Guides / Enchanting Strategy / Best Bow Enchantments in Minecraft: Infinity or Mending
Best Bow Enchantments in Minecraft: Infinity or Mending
Published October 23, 2026
The best bow enchantments in Minecraft are Power V and Unbreaking III plus a choice between Infinity and Mending, because the two cannot share a bow. Flame and Punch are optional extras that conflict with nothing. This guide compares every bow enchantment, explains the Infinity or Mending decision, and points to the crossbow and trident builds for players who use those instead.
Every bow enchantment compared
| Enchantment | Max level | Conflicts | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | V | None | Raises arrow damage by 25% x (level + 1), so +150% at level V |
| Infinity | I | Mending | Fire unlimited arrows as long as you carry at least one; no effect on tipped or spectral arrows |
| Mending | I | Infinity | Repairs the bow with experience |
| Unbreaking | III | None | 75% chance per use of costing no durability at level III |
| Flame | I | None | Arrows ignite the target, dealing 5 fire damage over 5 seconds |
| Punch | II | None | Increases arrow knockback |
Infinity or Mending
This is the one real decision on a bow. Infinity and Mending are mutually exclusive: the anvil will not put both on the same bow. Java Edition has enforced this since 1.11, and the wiki lists it as a standing rule for Bedrock Edition too (the calculator treats them as conflicting on both). Only commands can force both onto one bow.
- Infinity bow (the usual choice): you never carry stacks of arrows again; one arrow in your inventory is enough. Durability then rests on Unbreaking III alone.
- Mending bow: the bow repairs itself from experience, but arrows are consumed as normal.
- Use Mending if you fire tipped or spectral arrows, because Infinity does not save them: they are consumed even on an Infinity bow.
Most players standardize on Infinity, but the Mending bow is a legitimate build, not a consolation prize.
Power, Flame and Punch
- Power V is always worth it. Nothing conflicts with it, and +150% arrow damage is the largest damage upgrade a bow can get.
- Flame I adds fire damage over time but not extra hit damage, and the fire goes out if the arrow passes through water or rain. It is a good addition for mob grinding and a poor one for anything fire-immune.
- Punch II pushes the target back. It helps with crowd control at range and can make a single target harder to finish.
All three fit alongside either Infinity or Mending.
Unbreaking III
Unbreaking III matters most on an Infinity bow, where it is the only durability enchantment you can have. On a Mending bow it stretches the time between repairs.
Java vs Bedrock for bows
The best bow builds are the same on both editions: the same enchantments, the same maximum levels, and the same Infinity and Mending exclusion. Both calculator presets, the Infinity Bow and the Mending Bow, work unchanged on Java and Bedrock.
Crossbows and tridents
A crossbow does not take Power, Infinity, Flame or Punch. Its build is Quick Charge III, Multishot or Piercing IV, Unbreaking III and Mending: see Ideal Crossbow. A trident is a different weapon again, with Riptide or Loyalty as its deciding choice: see Ideal Trident.
Build the best bow in the calculator
Each button opens the calculator with the build filled in and prices the cheapest combine order for your edition.
Give this build in-game
/give @s minecraft:bow[enchantments={"minecraft:infinity":1,"minecraft:power":5,"minecraft:unbreaking":3}]Needs cheats enabled and operator permission (or creative mode with commands allowed).
/give @s bow /enchant @s infinity 1 /enchant @s power 5 /enchant @s unbreaking 3
Run the commands one at a time, in order. /enchant works on the item held in your hand. Needs cheats enabled.
Give this build in-game
/give @s minecraft:bow[enchantments={"minecraft:mending":1,"minecraft:power":5,"minecraft:unbreaking":3}]Needs cheats enabled and operator permission (or creative mode with commands allowed).
/give @s bow /enchant @s mending 1 /enchant @s power 5 /enchant @s unbreaking 3
Run the commands one at a time, in order. /enchant works on the item held in your hand. Needs cheats enabled.
For the full build with its reasoning, see God Bow: The Ideal Bow Enchantments. For every other item, see Best Enchantments in Minecraft. Each enchantment also has its own reference page, for example Power, Infinity and Flame.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best bow enchantments in Minecraft?
Power V, Unbreaking III and either Infinity or Mending, since those two cannot be combined. Flame I and Punch II are optional and conflict with nothing. Most players pick Infinity so they never run out of arrows.
Can a bow have both Infinity and Mending?
No. Infinity and Mending are mutually exclusive, so the anvil will not combine them on one bow. Only commands can force both onto the same item. Pick Infinity for unlimited arrows or Mending for a bow that repairs itself.
Should I choose Infinity or Mending on a bow?
Infinity for most players, because never carrying stacks of arrows is the bigger convenience. Choose Mending if you shoot tipped or spectral arrows, which Infinity does not save, or if you would rather never repair the bow and still craft arrows normally.
Does Infinity work with tipped arrows?
No. Infinity has no effect on tipped arrows or spectral arrows, so they are consumed as usual. It only stops other arrows from being used up, and you still need at least one arrow in your inventory to shoot.
Is Power or Punch better on a bow?
Power. It raises arrow damage by 25% x (level + 1), so Power V adds 150%. Punch only increases knockback. Because they do not conflict, you can have Power V and Punch II on the same bow.
Is Flame worth it on a bow?
It is optional. Flame sets the target on fire for 5 fire damage over 5 seconds, but the fire adds no damage to the hit itself, and the arrow stops burning if it flies through water or rain. It does not conflict with Power, Punch, Infinity or Mending.
What are the best crossbow enchantments?
Quick Charge III, Multishot or Piercing IV (not both), Unbreaking III and Mending. A crossbow cannot take Power, Infinity, Flame or Punch, so its build is separate from the bow's.