Minecraft enchanting system: Why it needs an update

Enchanting needs a change in Minecraft
Enchanting needs a change (Image via Mojang)

Enchanting is a key mechanic in Minecraft, enabling players to enhance their tools, weapons, and armor for a better gameplay experience. Despite its importance, the enchanting system has seen little innovation over the years, leaving it feeling outdated compared to other mechanics. Players often rely on workarounds like villager trading to bypass the randomness of an enchanting table.

With a few well-thought-out upgrades, Mojang could modernize enchanting and make it a more rewarding part of the game. In this article, we will discuss the downsides of Minecraft's enchanting system and how Mojang can improve it to enhance the gameplay experience.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinions.


Chart New Territories with the ultimate Minecraft Seed Generator!

The current state of enchanting in Minecraft

Librarians are the easiest way to get enchantments (Image via Mojang)
Librarians are the easiest way to get enchantments (Image via Mojang)

As of now, there are only two reliable ways to get enchantments in Minecraft: the enchanting table and trading with librarians. While both methods get the job done, the major issue lies in the randomness.

There is no guaranteed way to get a specific enchantment from either the enchanting table or villager trading. This has been the case for well over a decade.

Enchantment from librarian (Image via Mojang)
Enchantment from librarian (Image via Mojang)

If you want to get enchantments quickly, the fastest way would be to craft a lectern and place it in front of a jobless villager to turn it into a librarian.

A librarian has a chance of selling a random enchantment as one of its first two trades. However, not everyone is lucky enough to find a village right at the start.

Enchanting table in Minecraft (Image via Mojang)
Enchanting table in Minecraft (Image via Mojang)

Players without access to villagers will have to craft an enchanting table, which requires diamonds, obsidian blocks, and a book. Moreover, if you want high-level enchantments, you will need to craft bookshelves and surround your enchanting table with them.

Even with all that hard work, you are still not guaranteed to get your desired enchantment. Not to mention, enchanting your equipment with the highest level of enchantments requires you to reach level 30 and costs three levels of XP.

In the case of villager trading, you can simply break the lectern block to reset the librarian's trade and try your luck again. Doing so costs nothing but a few seconds.

On the other hand, you will need to enchant an item to reset the enchantments available in an enchanting table, which costs XP, 1–3 lapis lazuli, and an item. For this reason, more and more players rely on villager trading to get their desired enchantments instead of using the enchanting table — a feature literally designed for enchanting.

Also Read: All Minecraft villager trades


How Mojang might fix Minecraft's enchanting system

New structures have specific enchantments (Image via Mojang)
New structures have specific enchantments (Image via Mojang)

Mojang is aware of the issues in Minecraft's enchanting system, as all the recently added enchantments have a high chance of being available as rewards in certain structures, such as Swift Sneak in ancient cities, Soul Speed in bastion remnants, and Wind Burst in trial chambers.

However, this change is only beneficial for new enchantments. It is likely to become the standard for enchantments going forward.

Experimental villager trading rebalancing (Image via Mojang)
Experimental villager trading rebalancing (Image via Mojang)

Fixing the enchanting system would require a nerf to the overpowered librarian trading and a buff to the enchanting table. Minecraft is already working on an experimental villager trading rebalance datapack, which aims to nerf strong trades like enchanted books for emeralds. In this datapack, the enchantments offered by a librarian are based on the biome they come from.

The Minecraft villager trading rebalance also increases the chances of finding enchantments in specific structures, such as Mending in ancient cities, Efficiency in mineshafts, and Unbreaking in pyramids.

Since it is an experimental datapack, there is no guarantee that the villager trading rebalance will become an official feature. However, it is definitely a step in the right direction.

Removing the RNG behind enchantments is arguably the best way to revamp the enchanting system. If Mojang goes through with the villager trading rebalance, it will give players a reason to explore different villages, discover new biomes, and challenge structures to obtain their desired enchantments.

Uncover new worlds with our Minecraft Seed Generator!

Quick Links

Edited by Rachel Syiemlieh
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications