Minecraft’s enchanting system adds a layer of depth to gameplay by allowing players to imbue their tools, weapons, and armor with powerful abilities. However, sometimes enchantments may not be desirable or could interfere with plans to apply different ones. In such cases, knowing how to disenchant items is crucial. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to disenchant items in Minecraft, ensuring you make the most of your enchanted gear.
Disenchanting is the process of removing enchantments from items, restoring them to their original, non-enchanted state. This process is vital for several reasons: you might want to re-roll enchantments, remove unwanted enchantments, or repair and recycle equipment without losing its base item. However, it’s important to note that curses cannot be removed through disenchantment.
The Essential Tool: The Grindstone
To disenchant items, the primary tool you’ll need is a Grindstone. This block was introduced in the Village & Pillage update (version 1.14) and serves both to disenchant items and to repair them.
Crafting a Grindstone
Crafting a Grindstone is simple. You’ll need the following materials:
- Two sticks
- One stone slab
- Two wooden planks
In a crafting table’s 3×3 grid, place the stone slab in the center top row. Place one stick in each of the left and right corners of the top row, with the wooden planks directly beneath the sticks in the middle row. This arrangement will yield one Grindstone
How to Use the Grindstone
Once you’ve crafted a Grindstone, place it in the world. To use it, right-click on the Grindstone to open its interface. There are two slots in the Grindstone GUI:
- Input Slot: Place the enchanted item you wish to disenchant in the left slot.
- Output Slot: After placing the item, the right slot will display an unenchanted version of the same item.
Drag the unenchanted item from the right slot into your inventory to complete the disenchantment process. This action will remove all enchantments from the item, but any experience points that were originally used to enchant the item will be partially returned to you
When Should You Disenchant?
Disenchanting items is particularly useful in several scenarios:
- Re-Rolling Enchantments: If you’re not satisfied with the enchantment you received, you can disenchant the item and try again. This is especially useful early in the game when resources are scarce.
- Removing Unwanted Enchantments: Sometimes, enchantments might not align with your gameplay style. Disenchanting allows you to remove these unwanted effects and reapply new ones.
- Repairing Items: Combining two similar items in the Grindstone not only removes enchantments but also consolidates their durability, effectively repairing them. This is useful for maintaining gear without wasting resources
What You Can and Cannot Disenchant
It’s essential to note the limitations of disenchantment. While a Grindstone can remove all standard enchantments, it cannot remove curses such as the “Curse of Binding” or the “Curse of Vanishing.” These curses are permanent and can only be lifted by destroying the cursed item or using specific game mechanics designed to negate their effects
Additional Tips
- Experience Points Recovery: Disenchanting an item will return a portion of the experience points spent on its enchantments. This is a great way to recover some of the XP spent, especially if you’re running low on experience levels.
- Mass Disenchanting: With the latest updates, there’s potential to disenchant multiple items simultaneously by combining them in a crafting table or anvil. This method is less common but can be useful in specific scenarios where multiple items need to be cleared of enchantments quickly
Disenchanting is a powerful tool in Minecraft that helps players optimize their gear, manage resources efficiently, and adjust enchantments according to their needs. Whether you’re looking to strip enchantments for a fresh start or simply want to recycle old gear, mastering the use of the Grindstone is essential for any Minecraft player.
