Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft players who want to explore underwater areas, build ocean bases, or spend extended time swimming and diving.
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How Respiration Works in Minecraft
The Respiration enchantment extends how long you can stay underwater before taking drowning damage. Without any enchantments, you’ll start losing health after about 15 seconds underwater. Each level of Respiration adds 15 seconds to this timer, giving you much more time to explore ocean monuments, underwater caves, or simply swim longer distances.
Respiration Levels and Duration
| Enchantment Level | Underwater Time | Extra Seconds |
|---|---|---|
| No Respiration | ~15 seconds | 0 |
| Respiration I | ~30 seconds | +15 |
| Respiration II | ~45 seconds | +30 |
| Respiration III | ~60 seconds | +45 |
What Equipment Can Have Respiration
You can only apply Respiration to helmets and turtle shells. This includes leather caps, chainmail helmets, iron helmets, diamond helmets, netherite helmets, and turtle shells. The enchantment won’t work on any other armor pieces.
Getting the Respiration Enchantment
There are several ways to obtain Respiration:
- Enchanting Table: Use an enchanting table with lapis lazuli and experience levels
- Anvil: Combine your helmet with a Respiration enchanted book
- Villager Trading: Librarian villagers sometimes sell Respiration books
- Loot: Find enchanted books in dungeon chests, fishing, or other treasure locations
Bonus Effects Beyond Breathing
Respiration also provides a secondary benefit that many players don’t realize. Each level gives you a chance to avoid taking suffocation damage when your head is inside a solid block. This can be helpful if you get stuck in gravel, sand, or while mining in tight spaces.
Combining with Other Enchantments
Respiration works well alongside Aqua Affinity, which speeds up underwater mining. You can also combine it with Protection, Unbreaking, or Mending on the same helmet. However, you cannot combine Respiration with other exclusive helmet enchantments on the same piece of equipment.
For players who love underwater exploration and building, Respiration is essential for extended diving sessions and makes ocean adventures much more enjoyable.
TL;DR
Respiration enchantment extends underwater breathing time by 15 seconds per level (up to 60 seconds total at level III) and can only be applied to helmets and turtle shells.
