In the Minecraft 1.18 update, which seems so long ago from the latest 1.20 update, we were introduced to crossbows. While they have a longer charge time than bows, they’ve become many players’ go-to weapon. Here are the six best Minecraft crossbow enchantments to take your crossbow skills to the next level.
However, check out our sword enchantment list if you prefer close-range combat.
Multishot
Enchantment Levels: 1
Incompatibilities: None
With this nifty upgrade, you can enchant your crossbow to shoot more than one arrow at once. This Minecraft enchantment lets you shoot three arrows at once without using more than one arrow from your inventory – making it one of the best and most valuable enchantments.
The only catch is that those two extra arrows won’t pick up other enchantments on your crossbow, such as piercing. This means that only the initial arrow will have the additional enchantments, shooting the other two as regular arrows.
Piercing
Enchantment Levels: 4
Incompatibilities: None
This bad boy of a Minecraft crossbow enchantment allows your arrows to pass through multiple mobs as long as they’re lined up. It can have up to four enchantment levels, with each level increasing the number of mobs your arrow can pass through. So, for example, with piercing IV, you can hit up to five mobs in one shot! Talk about efficiency.
| Enchantment | Piercing I | Piercing II | Piercing III | Piercing IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (level + 1) | 2 Mobs | 3 Mobs | 4 Mobs | 5 Mobs |
Quick Charge
Enchantment Levels: 3
Incompatibilities: None
If you’ve ever fired a crossbow, you’ll know it has a slower charge than a bow. This can become annoying when battling multiple foes. However, depending on the enchantment level, this Minecraft crossbow enchantment decreases the reload time. There are three levels, each decreasing the reload time by 0.25 seconds. At the max level, quick charge will cut your loading time down to 0.5 seconds, making your crossbow a rapid-fire weapon to be reckoned with.
| Enchantment | Quick Charge I | Quick Charge II | Quick Charge III |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1.25 – (level x 0.25)) | (1.25 – 0.25) = 1 | (1.25 – 2(0.25)) = 0.75 | (1.25 – 3(0.25)) = 0.5 |
Unbreaking
Enchantment Levels: 3
Incompatibilities: None
You’ve probably heard of this Minecraft enchantment before, as it’s common for various tools and weapons. Unbreaking increases the durability of your crossbow, meaning it can last longer before breaking. With three levels, unbreaking III gives your crossbow a whopping 43% chance of not taking any damage when used.
See how the unbreaking enchantment affects tridents in this article for an alternative long-range weapon.
| Enchantment | Normal Durability | Unbreaking I (50%) | Unbreaking II (~66%) | Unbreaking III (75%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java | 326 | 652 | 978 | 1304 |
| Bedrock | 464 | 928 | 1392 | 1856 |
Mending
Enchantment Levels: 1
Incompatibilities: None
Next, we have Mending – the enchantment that keeps on giving. While extremely rare, this enchantment uses experience orbs to repair your crossbow, increasing its lifespan. It’s worth the effort to get your hands on this enchantment if you plan to use your crossbow a lot.
Curse of Vanishing
Enchantment Levels: 1
Incompatibilities: None
While considered a curse instead of an enchantment, the curse of vanishing is helpful when preventing others from stealing your items upon death. When an item is enchanted and held by a player who dies, the item vanishes instead of dropping.
However, since the item will be lost forever, you cannot find it when you venture to your death point to collect your inventory.
How To Enchant A Crossbow in Minecraft
From combining an enchanted book with a crossbow on an anvil or finding one in your world, there are multiple ways to get your hands on an enchanted crossbow. However, the easiest and most direct way is using an enchanting table. Here’s a step-by-step guide on getting some of the best Minecraft crossbow enchantments.
Step 1 – Craft your Crossbow
Before you can enchant a crossbow, you need to have one. To craft a crossbow, you’ll need the following items: three sticks, two strings, one iron ingot, and one tripwire hook. Arrange them in the crafting grid in the following pattern:
Row 1: Stick, Iron Ingot, Stick
Row 2: String, Tripwire Hook, String
Row 3: (empty), Stick, (empty)
Step 2 – Gather Experience Points
To enchant crossbows in Minecraft, you need experience points. You can obtain these by mining ores, killing mobs, breeding animals, cooking food, and doing other in-game activities.
Step 3 – Craft an Enchantment Table
Next, you’ll need an enchantment table. Crafting one requires four obsidian blocks, two diamonds, and one book. Arrange these items in the following pattern:
Row 1: (empty), book, (empty)
Row 2: Diamond, Obsidian, Diamond
Row 3: Obsidian, Obsidian, Obsidian
Step 4 – Collect Lapis Lazuli
You’ll need lapis lazuli as a consumable resource to enchant anything in Minecraft. You can get this from mining lapis blocks, usually found deep underground, like redstone and diamonds.
Step 5 – Craft Bookshelves (Optional)
To increase the available enchantment levels, position 15 bookcases around your enchantment table, keeping a one-block space between the bookcases and the table. While this step is not required, it allows for higher-tier enchantments.
Step 6 – Enchant the Crossbow
Now, you’re finally ready to enchant your crossbow. Right-click the enchantment table to open the interface. As shown below, play your crossbow in the left slot and lapis in the proper slow. Three enchantment options will appear, each with a different level of cost. Hover over each option to see the enchantment offered.
Choose the enchantment you want and click on it. Your crossbow will now be enchanted. However, the table will consume the lapis and experience points needed for that enchantment.
Remember that enchantments are random, and you may not immediately get the one you want. You can try enchanting books instead and then use an anvil to apply the desired enchantment. Alternatively, you can keep trying with different crossbows until you get the enchantment you’re after.
