How to get Mending in Minecraft is one of the most common questions asked by both new and experienced players. Mending is widely considered the best enchantment in the game because it allows tools, weapons, and armour to repair themselves using experience points.
Instead of constantly crafting new equipment or repairing items with an anvil, Mending lets your favourite gear last indefinitely. Learning how to get Mending in Minecraft can completely change the way you play and save valuable resources throughout your survival world.
What Does Mending Do in Minecraft?
Mending is a treasure enchantment that repairs an item whenever you gain experience.
Rather than adding XP directly to your experience bar, the game uses some of those experience points to restore durability to an equipped item with the Mending enchantment.
This means your favourite tools can effectively last forever as long as you continue earning XP.
Mending Enchantment Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Enchantment | Mending |
| Type | Treasure Enchantment |
| Available Through Enchanting Table | No |
| Compatible With | Most tools, weapons, armour and Elytra |
| Main Benefit | Repairs items using XP |
Because it is a treasure enchantment, Mending cannot normally be obtained from a standard enchanting table.
Best Way to Get Mending in Minecraft
The easiest and most reliable method is through Librarian Villagers.
Many experienced players consider this the best way to get Mending in Minecraft because it provides a guaranteed source once the trade is unlocked.
Using a Librarian Villager
To obtain Mending from a Librarian:
- Find an unemployed villager.
- Place a Lectern nearby.
- Check the villager’s trades.
- Look for a Mending enchanted book.
- If Mending does not appear, break and replace the Lectern.
- Repeat until the trade appears.
Once you’ve traded with the villager, the trade becomes locked permanently.
This means you’ll always have access to Mending books whenever you need them.
For a full setup guide, see our article on How to Make a Librarian Villager in Minecraft.
Other Ways to Get Mending in Minecraft
While Librarians are the most reliable option, there are several other methods available.
Loot Chests
Mending books can occasionally be found in loot chests.
Possible locations include:
- Ancient Cities
- Strongholds
- Desert Temples
- Jungle Temples
- Mineshafts
- Woodland Mansions
However, these drops are random and cannot be guaranteed.
Fishing
Fishing has a small chance of rewarding enchanted books.
With enough patience, players can obtain Mending through fishing, although it is significantly slower than villager trading.
Raids
Some raid rewards and rare loot opportunities may provide enchanted books, including Mending.
Again, this relies heavily on luck.
Why Most Players Use Librarians
When searching for how to get Mending in Minecraft, you’ll often find experienced players recommending Librarians.
There are several reasons for this:
| Advantage | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Guaranteed Access | Unlimited Mending books |
| Renewable | Can purchase more whenever needed |
| Easy to Set Up | Requires only a villager and Lectern |
| Reliable | No dependence on luck |
A single Librarian can provide enough Mending books for every piece of equipment you own.
Best Items to Use Mending On
Not every item needs Mending immediately.
Most players prioritise these items first:
Pickaxe
A Mending pickaxe is one of the most useful tools in Minecraft.
Mining ores naturally generates XP, allowing the tool to repair itself while you work.
Elytra
Elytra are difficult to replace, making Mending almost essential.
With Mending applied, you can continue flying without constantly worrying about durability.
Armour
Diamond and Netherite armour require significant resources to craft.
Mending helps protect that investment.
Weapons
Swords and bows also benefit greatly from automatic repairs.
Can You Get Mending From an Enchanting Table?
No.
One of the biggest misconceptions about how to get Mending in Minecraft is that it can be obtained through a standard enchanting table.
Mending is classified as a treasure enchantment, meaning it does not appear in normal enchanting table options.
Instead, players must find enchanted books through villagers, loot, fishing, or other special sources.
How to Apply a Mending Book
Once you’ve obtained a Mending book, you’ll need an anvil.
Steps to Apply Mending
- Place an Anvil.
- Open the Anvil menu.
- Insert the item you want to enchant.
- Place the Mending book in the second slot.
- Confirm the enchantment.
Your item will now repair itself whenever you gain experience.
Does Mending Work With Other Enchantments?
Yes.
Mending can be combined with many of Minecraft’s strongest enchantments.
Popular combinations include:
- Mending + Efficiency
- Mending + Fortune
- Mending + Silk Touch
- Mending + Protection
- Mending + Unbreaking
The only notable restriction is that Mending cannot be combined with Infinity on bows in Java Edition.
Why Mending Is Worth Getting
Learning how to get Mending in Minecraft should be a priority for every survival player. It removes much of the frustration that comes with equipment durability and allows your favourite gear to remain useful for the entire lifespan of a world.
Whether you obtain it through villager trading, fishing, or rare loot chests, Mending remains one of the most valuable enchantments available. Most players eventually build their entire equipment setup around having access to a reliable source of Mending books.
For more Minecraft guides, check out Minecraft Villager Jobs: Every Profession and Workstation Explained, How to Make a Librarian Villager in Minecraft, How to Find Diamonds in Minecraft, and Best Minecraft Seeds.
For more Minecraft tips, tutorials, and walkthroughs, be sure to visit our Minecraft Guides Hub. You’ll find guides covering villagers, enchantments, diamonds, Netherite, The End, potion brewing, building ideas, and everything else you need to master Minecraft.
