Updated 24 October 2026. Every answer lists its source.
Minecraft tools, weapons and armor, answered
What each tier of gear does, how long it lasts, and which enchantments to put on every piece. Damage figures are Java Edition's 1.9+ combat.
What are the tool tiers in Minecraft?
From weakest to strongest: wood, stone, copper, iron, diamond and netherite. Gold is fast but very weak and breaks quickly.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Tiers
How much durability do Minecraft tools have?
Wood 59 uses, stone 131, copper 190, iron 250, gold 32, diamond 1,561 and netherite 2,031.
Each block mined or hit usually takes 1 durability. Unbreaking makes tools last longer and Mending repairs them with XP.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Tiers, Minecraft Wiki - Item durability
What are copper tools in Minecraft?
Copper tools and armor arrived in the Copper Age drop (1.21.9). They sit between stone and iron.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Tiers, Minecraft Wiki - Java Edition 1.21.9
How do you upgrade diamond to netherite?
Put the diamond item, a netherite ingot and a netherite upgrade smithing template into a smithing table.
The item keeps its enchantments and name. Smithing templates are found in bastion remnants and can be copied with diamonds.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Smithing Table, Minecraft Wiki - Netherite Upgrade
Is netherite better than diamond?
Yes. Netherite has more durability, more damage and armor toughness, adds knockback resistance and does not burn in lava.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Netherite Ingot, Minecraft Wiki - Armor
Is gold armor any good?
Gold armor is weak and breaks fast, but one piece keeps piglins calm in the Nether, and it enchants well.
How do you get chainmail armor?
Chainmail cannot be crafted. Get it from armorer villager trades, chests, or mobs that drop what they wear.
How do you repair armor and tools?
Combine two damaged items in an anvil or crafting grid, use the matching material in an anvil, or use the Mending enchantment.
The crafting grid and grindstone remove enchantments; the anvil keeps them.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Anvil, Minecraft Wiki - Item durability
How much damage does each sword do?
On Java, a wooden or gold sword deals 4, stone 5, iron 6, diamond 7 and netherite 8 damage (2 damage = 1 heart).
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Sword
How much damage does an axe do?
A diamond axe deals 9 damage and netherite 10 on Java, but axes swing slower than swords.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Axe
What does an axe do to a shield?
Hitting a blocking player with an axe disables their shield for 5 seconds.
What is a sweep attack in Minecraft?
On Java, a fully charged sword hit while standing still or walking also hits mobs next to the target. Sweeping Edge makes it stronger.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Sword, Minecraft Wiki - Sweeping Edge
How do you do a critical hit in 1.9+?
Hit while falling after a jump, not sprinting, swimming or on a ladder, with the attack charged. Crits deal 50% more damage.
Is a bow or crossbow better?
A bow does more damage at full draw and shoots faster with enchants. A crossbow holds a loaded shot, shoots fireworks and can hit several targets with Multishot.
What are the types of arrows?
Normal arrows, spectral arrows that make targets glow, and tipped arrows that carry a potion effect.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Arrow
How does the mace work?
The mace deals extra damage the farther you fall before hitting. Pair it with wind charges to launch yourself up first.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Mace
What is the strongest weapon in Minecraft?
The mace after a long fall can deal the biggest single hits. For steady damage, a netherite sword or axe with Sharpness V is the strongest.
How much armor does each set give?
Full sets give: leather 7 armor points, gold 11, chainmail 12, iron 15, diamond and netherite 20. Copper sits between leather and gold.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Armor
What is armor toughness?
Armor toughness lowers damage from big hits. Diamond armor gives 2 toughness per piece and netherite 3.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Armor
Does netherite armor give knockback resistance?
Yes. Each piece of netherite armor gives 10% knockback resistance, so a full set gives 40%.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Armor
What does a turtle shell do?
A turtle shell helmet gives 2 armor and 10 seconds of Water Breathing when you go underwater.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Turtle Shell
Can you dye leather armor?
Yes. Craft leather armor with dyes to color it, or wash it in a water cauldron to remove the dye.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Leather Armor
What are the best armor enchantments?
Protection IV, Unbreaking III and Mending on every piece. Add Respiration and Aqua Affinity on the helmet, Feather Falling IV on boots.
Use Blast Protection instead of Protection for TNT and creepers; only one protection type fits on each piece.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Protection, Minecraft Wiki - Enchanting
What are the best boots enchantments?
Protection IV, Feather Falling IV, Unbreaking III, Mending, plus Depth Strider III or Frost Walker II, and Soul Speed III from bartering.
Depth Strider and Frost Walker cannot be on the same boots.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Feather Falling, Minecraft Wiki - Depth Strider, Minecraft Wiki - Soul Speed
What are the best helmet enchantments?
Protection IV, Respiration III, Aqua Affinity, Unbreaking III and Mending.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Respiration, Minecraft Wiki - Aqua Affinity
What are the best leggings enchantments?
Protection IV, Unbreaking III, Mending and Swift Sneak III, which you can only find in ancient city chests.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Swift Sneak
What are the best axe enchantments?
Efficiency V, Unbreaking III and Mending for chopping, plus Sharpness V for fighting. Silk Touch or Fortune III are optional.
What are the best sword enchantments?
Sharpness V, Looting III, Sweeping Edge III (Java), Fire Aspect II, Unbreaking III, Mending and Knockback if you like it.
What are the best bow enchantments?
Power V, Unbreaking III, Punch II, Flame, and either Infinity or Mending.
What are the best crossbow enchantments?
Quick Charge III, Unbreaking III, Mending, and either Multishot or Piercing IV.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Crossbow, Minecraft Wiki - Quick Charge
What are the best trident enchantments?
Impaling V, Unbreaking III, Mending, plus Loyalty III with Channeling, or Riptide III for travel.
What are the best fishing rod enchantments?
Luck of the Sea III, Lure III, Unbreaking III and Mending.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Fishing Rod
What are the best elytra enchantments?
Unbreaking III and Mending. Mending matters most, because elytra slowly wear out while you fly.
What are the best mace enchantments?
Density V or Breach IV, Wind Burst III, Unbreaking III and Mending.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Mace
What are the best shield enchantments?
Unbreaking III and Mending are the only ones a shield can take, apart from curses.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Shield
What are the best hoe enchantments?
Efficiency V, Unbreaking III, Mending and Fortune III, which raises crop drops from many plants.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Hoe
What are the top 10 enchantments in Minecraft?
Mending, Unbreaking, Protection, Sharpness, Efficiency, Fortune, Looting, Feather Falling, Power and Silk Touch are the ones most players want first.
What are the best pickaxe enchantments?
Efficiency V, Unbreaking III and Mending, plus either Fortune III for ores or Silk Touch to collect blocks whole. You cannot have both.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Best enchantments guide, Minecraft Wiki - Pickaxe
Is Unbreaking worth it on armor?
Yes, but less than on tools. Unbreaking III makes armor last only about 43% longer, while it makes tools last about four times longer.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Best enchantments guide, Minecraft Wiki - Unbreaking
What are the best potions in Minecraft?
Healing, Regeneration, Strength, Fire Resistance, Swiftness and Slow Falling cover most fights and trips; Night Vision and Water Breathing help underwater.
Source: Minecraft Wiki - Potion
What is the best building block in Minecraft?
It depends on the look, but stone bricks, deepslate, planks, concrete and quartz are popular. Blocks that come with stairs, slabs and walls are the easiest to build with.
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