Thorns is a Minecraft Java Edition enchantment in the armor group, with a maximum level of III.
Namespaced enchantment IDminecraft:thorns
Thorns Facts
Maximum levelIII (3)
Applies toarmor
CurseNo
Treasure-onlyNo
Legacy ID (1.12.2)7
Enchanting tableCan appear
Librarian tradeCan be traded
What Thorns Does
Gives attackers a level × 15% chance per armor piece to take 1–4 damage back when they hit you, whether by melee, arrow, or other direct attacks — at the cost of extra armor durability loss.
Effect per Level
I: 15% chance per piece to reflect damage
II: 30% chance per piece
III: 45% chance per piece
Tip: Thorns III punishes every attacker, but it shreds your armor's durability — never run it without Unbreaking III and Mending.
Using Thorns Well
Thorns is passive offense: anything that hits you risks damage and a knockback jolt, which adds up fast against groups and in PvP. Each piece rolls independently, and total reflected damage is capped. The price is durability — Thorns makes armor wear out noticeably faster, which is why it is the last enchantment players add, after Protection, Unbreaking, and Mending are already on.
How to Get Thorns
Enchanting table (low levels, rare), Librarian trades, structure loot, and fishing. On Java Edition, reaching Thorns III means combining two Thorns II books on an anvil.
Protection reduces the damage you take; Thorns damages the attacker instead. They stack and complement each other — Protection keeps you alive, Thorns punishes whoever touched you.
Thorns accelerates durability loss; Unbreaking counteracts exactly that. If you commit to Thorns III on all four pieces, Unbreaking III is not optional.
Thorns Version History
Bedrock Edition: On Bedrock Edition Thorns can appear directly on the enchanting table; on Java, Thorns III usually requires anvil combining.
Thorns FAQ
What is the enchantment ID for Thorns?
The enchantment ID for Thorns is minecraft:thorns. Java Edition 1.13+ commands such as /enchant use this namespaced form. On Java 1.12.2 and earlier the numerical ID was 7.
What is the max level of Thorns?
Thorns goes up to level III (level 3). Run /enchant @p minecraft:thorns 3 while holding a valid item to apply the maximum level.
Does Thorns damage your armor?
Yes. Armor with Thorns loses durability faster whenever the reflect triggers. Unbreaking III and Mending are practically mandatory alongside it.
Does Thorns work against arrows?
Yes. Thorns triggers on melee, arrows, and other direct attacks — the attacker takes damage and a knockback jolt even at range.
Do multiple Thorns pieces stack?
Yes. Each armor piece rolls its own independent chance to reflect, so four Thorns III pieces trigger very often, though the total reflected damage per attack is capped.
Is Thorns worth it?
In PvP and against swarms, yes — free passive damage. For casual PvE it is optional, because the durability cost means more repairs unless you have Mending.