Best shovel enchantments in Minecraft
The best shovel build in Java Edition is Efficiency V, Silk Touch, Unbreaking III and Mending. Swap Silk Touch for Fortune III 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 Shovel BookEfficiency V 5 levels
- Step 2 BookUnbreaking III BookMending 2 levels
- Step 3 Netherite ShovelEfficiency V BookUnbreaking III, Mending 7 levels
- Step 4 Netherite ShovelEfficiency V, Unbreaking III, Mending BookSilk Touch 7 levels
Have at least 7 levels for the most expensive step. In XP points, the whole order costs about 253 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.
AlternativeFortune IIIRaises the drops of ores, crops and some other blocks: more diamonds, coal, redstone, lapis, emeralds… Can't be combined with Silk Touch.
Take itSilk 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 shovel
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 shovel enchantments
| Enchantment | ID | Max | Enchanting table | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curse of Vanishing | I | No (curse) | Avoid | |
| Efficiency | V | Yes | Take it | |
| Fortune | III | Yes | Alternative | |
| Mending | I | No (treasure) | Take it | |
| Silk Touch | I | Yes | Take it | |
| Unbreaking | III | Yes | Take it |
Shovel — FAQ
What is the best enchantment for the shovel?
Efficiency V, with Silk Touch, Unbreaking III and Mending.
How many enchantments can go on the shovel?
6 enchantments can go on it; 4 of them together in the recommended build.
Which enchantments can’t go together on the shovel?
Only one per group: Fortune / Silk Touch.
Which enchantments for the shovel 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.
