Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Best Helmet Enchantments: Respiration and Aqua Affinity
The best helmet has Protection IV, Respiration III, Aqua Affinity, Unbreaking III and Mending. Respiration gives a chance not to lose air, adding about 16 seconds of breath per level on average, and Aqua Affinity removes the 5-times-slower mining you get with your head underwater. A turtle shell adds Water Breathing for 10 seconds when you dive.
What does Respiration do?
Each level gives a chance each tick not to use air, adding about 16 seconds on average, so Respiration III makes your air last about 64 seconds instead of 16. Drowning damage: health and damage.
What does Aqua Affinity do?
Mining with your head underwater is normally 5 times slower; Aqua Affinity removes that. Mining while floating is another 5 times slower, which Aqua Affinity does not fix, so stand on the floor while you dig; both penalties together make floating underwater mining 25 times slower. It has only one level, and it is very useful for clearing out ocean monuments or digging underwater bases.
What else can a helmet get?
- Protection IV (or Fire, Blast or Projectile Protection); see armor enchantments.
- Thorns, Unbreaking III, Mending.
- Curse of Binding or Vanishing, which you do not want; see curses.
Is a turtle shell better?
A turtle shell gives 10 seconds of Water Breathing whenever you enter water from the air, and takes Respiration and Aqua Affinity too, but less armor than diamond or netherite. Good for ocean monument raids; see turtles and ocean monuments.
Are there helmet enchants on ArtemisPvP?
Frequently asked questions
How long does Respiration III let you breathe?
About 64 seconds of air on average, against 16 seconds without it.
Does Aqua Affinity work while swimming?
It removes the head-underwater penalty but not the floating penalty.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.