Unbreaking is a Minecraft Java Edition enchantment in the durability group, with a maximum level of III.
minecraft:unbreaking
Gives each use a chance to not consume durability: tools effectively last 2×, 3×, and 4× longer at levels I, II, and III. Armor benefits too, but by a smaller margin.
Tip: Unbreaking III + Mending is the immortal-gear combo: Unbreaking slows the wear, Mending repairs what gets through with XP.
Unbreaking goes on everything that wears out — tools, weapons, armor, elytra, fishing rods, shears. It does not add durability; it averages out each use having a 1/(level+1) chance to cost durability for tools. On armor the gain is smaller because armor loses durability per hit taken, not per use. Always pair it with Mending when you can.
Enchanting table, Librarian villager trades, structure chest loot, and fishing treasure.
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 III. An anvil combines two matching levels only up to this maximum — higher levels exist only through commands.
Unbreaking applies to any gear that can take damage (tools, weapons, armor, and more). Items from the reviewed catalog in this group:
Unbreaking slows durability loss; Mending reverses it with XP. Unbreaking alone only delays the inevitable; Mending alone needs more XP to keep up. Together they make gear effectively permanent.
Bedrock Edition: Unbreaking works the same in Bedrock Edition, with the same 2×/3×/4× effective tool life.
The enchantment ID for Unbreaking is minecraft:unbreaking. Java Edition 1.13+ commands such as /enchant use this namespaced form. On Java 1.12.2 and earlier the numerical ID was 34.
Unbreaking goes up to level III (level 3). Run /enchant @p minecraft:unbreaking 3 while holding a valid item to apply the maximum level.
Yes — tools last about four times as long on average. Combined with Mending, a good tool or armor set effectively never breaks.
Yes, but less effectively than on tools. Armor takes durability damage per hit absorbed, and Unbreaking reduces that chance by a smaller amount than the tool formula.
Unbreaking makes durability drain slower; Mending repairs durability using XP orbs. Unbreaking never saves an item forever by itself — Mending can. Use both.
Yes, and it is highly recommended — an Unbreaking III + Mending elytra is the standard endgame flight setup.