Best pickaxe enchantments in Minecraft
The best pickaxe build in Java Edition is Efficiency V, Fortune III, Unbreaking III and Mending. Swap Fortune III for Silk Touch if it suits your play style better.
Recommended build · 4 enchantments
Java Edition 26.3Cheapest anvil order
Calculated for this build. Combining in the wrong order can make the last step “Too Expensive!”.
Enchantment planner: the cheapest anvil order
Pick the item and the enchantments you want. The planner tests every possible order and keeps the one that costs the fewest levels.
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Too expensive: one step costs 40 levels or more, which survival refuses. Remove an enchantment or apply it later with an enchanting table.
Anvil steps · Put the left item in the first anvil slot and the right one in the second.- Step 1 Netherite Pickaxe BookFortune III 6 levels
- Step 2 BookUnbreaking III BookMending 2 levels
- Step 3 Netherite PickaxeFortune III BookUnbreaking III, Mending 7 levels
- Step 4 Netherite PickaxeFortune III, Unbreaking III, Mending BookEfficiency V 8 levels
Have at least 8 levels for the most expensive step. In XP points, the whole order costs about 291 if you level up just enough before each step.
Calculated from the Java Edition 26.3 game files
Pick one of these
They exclude each other: the item can carry only one of them.
Take itFortune IIIRaises the drops of ores, crops and some other blocks: more diamonds, coal, redstone, lapis, emeralds… Can't be combined with Silk Touch.
AlternativeSilk TouchBlocks drop themselves instead of their usual drop: ores, glass, ice, grass blocks… Can't be combined with Fortune.
What the enchanting table gives the pickaxe
Each enchantment’s weight in the table’s draw, from the game files.
Efficiency56%Unbreaking28%Fortune11%Silk Touch6%Share of the total weight (18) · the level depends on the XP spent
All 6 pickaxe enchantments
| Enchantment | ID | Max | Enchanting table | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curse of Vanishing | I | No (curse) | Avoid | |
| Efficiency | V | Yes | Take it | |
| Fortune | III | Yes | Take it | |
| Mending | I | No (treasure) | Take it | |
| Silk Touch | I | Yes | Alternative | |
| Unbreaking | III | Yes | Take it |
Pickaxe — FAQ
What is the best enchantment for the pickaxe?
Efficiency V, with Fortune III, Unbreaking III and Mending.
How many enchantments can go on the pickaxe?
6 enchantments can go on it; 4 of them together in the recommended build.
Which enchantments can’t go together on the pickaxe?
Only one per group: Fortune / Silk Touch.
Which enchantments for the pickaxe can’t you get from the enchanting table?
Not on the table: Mending. Look for enchanted books from other sources; each enchantment page says where.
