What does the unbreaking enchantment do in Minecraft

Who this is for: Minecraft players wanting to maximize tool durability and reduce resource waste through strategic enchanting.


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How Unbreaking Works in Minecraft

The Unbreaking enchantment significantly extends the lifespan of your tools, weapons, and armor by reducing the chance they’ll lose durability when used. Instead of taking damage every single time you use an item, Unbreaking gives it a probability to avoid durability loss altogether.

Durability Protection by Level

Each level of Unbreaking provides different protection rates:

  • Unbreaking I: 50% chance to avoid durability damage
  • Unbreaking II: 67% chance to avoid durability damage
  • Unbreaking III: 75% chance to avoid durability damage

What Items Can Have Unbreaking

You can apply Unbreaking to virtually any item that has durability, including:

  • All tools (pickaxes, shovels, axes, hoes)
  • Weapons (swords, bows, crossbows, tridents)
  • Armor pieces (helmets, chestplates, leggings, boots)
  • Shields and fishing rods
  • Elytra wings

Getting Unbreaking Enchantments

There are several ways to obtain this valuable enchantment:

Enchanting Table Method

Use an enchanting table with lapis lazuli and experience levels. Higher levels increase your chances of getting Unbreaking III, though it’s not guaranteed.

Villager Trading

Librarian villagers often sell Unbreaking enchanted books. This method lets you target specific enchantment levels more reliably than random enchanting.

Anvil Combining

Combine enchanted books with your gear using an anvil, or merge two items that already have Unbreaking to potentially increase the level.

Real-World Impact on Gameplay

Unbreaking III effectively makes your diamond pickaxe last about four times longer than normal. A standard diamond pickaxe breaks after 1,561 uses, but with Unbreaking III, you’ll get roughly 6,244 uses on average. This massive extension means fewer interruptions for repairs and more time actually mining or building.

The enchantment works particularly well when combined with Mending, creating nearly indestructible tools that repair themselves through experience orbs. For serious Minecraft players looking to enhance their gaming experience, understanding these mechanics opens up more strategic gameplay possibilities.

TL;DR

Unbreaking reduces durability damage chance: 50% at level I, 67% at level II, and 75% at level III, making tools and armor last significantly longer.

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Joyst1ck

Gaming Writer & HTML5 Developer

Answering gaming questions—from Roblox and Minecraft to the latest indie hits. I write developer‑focused HTML5 articles and share practical tips on game design, monetisation, and scripting.

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