted bows who want to maintain their gear without losing magical properties.
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Understanding Bow Repair Methods
Repairing an enchanted bow while preserving its magical properties requires specific techniques. The most reliable method is using an anvil with either another bow or bow repair materials, but you’ll need to understand the cost mechanics to avoid the dreaded “Too Expensive” message.
Anvil Repair Strategy
Place your damaged enchanted bow in the first slot of an anvil. In the second slot, add either an unenchanted bow or enchanted bow of the same type. The anvil will combine durability and merge enchantments, but each repair increases the “prior work penalty” – a hidden cost that makes future repairs more expensive.
To minimize costs, always repair when the bow is only slightly damaged rather than waiting until it’s nearly broken. This keeps the experience cost manageable and prevents hitting the 40-level repair limit.
Mending Enchantment Solution
The most sustainable approach is obtaining a bow with the Mending enchantment. This magical property automatically repairs your bow using experience orbs you collect from killing mobs, mining, or other activities. With Mending, you’ll never need manual repairs again.
You can add Mending to an existing bow using an enchanted book at an anvil, though this will increase the prior work penalty. Alternatively, fish for enchanted bows, trade with fletcher villagers, or find them in loot chests.
Alternative Repair Options
If anvil costs become prohibitive, consider these alternatives:
- Grindstone method: Combines two identical enchanted bows, removing all enchantments but restoring durability
- Crafting table repair: Place two damaged bows in a crafting grid to create one with combined durability, but this also removes enchantments
- Replacement strategy: Keep multiple enchanted bows and cycle between them
Cost Management Tips
Each time you use an anvil on an item, its repair cost doubles. Start with the least expensive repairs first, and consider whether it’s worth investing in a heavily-used bow versus creating a fresh one. Sometimes it’s more economical to enchant a new bow rather than continue repairing an old one.
For players serious about archery, exploring our comprehensive collection of Minecraft adventures can help you practice these repair techniques in various gameplay scenarios.
TL;DR
Use an anvil with another bow to repair while keeping enchantments, or get Mending enchantment for automatic XP-based repairs. Repair early to avoid “Too Expensive” costs.
