Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, community sites named in the text and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Best Enchantments for PvP
For PvP, Protection on every armour piece is essential: a full set of Protection IV gives 64% damage resistance. Add Sharpness on swords and axes, Power on bows, Unbreaking and Mending on armour, and Feather Falling on boots. Knockback, Thorns, Fire Protection and Projectile Protection are usually skipped.
Which armour enchantments matter?
| Enchantment | Effect | Verdict in the PvP guide |
|---|---|---|
| Protection | +4% damage resistance per level; full Protection IV = 64% | Required in all PvP |
| Blast Protection | +8% explosion resistance per level; two Blast Protection IV pieces cancel explosion knockback | One piece in Crystal and Cart PvP; not more |
| Feather Falling | +12% fall resistance per level (pearl damage too) | Always worth having |
| Unbreaking | 50%, about 66% or 75% chance to skip durability loss | Essential on armour |
| Mending | Repairs 2 durability per XP point | Essential on armour; leave it off other gear |
| Thorns | 1 to 4 damage to attackers, extra durability loss | Not recommended; also gives the attacker knockback immunity |
| Fire / Projectile Protection | +8% against fire or projectiles per level | Not worth giving up Protection |
Which weapon enchantments matter?
| Enchantment | Effect |
|---|---|
| Sharpness | +1 damage at level I, +0.5 per level after; Sharpness V = +3 (Java) |
| Power (bow) | +50% at level I, +25% per level after; Power V = +150% |
| Fire Aspect / Flame | 4 seconds of fire per level / 5 seconds; burning pauses while other damage is landing |
| Knockback / Punch | More horizontal knockback; Knockback only suits Crystal PvP and netherite SMP |
| Infinity | Arrows are not used up; preferred over Mending on bows |
| Breach (mace) | Lowers the target's armour effectiveness by 15% per level |
Knockback on a sword makes combos harder against non-netherite players and lets them escape; see combos.
Why skip some enchantments?
Many enchantments sit on the same item slot or are mutually exclusive, so taking one means losing a better one. Fire and Projectile Protection replace Protection, which the guide says is never worth it. Thorns barely hurts against Protection but drains your own armour, and it hands the attacker half a second of knockback immunity, breaking your combos. More on that: i-frames.
Where is the full enchantment list?
Every enchantment in the game: every enchantment and best enchantments. ArtemisPvP adds its own custom enchants on top; see enchant books.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important PvP enchantment?
Protection on all armour; a full Protection IV set gives 64% damage resistance.
Is Thorns good for PvP?
minecraft.wiki's PvP guide says no: it barely hurts the attacker, drains your armour and breaks your own combos.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.