Breach is a Minecraft Java Edition enchantment in the mace group, with a maximum level of IV.
minecraft:breach
Reduces the effectiveness of the target's armor points and armor toughness by 15% per level when you hit with a mace, so armored enemies take much closer to the full hit.
Tip: Breach IV shreds full netherite armor in PvP. It cannot share a mace with Density — pick Breach for armored players, Density for PvE.
Breach is only as good as the target's armor: against unarmored mobs it does nothing at all, while against full netherite it effectively multiplies your real damage more than raw damage enchantments can. A Breach IV mace has the highest damage-per-hit of any melee weapon against diamond- or netherite-armored targets. For PvE against regular mobs, Density is usually better.
Enchanting table (mace), Librarian villager trades, and enchanted-book loot including trial chambers vaults. Breach is rare (weight 2), so expect to reroll the table or combine lower-level books on an anvil to reach IV.
Hold a valid item in your main hand, then run (Java Edition 1.13+; the level is optional and defaults to 1):
This example applies the maximum level IV. An anvil combines two matching levels only up to this maximum — higher levels exist only through commands.
Or give yourself a Mace with Breach IV already applied (Java 1.20.5+ component format):
Breach applies to the mace. Items from the reviewed catalog in this group:
These enchantments cannot be on the same item as Breach (source: minecraft-data 1.21 registry):
Density adds bonus damage per block fallen, which armor still reduces; Breach ignores up to 60% of the armor itself. The two are mutually exclusive on the same mace. Rule of thumb: Density for PvE and unarmored targets, Breach for PvP against geared players.
Sharpness adds flat damage to swords and axes; Breach adds nothing but pierces armor on the mace. They can never be on the same weapon. Against an unarmored target Sharpness V always adds damage, while Breach IV adds zero — armor is what makes Breach valuable.
Bedrock Edition: Breach is also available in Bedrock Edition 1.21.0 and later, with the same 15%-per-level armor reduction and maximum level IV.
The enchantment ID for Breach is minecraft:breach. Java Edition 1.13+ commands such as /enchant use this namespaced form.
Breach goes up to level IV (level 4). Run /enchant @p minecraft:breach 4 while holding a valid item to apply the maximum level.
Yes. Breach is available on the enchanting table for maces, but it is a rare enchantment (weight 2). Librarian villagers can also trade Breach books, and combining books on an anvil is the usual way to reach Breach IV.
No. Breach and Density are mutually exclusive — you must choose one per mace. Breach is the pick against armored targets (PvP, geared mobs); Density deals more raw damage against unarmored ones.
Yes. Breach reduces the effectiveness of both armor points and armor toughness by 15% per level, which is why it performs so well against netherite gear specifically.
Rarely. Most PvE mobs wear no armor, so Breach adds nothing. Zombies or skeletons that spawn with armor are the exception. For PvE smash builds, Density V is the stronger choice.