Unbreaking

What is Unbreaking?

Unbreaking is one of the most important enchantments in Minecraft, and it significantly extends the lifespan of any item. It works on a simple principle: every time you use the item, there's a chance that its durability isn't reduced. The higher the enchantment level, the better the chance of avoiding wear.

Unbreaking III on a tool means that, on average, only every 4th use reduces durability, which effectively quadruples the item's lifespan. Combined with Mending, items with Unbreaking III become practically eternal. This pair of enchantments belongs on every valuable item.

It's a must-have on every valuable item in the game. Without it, even netherite tools wear out relatively quickly, forcing you to repair or replace them often. Unbreaking is available at the enchanting table with medium frequency (weight 5) and combines with absolutely every other enchantment, with no restrictions.

How it works: the exact mechanics

Unbreaking works slightly differently for tools and for armor, which matters when you're planning your gear:

Tools, weapons, bows, fishing rods

Formula: chance that durability is reduced = 1 / (level + 1)

Armor

The formula for armor is different: chance that durability is reduced = 60% + 40% / (level + 1)

As you can see, Unbreaking is much more effective on tools (x4 durability) than on armor (x1.43). It's still a must-have on armor, because every extra hit counts, and combined with Mending it removes the need for repairs. Every durability point that Unbreaking saves is less XP that Mending has to spend on repairs.

How to get Unbreaking

Unbreaking is a medium-frequency enchantment (weight 5), so it's easier to get than Fortune but harder than Efficiency. Here are the best methods:

Compatibility

Unbreaking is fully compatible with every other enchantment in the game. There are no conflicts. It's one of the few enchantments with no restrictions, and you can apply it to every item that has durability.

The most important combinations every player should know:

• Unbreaking III + Mending: the golden pair. Unbreaking reduces wear, and Mending repairs whatever does wear out. Together they make an item eternal.
• Unbreaking III + Efficiency V + Fortune III/Silk Touch + Mending: the ideal pickaxe, with a full set of enchantments for efficient mining.
• Unbreaking III + Protection IV + Mending: every piece of armor should have these three enchantments as a minimum.

You'll find more on optimal enchantment sets in the enchanting guide.

Best strategies and uses

Enchanting priority

Unbreaking III should be the first enchantment on every new tool if you don't have Mending yet. Quadrupling a pickaxe's lifespan means one diamond pickaxe with Unbreaking III lasts as long as 4 regular ones. That's a huge saving of diamonds early in the game, before you get Mending from a librarian.

Netherite + Unbreaking III

A netherite pickaxe has 2,031 durability points. With Unbreaking III that's effectively ~8,124 uses, enough for hours of intense digging without repairs. Add Mending and mining quartz in the Nether, and the pickaxe will never break. You get netherite from Ancient Debris, which is found mainly at Y=15 in the Nether.

Unbreaking on elytra

Elytra (the wings from an End City) are one of the most valuable items in the game, and repairing them is costly (phantom membranes or an anvil). Unbreaking III quadruples the elytra's lifespan, reducing the number of phantom membranes you need. With Mending, the elytra becomes eternal: just pick up XP from experience farms while you fly.

Unbreaking on a fishing rod

A fishing rod with Unbreaking III + Luck of the Sea III + Lure III + Mending is the perfect fishing rod. Unbreaking keeps the rod from wearing out quickly, and Mending restores it with the XP from fishing. You can fish indefinitely, picking up valuable enchanted books and other treasures along the way.

Unbreaking on a shield

The shield is one of the items that wear out fastest in the game, because every blocked attack reduces its durability. Unbreaking III on a shield is essential, especially in PvP and boss fights. Shields are crafted from iron and planks: see the weapon crafting guide. Combined with Mending, a shield will last the whole game without being replaced.

Unbreaking on every mob farm

On mob farms, tools wear out very fast because they're used so intensively. A sword with Sharpness V, Looting III and Unbreaking III lasts four times longer on a farm, and together with Mending and the XP from killed mobs it gives you unlimited durability.