# God Bow: The Ideal Bow Enchantments

_Published September 14, 2026_

Infinity and Mending can't coexist on a bow — the real strategic choice every archer has to make, explained.

The bow has the single most important either/or decision of any item in the game, and it's worth understanding before you spend levels on the wrong half. The result is commonly called the **"God Bow"** — but be skeptical of any "God Bow" list that includes both Infinity *and* Mending together, since that specific combination is impossible in-game (see below).

## Infinity vs. Mending — pick one

**Infinity** lets you fire unlimited arrows as long as you have at least one regular arrow in your inventory, since it clones the arrow instead of consuming it. **Mending** repairs the bow using collected XP instead of levels. They're mutually exclusive — you cannot have both, ever, on the same bow, no matter what a generic "best bow enchantments" list elsewhere on the web claims. That forces a real choice: Infinity means you never carry stacks of arrows again but the bow's durability only survives on Unbreaking alone (no Mending safety net); Mending means the bow repairs itself forever, but you're back to crafting or looting arrows normally. Most players standardize on the **Infinity Bow** for the endgame, since arrow logistics are the bigger long-term chore — but the **Mending Bow** is a completely legitimate, real build too, not a consolation prize.

## Power V

Flat bonus damage per shot, no exclusions, no reason to skip it on any bow build.

## Punch II and Flame — situational, not conflicting

Punch knocks a hit target back, useful for crowd control at range; Flame sets the target on fire. Neither excludes anything else in this list, so add either (or both) freely if your playstyle wants them.

## Unbreaking III

Doubly important on an Infinity bow specifically, since it's the only durability enchantment available to you once Mending is off the table.

## The Infinity Bow

**Bow:** Power V, Infinity I, Unbreaking III

[Build the Infinity Bow →](https://anvilcalc.com/#eyJpIjoiYm93IiwiZSI6W10sInAiOjAsIm4iOiIiLCJ0IjpbWyJwb3dlciIsNV0sWyJpbmZpbml0eSIsMV0sWyJ1bmJyZWFraW5nIiwzXV19)

**Give this build in-game**

Java 26.3:

```
/give @s minecraft:bow[enchantments={"minecraft:infinity":1,"minecraft:power":5,"minecraft:unbreaking":3}]
```

Bedrock 26.60:

```
/give @s bow
/enchant @s infinity 1
/enchant @s power 5
/enchant @s unbreaking 3
```

## The Mending Bow

**Bow:** Power V, Mending I, Unbreaking III

[Build the Mending Bow →](https://anvilcalc.com/#eyJpIjoiYm93IiwiZSI6W10sInAiOjAsIm4iOiIiLCJ0IjpbWyJwb3dlciIsNV0sWyJtZW5kaW5nIiwxXSxbInVuYnJlYWtpbmciLDNdXX0)

**Give this build in-game**

Java 26.3:

```
/give @s minecraft:bow[enchantments={"minecraft:mending":1,"minecraft:power":5,"minecraft:unbreaking":3}]
```

Bedrock 26.60:

```
/give @s bow
/enchant @s mending 1
/enchant @s power 5
/enchant @s unbreaking 3
```

See also [Best Bow Enchantments](/guides/best-bow-enchantments), which compares every bow enchantment side by side and explains the Infinity or Mending choice, and [Best Enchantments in Minecraft](/guides/best-enchantments-minecraft) for every other item.

To see where this build sits among all your gear, see [Minecraft Enchanting Order](/guides/minecraft-enchanting-order).

## Frequently asked questions

**Why can't a bow have both Infinity and Mending?**

They're flagged as directly conflicting enchantments in the game's own data, not just a design suggestion — no anvil combination or enchanting table roll can put both on the same bow. Conceptually it's a balance call: Infinity means you never run out of arrows, and Mending means the bow repairs itself forever from XP, so having both would make durability a non-issue on a weapon with unlimited ammo.

**Can a bow have Power and Punch together?**

Yes. Power and Punch don't conflict with each other or with Flame — all three are free to combine on the same bow alongside whichever of Infinity or Mending you pick.

**Should I build the Infinity Bow or the Mending Bow?**

Most players standardize on the Infinity Bow for the endgame, since never needing to carry stacks of arrows again outweighs losing the free repairs — but the Mending Bow is a completely legitimate build too, not a downgrade, especially if you already keep a full quiver on hand.

**Does Flame add extra hit damage, or does it just set the target on fire?**

Flame's direct effect is igniting the target on impact — that burn then deals its own damage over the next few seconds. It isn't a flat damage boost added to the arrow's initial hit the way Power is; the extra damage comes from the fire ticking afterward.

**What is the 'God Bow'?**

It's the community nickname for a maxed-out bow build, but treat any list claiming a God Bow with both Infinity and Mending as wrong — that specific combination doesn't exist in the game. A real God Bow is Power V plus Unbreaking III plus either Infinity or Mending, never both.