Since its inception in 2011, Minecraft considerably evolved and became one of the most popular video game franchises of all time. What started as a simple sandbox game grew. Available across multiple versions and platforms, several spin-offs sprouted within the franchise. Minecraft had something for everybody. It offered Survival mode for those who enjoy a challenge, Creative for the builders out there, and even heaps of online mini-games for that extra bit of competitive edge.
New features Minecraft have been introduced with each update over the years, presenting endless possibilities for creativity and flow. A solid concept that's been around for a long time, enchantments actively improve certain tools and weapons — as well as the gameplay that comes with them. With the pickaxe being the most vital tool for mining, its enchantments naturally come under scrutiny, leading the best among them to stand out.
6 Curse Of Vanishing Is Ultimately Negative For Any Tool
Every Minecraft player can agree that the Curse of Vanishing is easily one of the worst enchantments out there. The chances are that a player will look to enchant the most valuable tools, be they diamond or netherite. To have an enchantment which causes the respective tool or weapon to disappear upon death is simply detrimental to any playthrough.
Luckily, tools with this unfortunate enchantment are mainly found in obscure places and are often made of more undesirable materials, such as gold. Curse of Vanishing is perfect for pranks or for adding an increased level of difficulty, but not much else.
5 Silk Touch Adds A Unique Dimension To Mining Ores
Silk Touch isn't for everybody, but its unique qualities make it a valuable pickaxe enchantment. A Silk Touch pickaxe allows players to take a valuable ore block with them, rather than extracting the ore itself. This can be especially useful if a player doesn't yet have a Fortune enchantment, but hopes to aqcuire one in the near future.
This concept can carry over to the likes of the ender chest, where the Silk Touch pickaxe takes the entire thing without destroying it. It's incredibly useful for those players who are often more meticulous with their playstyle, rather than hitting and mining everything they see.
4 An Unbreaking Pickaxe Is Perfect For Those Long Mining Sessions
Unbreaking enchantments are valuable for anything that has limited durability. It can often be outdone by the Mending enchantment — which is more sustainable in the long run — but Unbreaking enchantments are useful nonetheless. A pickaxe with Unbreaking allows players to cast aside their worries of having their prized tool break at the worst possible time.
Even the best Unbreaking enchantment doesn't make the tool indestructible, but the boost in durability is invaluable all the same. An advantage Unbreaking has over Mending is that experience can be earned and kept separately, instead of being invested into mending the specific tool.
3 Mending Adds Extra Security For More Valuable Pickaxes
By now, every Minecraft player knows about the worth and value of the Mending enchantment. As such, it's rather hard to come across, and it isn't available from an enchantment table. It's often found with a book villager who may have one to trade. A tool or weapon with the Mending enchantment can be repaired by converting any experience being gained into enhanced durability.
This extends the longevity of a player's most valuable tools beyond anything the Unbreaking enchantments can offer. Mending is well worth its rarity and the hassle involved in obtaining it. It's an end-game enchantment for the best tools out there.
2 Efficiency Makes Mining Quicker & Easier
The early stages of any Survival playthrough on Minecraft can be rather long and frustrating until one has better tools and equipment. Iron and diamond tools help the player towards the comfortable stage when they can press on to the harder objectives, but certain enchantments help even more.
The Efficiency enchantment does exactly what its name suggests and is a must-have for any pickaxe. The luxury of quickly mining can't be understated — whether its reducing time on the more stubborn of blocks like obsidian or trying to mine through caves at great speeds. As long as the same pickaxe has a durability buff like Unbreaking or Mending, Efficiency creates a valuable tool every miner needs.
1 A Pickaxe With The Fortune Enchantment Is A Treasure Hunter's Dream
The various ores available to mine in Minecraft often vary in accessibility or rarity, depending on the seed or a player's willingness to explore. Some experience a serious shortage in coal or iron, while others can go hours without finding a decent vein of diamonds. A pickaxe with the Fortune enchantment helps streamline this process.
Fortune simply increases either a block's drops or the chance of finding those tasty rare drops. It's an explorer's dream to get more reward for the same amount of work, ultimately resulting in a larger treasure haul. Many players will take a Silk Touch pickaxe out with them to bring the ore blocks back to base, to then mine them all in one go with Fortune for extra value in rewards. Anything that offers players the chance to get more diamonds has to be considered the best.