# Efficiency Enchantment in Minecraft: What It Does and How to Use It

_Published October 16, 2026_

Efficiency's real +2/+5/+10/+17/+26 mining-speed bonus per level, and why it's close to a free pick on any tool build.

Efficiency makes a tool break blocks faster — the single most impactful enchantment for anyone mining, digging, or farming in bulk.

## What Efficiency actually does

Efficiency adds a flat bonus to the tool's underlying "mining efficiency" value, which then feeds into the game's real mining-speed formula alongside the tool's own material tier. The bonus per level is **not linear** — it grows faster at higher levels:

- Level I: +2
- Level II: +5
- Level III: +10
- Level IV: +17
- Level V: +26

This bonus stacks on top of whatever your tool's base speed already is (a diamond pickaxe mines faster than a wooden one before Efficiency ever enters the formula), so the same level of Efficiency gives a bigger real-world speed boost on a high-tier tool than a low-tier one. One hard requirement: Efficiency only helps when the tool is the *correct* tool for the block — it has zero effect if you mine something with the wrong tool type.

## How to use it

Efficiency V is close to a strict upgrade for any tool you use repeatedly — there's no situational downside the way Fortune vs. Silk Touch forces a real tradeoff. The only real decision is sequencing: since it has no conflicts, it's safe to add to any pickaxe/shovel/axe/hoe build alongside whichever "primary" enchantment (Fortune, Silk Touch) you've picked, plus Unbreaking and Mending.

## Well-known builds that use it

Efficiency is one of the four enchantments on every standard tool build — see [The Ideal Pickaxe Enchantments](/guides/ideal-pickaxe), [The Ideal Axe Enchantments](/guides/ideal-axe), [The Ideal Shovel Enchantments](/guides/ideal-shovel), and [The Ideal Hoe Enchantments](/guides/ideal-hoe) for how it slots in alongside Fortune or Silk Touch, Unbreaking, and Mending on each specific tool.

**Diamond Pickaxe:** Efficiency V, Fortune III, Unbreaking III, Mending I

[Build the Fortune Pick →](https://anvilcalc.com/#eyJpIjoiZGlhbW9uZF9waWNrYXhlIiwiZSI6W10sInAiOjAsIm4iOiIiLCJ0IjpbWyJlZmZpY2llbmN5Iiw1XSxbImZvcnR1bmUiLDNdLFsidW5icmVha2luZyIsM10sWyJtZW5kaW5nIiwxXV19)

## Frequently asked questions

**What does Efficiency V actually add?**

Efficiency adds +2/+5/+10/+17/+26 mining efficiency at levels I through V — a non-linear bonus that stacks on top of the tool's own base mining speed. The higher the tool tier, the bigger the real-world speed difference the same Efficiency level makes.

**Does Efficiency work with any tool?**

It only speeds up mining when the tool is the correct type for the block being broken — it has no effect at all if you use the wrong tool, regardless of Efficiency level.

**Does Efficiency conflict with Fortune or Silk Touch?**

No — Efficiency has no conflicts at all. It stacks freely with either Fortune or Silk Touch, plus Unbreaking and Mending, on the same tool.

**Is Efficiency V worth it over IV?**

Yes — unlike most enchantments where returns flatten out, Efficiency's bonus per level actually grows (from +17 at IV to +26 at V), so the last level is the single biggest jump in the whole progression.