ENCHANTMENTS · PROTECTION

Thorns in Minecraft - Anvil Cost & Compatibility

Reflects part of incoming melee damage back at the attacker (also damages the wearer's gear).

Max Level

3

Book Cost

8/lvl

Conflicts

-

Treasure

No

Added

vanilla

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Anvil Calculator

Optimal order · XP cost · Too-Expensive guard
0 = brand new. Every anvil use raises this by 1.

Pick the gear you want to enchant. Books you add below will be merged onto it in the cheapest order we can find.

Books / sacrifices (1)
Version
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Compatible items

How to get Thorns

  • Enchanting table: Surround a level 30 table with 15 bookshelves and roll until Thorns appears.
  • Villager trading: Reroll librarian villagers until one stocks Thorns.
  • Loot: Bastions, end cities and trial chambers regularly drop enchanted gear with Thorns.
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Anvil cost worked example

Applying a level-3 Thorns book onto a brand-new item costs 24 XP levels (book multiplier 8 times level 3). Adding it on top of an item that has already been on the anvil once raises the cost by another 1 level for the prior-work penalty; twice and the penalty jumps to 3; three times, 7; and so on by 2^n - 1.

Pair Thorns with cheap stuff first if you can - Unbreaking and Mending have low multipliers and don't conflict, so they're usually the cheapest path to a full endgame loadout.

Pair Thorns with

FAQ

What does Thorns do in Minecraft?
Reflects part of incoming melee damage back at the attacker (also damages the wearer's gear).
What is the maximum level of Thorns?
Thorns caps at level 3.
Which items can have Thorns?
Helmet, Chestplate, Leggings, Boots, Turtle Shell.
What enchantments conflict with Thorns?
Thorns does not conflict with any other enchantment.
How much XP does Thorns cost on the anvil?
Each level of Thorns adds bookMultiplier 8 times the new level to the anvil cost. At max level (3) that is 24 XP plus any prior-work penalty.

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