MCTools

Best Shovel Enchantments

The best enchantments for a shovel in Minecraft Java 1.21 — a shovel is digging dirt, sand, gravel, clay and snow. Here's the top loadout, every available enchantment, and which ones conflict.

Best shovel loadout

Efficiency V, Fortune III, Unbreaking III, Mending.

Want to plan a different setup or see conflicts highlighted live? Open the interactive calculator.

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All shovel enchantments (6)

Unbreaking (max III)

Item lasts longer (chance to not lose durability).

Mendingtreasureconflicts with others — pick one

XP repairs the item instead of going to you.

Curse of Vanishingtreasurecurse

Item is destroyed on death.

Efficiency (max V)

Mine/dig faster.

Silk Touchconflicts with others — pick one

Blocks drop themselves.

Fortune (max III)conflicts with others — pick one

More block drops.

How to apply them

Enchant at an enchanting table surrounded by 15 bookshelves for the level-30 tier, then use an anvil to combine enchanted books for any specific or treasure enchantments. Combine books together first, then onto the shovel, to keep the anvil's prior-work penalty low. Add Mending so the shovel repairs itself as you earn XP.

FAQ

What are the best shovel enchantments?

Efficiency V, Fortune III, Unbreaking III, Mending. These are the strongest non-conflicting enchantments you can stack on a shovel in Java 1.21.

How many enchantments can a shovel have?

A shovel can hold 4 compatible enchantments at once (some options are mutually exclusive, so you must choose between them).

How do I get these enchantments?

Use an enchanting table surrounded by 15 bookshelves, then combine enchanted books on an anvil for any specific or treasure enchantments. Mending comes from books, fishing, trades or loot.

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