So you need to know how to make anvil Minecraft? Smart move. As a player who's lost count of how many diamond pickaxes I've repaired, I can tell you anvils are absolute game-changers. But here's what most guides won't tell you: Making one is just step one. If you don't understand repair penalties or material costs, you'll waste hours grinding iron only to watch your shiny new anvil crack after ten uses. Let's fix that.
What Exactly Does an Anvil Do in Minecraft?
Before we dive into how to create anvil Minecraft setups, let's talk why you'd bother. Unlike crafting tables or furnaces, anvils have three superpowers:
- Repairing gear: Fix damaged tools without losing enchantments (unlike crafting tables)
- Combining enchantments: Merge two enchanted books or items to create overpowered gear
- Renaming items: Personalize gear - my "Dragon Slayer III" sword never gets mixed up in chests
Fun fact: Anvils can fall and deal damage. I once built a trap where anvils dropped on zombies. Worked great until my friend accidentally triggered it. Sorry, Steve!
Iron Requirements Breakdown
Here's the brutal truth: Making an anvil isn't cheap. You'll need 31 iron ingots total. Not 30, not 32 - thirty-one. Here's how they break down:
| Component | Quantity | Iron Blocks Needed | Iron Ingots Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Blocks | 3 | 3 | 27 ingots (9 per block) |
| Iron Ingots | 4 | - | 4 ingots |
| TOTAL | - | 3 blocks + 4 ingots | 31 iron ingots |
Slightly painful? Yeah. But seeing my Efficiency V, Fortune III pickaxe restored to full health? Worth every ingot.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Anvil Minecraft Style
Let's get practical. Making an anvil isn't complicated, but mining all that iron? That's where players get stuck. Here's exactly how to craft an anvil:
Phase 1: Mining and Smelting Iron
- Best mining level: Y=16 (above lava lakes, below mountain ore clusters)
- Efficiency tip: Use fortune III pickaxe - doubles iron drops
- Smelting setup: 8 furnaces processing simultaneously cuts smelting time by 85%
Watch those creepers! Lost a stack of iron ore to an explosion last week. Always carry torches and fence off mining areas.
Phase 2: Crafting Iron Blocks
Once you've got 27+ iron ingots:
Place 9 iron ingots in crafting grid:
Row 1: Ingot | Ingot | Ingot
Row 2: Ingot | Ingot | Ingot
Row 3: Ingot | Ingot | Ingot
Row 1: Ingot | Ingot | Ingot
Row 2: Ingot | Ingot | Ingot
Row 3: Ingot | Ingot | Ingot
Repeat three times. Now you've got your iron blocks.
Phase 3: Crafting the Anvil
Finally, the how to craft anvil Minecraft moment:
Crafting Grid Layout:
Row 1: Iron Block | Iron Block | Iron Block
Row 2: - | Iron Ingot | -
Row 3: Iron Ingot | Iron Ingot | Iron Ingot
Row 1: Iron Block | Iron Block | Iron Block
Row 2: - | Iron Ingot | -
Row 3: Iron Ingot | Iron Ingot | Iron Ingot
Place the 4 ingots in the bottom row (all three slots) and middle-center slot. Top row gets your three iron blocks. Done!
Seriously? That's it? Yep. The hard part's gathering the iron.
Mastering Anvil Mechanics: What New Players Get Wrong
Most tutorials stop after crafting. Big mistake. I learned these lessons the hard way:
Repair Costs - The Hidden Penalty
Every repair increases XP cost exponentially. After 6 repairs, your gear becomes "Too Expensive!" Here's the math:
| Repair Count | XP Level Cost | Cumulative Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2-5 levels | Minor |
| 3rd | 12-20 levels | Noticeable |
| 6th | 40+ levels | "Too Expensive!" message |
Pro Tip: Rename items BEFORE first repair. Resets the penalty counter!
Durability - They Don't Last Forever
My first anvil broke after repairing tools 25 times. Three damage states exist:
- New anvil: Normal appearance
- Chipped anvil: Visible cracks (after ~12 uses)
- Damaged anvil: Severe damage (after ~24 uses)
Total uses: 25 before destruction. Always keep spare iron for replacements.
Advanced Anvil Tactics: Beyond Basic Repairs
Enchantment Combining Strategies
Want a sword with Sharpness V, Fire Aspect II, and Looting III? Here's the optimal sequence:
- Combine two Sharpness IV books to get Sharpness V
- Merge Fire Aspect I books until you get Fire Aspect II
- Apply Sharpness V to sword first (most expensive enchant)
- Add Fire Aspect II second
- Finally apply Looting III
| Bad Combination Order | Good Combination Order | XP Cost Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Looting → Fire → Sharpness | Sharpness → Fire → Looting | Saves 15-28 levels |
Renaming Tricks
Beyond fun names, renaming prevents disappearance when items break? Total myth. But here's what it actually does:
- Names appear in death drops (easier to find)
- Bypasses the "Too Expensive!" block when renamed before repairs
- Important for mapmakers naming special items
Cost: Only 1 XP level plus iron/material cost. Cheapest anvil function!
Critical Anvil Limitations You Must Know
Not everything works on anvils. After wasting diamonds trying these, trust me:
- Can't repair: Enchanted golden apples, turtle helmets, bundles
- Can't combine: Different material types (no diamond + netherite)
- Max enchantment cap: Level 39 cost hard limit (varies by item)
Workaround: Repair non-enchanted gear on crafting tables. Saves anvil durability!
Anvil Alternatives - When Not to Use One
Sometimes other blocks work better:
| Tool | Best For | Anvil Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Grindstone | Removing enchantments | Faster/cheaper for disenchanting |
| Crafting Table | Non-enchanted repairs | Doesn't cost XP |
| Enchanting Table | New enchantments | Better for fresh gear |
But for enchanted gear maintenance? Nothing beats anvils.
Anvil FAQs - Real Questions from Players
Q: Why does my anvil say "Too Expensive!"?
A: Your item has cumulative repair/enchant costs exceeding 39 levels. Start fresh with new gear.
Q: Can you move anvils without breaking them?
A: Pistons can push them, but pickaxes will break them instantly. Silk touch doesn't work. Best to build in place.
Q: Do anvils destroy items when breaking?
A: Surprisingly no! When an anvil breaks, it drops itself. Your repaired items stay safe.
Q: How many uses do anvils have?
A: Average 25 repairs/enchants before breaking. Renaming uses negligible durability.
Q: What's the maximum falling damage from anvils?
A: Four hearts per block fallen. A 20-block drop can one-shot unarmored players. Tested this... painfully.
Personal Tips from an Anvil Veteran
After eight Minecraft worlds, here's what I wish I knew earlier:
- Location matters: Place near XP farm. Walking miles between mob grinder and anvil wastes time
- Stockpile iron: I keep 5 stacks reserved just for anvil replacements
- Repair order: Fix tools BEFORE they break. A damaged tool costs less XP to repair
- Villager backup: Mending librarians eliminate repair needs entirely
The grind for that first anvil feels endless. But walking up to your fully enchanted gear? Pure satisfaction.
Look, learning how to make anvil Minecraft setups changed my gameplay completely. No more discarding enchanted gear or wasting diamonds. But remember: Anvils are tools, not solutions. Use them strategically, understand repair penalties, and always – always – have spare iron. Now go fix that pickaxe!