Do you want to master the Anvil and Mending enchantments? Let’s learn how to use enchanted books in Minecraft 2025. From crafting and combining to applying powerful enchantments that make your tools, weapons, and armor truly unbeatable.
Ever wish your sword could slice through mobs like butter or your armor could tank Creepers without breaking a sweat? Enchanted books are your golden ticket to becoming that unstoppable player in Minecraft. These purple-glowing treasures are the secret to unlocking maximum power — letting you customize, combine, and fine-tune your gear to perfection.
Forget luck-based enchantments — this is how you take full control. Whether you’re preparing for the Ender Dragon or simply want smoother mining sessions, this comprehensive guide will teach you exactly how to use enchanted books in Minecraft — updated with the latest features and mechanics.
What Are Enchanted Books in Minecraft?
In simple terms, enchanted books are magical items that store enchantments separately from tools, weapons, or armor. Think of them as a library of power — each book holds one or more enchantments you can later apply to gear using an anvil.
Unlike the Enchanting Table, which gives random results, enchanted books allow you to choose what you want and when you want it. No more wasting diamonds or XP on bad rolls.
For example:
- Want a Fortune III pickaxe for huge ore drops? Combine books until you hit the max level.
- Need self-repairing armor? Apply a Mending book, and your XP will keep it as good as new.
That’s the beauty of enchanted books — precision and control. You can even stack powerful enchantments like Efficiency V, Unbreaking III, and Mending on the same tool, making it nearly unbreakable.
Think of enchanted books as crafting your destiny — one enchantment at a time.
What You Need Before You Start
Before crafting your first enchanted book, make sure you’ve gathered the essential tools and materials for enchanting. This is your core setup.
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Crafting Table | Foundation for crafting books, tables, and anvils |
| Book | Base item to hold enchantments |
| Enchanting Table | Used to enchant books or tools |
| Lapis Lazuli | Required resource for performing enchantments |
| Anvil | Used to apply or combine enchantments |
Quick Recipes and Crafting Instructions
- Crafting Table: Combine 4 wooden planks (from any wood type).
- Book: Combine 3 paper (from sugar cane) and 1 leather (from cows or horses).
- Enchanting Table: Use 1 book, 2 diamonds, and 4 obsidian.
- Anvil: Use 3 iron blocks (27 iron ingots) + 4 extra iron ingots.
Tip: Always smelt extra iron early using a furnace. Anvils have limited durability, so keeping spare iron on hand saves time later.
Once these items are ready, you’re set to begin your enchanting journey.
How to Make an Enchanted Book in Minecraft
Crafting an enchanted book might sound complicated, but it’s easier than you think. Follow these steps carefully:
- Place your Enchanting Table on a flat surface with room for bookshelves.
- Insert a Book into the first slot of the interface.
- Add Lapis Lazuli in the second slot (one per enchantment).
- Select one of the three enchantment options on the right-hand panel.
- Retrieve your Enchanted Book — now glowing purple with magical power.
Pro Tip: Surround your Enchanting Table with 15 bookshelves, spaced one block away, to unlock level 30 enchantments — the maximum power level in the game. This setup unlocks end-game enchantments like Efficiency V, Looting III, and Protection IV.
Additional Insight
Some enchantments, like Mending, Soul Speed, and Swift Sneak, are exclusive to enchanted books. These cannot be obtained directly from an enchanting table — they’re found through trading with villagers, fishing, or treasure chests in structures like Ancient Cities or Bastions.
These exclusive enchantments make books one of Minecraft’s most valuable assets, especially in the later stages of the game.
How to Use Enchanted Books (Applying Enchantments to Items)
Once you’ve crafted an enchanted book, it’s time to apply it. This is where your anvil comes into play.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Place your Anvil and open its interface.
- Insert the item you want to enchant (sword, armor, pickaxe, or other tool) into the left slot.
- Place the Enchanted Book into the middle slot.
- The result appears in the right slot — your newly enchanted item.
- Drag it into your inventory to complete the process.
Each enchantment costs experience levels (XP).
- If the cost number is red, you need more XP.
- If a red X appears, the enchantment is incompatible with that item type.
Examples:
- Power applies only to bows.
- Smite and Sharpness are mutually exclusive.
- Efficiency works on mining tools like pickaxes and axes.
Helpful Tip: Always check compatibility before applying an enchantment to avoid wasting XP or rare books.
How to Combine Enchanted Books for Stronger Gear
Combining enchanted books is how players reach higher enchantment levels and create multi-enchanted gear.
Steps to Combine Books
- Open your Anvil menu.
- Place two enchanted books with the same enchantment (for example, Efficiency I + Efficiency I).
- Combine them to form a higher-level enchantment (Efficiency II).
- Repeat this process until you reach the maximum level — usually Level V for most enchantments.
You can also merge books with different enchantments, as long as they’re compatible. For instance, Protection IV and Unbreaking III can be combined before applying them to armor.
Community Insight: Experienced players always combine books first before applying them to gear. This prevents triggering the “Too Expensive!” error that occurs when an item’s prior work penalty becomes too high.
Example Combination: Combine two Protection IV books with an Unbreaking III book to create armor that can withstand anything — even a Creeper blast.
Where to Find Enchanted Books in Minecraft
There are multiple ways to obtain enchanted books — and some methods are far more efficient than others.
Best Sources of Enchanted Books
- Enchanting Table: Craft enchanted books using lapis lazuli and XP.
- Librarian Villagers: Trade emeralds for powerful enchantments like Mending or Unbreaking III.
- Update: In Minecraft 1.20+, Librarian Villager trades vary by biome, meaning you’ll need to visit or breed villagers from different biomes to unlock every enchantment type.
- Loot Chests: Found in dungeons, temples, ancient cities, and bastions. Ancient City chests often include high-tier books such as Swift Sneak or Protection IV.
- Fishing: Enchanted books fall under the “Treasure” category. Use a Luck of the Sea III fishing rod for better odds.
- Pillagers and Vindicators: These enemies sometimes drop enchanted books after raids or battles.
Pro Tip: Set up a villager trading hall near your base. It’s the most reliable long-term way to collect specific enchantments like Mending and Efficiency V.
Advanced Tips for Efficient Enchanting
Now that you understand the basics, it’s time to refine your enchanting strategy. These pro-level techniques can save you hours of grinding.
Expert Strategies
- Enchant your gear first, then fine-tune with books. Use the enchanting table for base enchantments, then customize with books later.
- Combine books before applying them. Fewer anvil uses mean fewer XP costs and lower risk of hitting the “Too Expensive” limit.
- Test enchantments using books. Enchanting a book first shows what enchantments are available next — ideal for controlling randomness.
- Maintain a steady XP supply. Use XP farms, mob spawners, or smelting stations to stay ready for enchanting.
- Plan enchantment order. Use online tools like iamcal’s Enchant Order Planner to find the cheapest enchant sequence.
- Use a Grindstone to correct mistakes. If you accidentally apply the wrong enchantment, remove it and regain some XP.
Mastering the order and timing of enchantments turns ordinary tools into long-lasting, overpowered equipment.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
Even experienced players hit a few snags when enchanting. Here’s a quick troubleshooting guide:
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red XP Cost | Not enough XP levels | Farm XP via mining, mob farms, or smelting |
| Red X on Anvil | Enchantment incompatible | Ensure enchant matches the correct item |
| “Too Expensive!” Message | Prior work penalty too high | Combine fewer times or use a fresh tool |
| Unwanted Enchantment | Random result | Use a Grindstone to reset and retry |
Tip: Every anvil use increases future repair and combination costs. To minimize XP waste, combine all your desired books early in the process.
Enchanting Table vs. Enchanted Book: Which Is Better?
| Feature | Enchanting Table | Enchanted Book + Anvil |
|---|---|---|
| Randomized Results | Yes | Yes |
| Specific Choice | No | Yes |
| Portable | No | Yes |
| Cost Efficiency | Moderate | High (with strategy) |
| Reusable | No | Yes |
| Level of Control | Low | Complete |
Verdict
The Enchanting Table is great for early-game upgrades, but Enchanted Books are the key to creating specialized, end-game builds. They allow complete control over every enchantment, ensuring no wasted XP or resources.
With books, you’re no longer at the mercy of RNG — you’re crafting your own destiny.
Best Enchanted Book Combinations (2025 Builds)
Here are the most effective and powerful combinations based on the latest updates:
| Item | Ideal Enchant Combo |
|---|---|
| Sword | Sharpness V + Looting III + Unbreaking III + Mending |
| Pickaxe | Efficiency V + Fortune III + Unbreaking III + Mending |
| Axe | Efficiency V + Unbreaking III + Silk Touch + Mending |
| Bow | Power V + Infinity + Flame + Unbreaking III |
| Armor | Protection IV + Unbreaking III + Mending |
| Elytra | Unbreaking III + Mending |
Always keep spare Mending and Unbreaking III books in your storage. These two enchantments are the foundation of durable, end-game gear.
Conclusion: Mastering Enchanted Books in Minecraft
Enchanted books are more than glowing collectibles — they’re your key to full control over Minecraft’s enchanting system. They let you store, combine, and apply enchantments in ways that transform basic tools into god-tier equipment.
By mastering how to create, combine, and use enchanted books, you can ensure your weapons and armor stay powerful through every battle, raid, and mining expedition. Whether you’re exploring deep caves, raiding Bastions, or facing the Ender Dragon, your enchanted arsenal will make you unstoppable.
So fire up your anvil, grab your lapis, and start building your ultimate enchanted library — because in Minecraft, knowledge truly is power.
Also read, How to Teleport Instantly in Minecraft 2025
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