7 Best Axe Enchantments in Minecraft

You can’t expect to thrive in Minecraft if you’re unequipped with the best tools available. 

While the Netherite Axe is the strongest axe you can craft, it can still be improved using enchantments. Enchanting your tools gives you a huge boost and some even offer new abilities. Some enchantments are only available for weapons, while others are restricted to tools. 

For this guide, we’re going to check out the best axe enchantments available in the latest version of Minecraft. 

1

Efficiency

Levels: V
Incompatibilities: None

The first and second Minecraft axe enchantment on this list is a toss-up depending on your playstyle and preference. We feel that efficiency remains to be one of the best enchantments not only for an axe but also for other tools in Minecraft. 

Applying efficiency enchantment to a tool makes it quicker at performing its action. This means an axe enchanted with efficiency can cut or chop wood faster than a regular one. 

However, the enchantment won’t work on stones and other blocks that are not meant to be mined by an axe. 

Efficiency also increases the chance of an axe to stun a shield. Its base chance is 25% and a 5% increase for each level of Efficiency (Java Edition). The effect also only applies when you are not sprinting. 

2

Unbreaking

Levels: III
Incompatibilities: None

Unbreaking gives an item the chance to avoid durability reduction when being used. It can be applied to almost any piece of gear in Minecraft and is the most versatile axe enchantment available. 

Applying the unbreaking enchantment on your axe should increase its overall durability. This enchantment has three levels and Unbreaking III can increase the lifespan of your tools by 300%. 

In return, you can gather more resources with a single unbreaking enchanted axe than a normal one. 

3

Mending

Levels: I
Incompatibilities: None

Mending is one of the best Minecraft axe enchantments that work well with unbreaking. Combining mending with unbreaking will ensure that your tools will never break. 

This enchantment only has one level but restores the durability of your tools by performing actions that grant experience. Mending restores two durability per experience points to obtain from an XP orb. 

The best thing about this enchantment is that the enchanted tool doesn’t need to be in your active hand. Mending repairs any enchanted tool that is in your main hand, offhand, and armor slots. 

4

Sharpness

Levels: V
Incompatibilities: Smite, Bane of Arthropods, Cleaving

Sharpness is one of the best axe enchantments in Minecraft for players who often use their axe for combat rather than resource gathering. As its name suggests, the sharpness enchantment increases the sharpness of your axe, allowing it to deal more damage. 

5

Smite

Levels: V
Incompatibilities: Sharpness, Cleaving, Bane of Arthropods

Smite is another excellent enchantment that you can add to your tool if you want to utilize it for combat. However, it doesn’t go with the sharpness enchantment which is somewhat unfortunate. 

This enchantment increases the damage dealt to undead mobs such as skeletons, zombies, and phantoms. Smite has five levels and each provides around 4-5 damage increases depending on the type of axe. 

6

Fortune

Levels: III
Incompatibilities: Silk Touch

If you use an axe for its tool purposes, fortune is another Minecraft axe enchantment that you can consider. Basically, this enchantment increases the number of items dropped from a single block. This should allow you to loot faster, giving you more time to focus on other things. 

While the fortune enchantment works better with a pickaxe, it’s still a handy option to have for certain situations. 

7

Silk of Touch

Levels: I
Incompatibilities: Fortune

This enchantment only has one level and causes certain blocks to drop themselves as items rather than their usual drops when mined. 

For instance, you’ll be able to get glass when you mine it instead of nothing. This is also the case for mushroom blocks. Instead of getting the decorative block, you can get two mushrooms when using an axe enchanted with silk touch. 

While the silk touch enchantment is handy for mining certain blocks, it can also be an inconvenience when you don’t want it to be applied while mining. 

Basically, this enchantment has a learning curve so you don’t end up mining resources that you don’t want. 

How to Enchant An Axe in Minecraft

You’ll surely want to improve your axe with the enchantments mentioned above so we won’t leave you hanging. Here’s a detailed guide on how to enchant your axe in Minecraft. 

Make An Enchanting Table

Without an enchanting table, you can’t add special buffs and abilities to your tools. To make one, you’ll need to collect the following: 

• 4 Obsidian
• 2 Diamonds
• 1 Book

Once you have the materials needed, add the items in your crafting table as shown below to make an enchanting table.  

• Row 1: (empty), book, (empty)
• Row 2: Diamond, Obsidian, Diamond
• Row 3: Obsidian, Obsidian, Obsidian

Collect Lapis Lazuli

Lapis Lazuli is a consumable resource to enchant anything in Minecraft. You can get them from mining lapis blocks, which are usually found deep underground similar to diamonds and redstones. 

Craft Bookshelves (Optional)

You can increase the available enchantment levels by placing 15 bookcases around the enchanting table, keeping a one-block space between the bookshelves and the table. Although this is not required, it allows for higher-tier enchantments. 

Enchanting the Axe

Now, you are all set to apply Minecraft enchantments to your axe. Access the enchanting table to open the interface. Place your axe in the left slot and some lapis lazuli in the other slot. Three options should appear on the right window, each with a different level of cost. Select the enchantment you want to apply it on your axe. 

The table will consume some experience points and lapis lazuli needed for the enchantment you picked. 

Enchantments are random and you may need to try a few times to get the one you want. If you want a specific enchantment, you can try enchanting books instead and use an anvil to apply your desired enchantment. 

Conclusion

Enchantments mentioned on our list are ranked based on what they can do and offer. However, the best axe enchantments in Minecraft are the ones that will provide what you currently need in the game.

Combining the enchantments mentioned above, given they are compatible, will give you the ultimate axe in Minecraft.