Should I have Unbreaking and mending?

Answered by Phillip Nicastro

When it comes to the question of whether or not to have Unbreaking and Mending on your armor or tools in Minecraft, there are a few factors to consider. These enchantments can be incredibly powerful and can greatly extend the lifespan of your equipment, but they also have the potential to make the game feel unbalanced and remove some of the challenge.

Firstly, let’s talk about Unbreaking. This enchantment increases the durability of your armor or tools, making them last longer before they break. It’s a great enchantment to have, especially for tools that you use frequently, as it can save you a lot of resources and time spent repairing or crafting new equipment. It’s a no-brainer to have Unbreaking on your gear, as it provides a tangible benefit without completely removing the need for maintenance.

On the other hand, we have Mending. This enchantment allows your armor or tools to repair themselves using experience orbs. Whenever you gain experience points, a portion of that experience is used to repair any equipment with the Mending enchantment. This means that as long as you continue to gain experience, your gear will essentially never break. Mending is incredibly powerful and can make your equipment virtually indestructible.

While having indestructible gear may sound appealing, it can also remove some of the challenge and satisfaction from the game. Minecraft is a game where resource management and careful planning are key aspects of gameplay. By having gear that never breaks, you no longer need to worry about repairing or replacing it, which can take away from the sense of accomplishment that comes from maintaining and upgrading your equipment.

Furthermore, the combination of Unbreaking and Mending can make the game feel unbalanced. In a survival or multiplayer setting, having gear that never breaks can give you a significant advantage over other players or mobs. It can make combat encounters trivial and remove some of the tension and excitement that comes from the risk of losing your equipment.

In my personal experience, I have found that using Unbreaking and Mending together can make the game feel less challenging and rewarding. I enjoy the process of managing my resources and carefully maintaining my equipment, and having gear that never breaks takes away from that experience. I prefer to use Unbreaking to extend the lifespan of my gear, but I choose not to use Mending to keep a sense of balance and challenge in the game.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use Unbreaking and Mending on your armor or tools comes down to personal preference. If you enjoy the challenge of managing your resources and don’t mind the extra time and effort spent on repairing and replacing gear, then using Unbreaking alone can be a good choice. However, if you prefer the convenience and longevity that comes from having gear that never breaks, then using both Unbreaking and Mending may be more suitable for you. Just keep in mind that it may alter the balance and challenge of the game.