MinecraftThornsEnchantment
Minecraft Thorns Enchantment | Java Edition (JE) & Bedrock Edition (BE)
Thorns reflects damage back to attackers when the player is hit, providing passive offensive defense. While effective against frequent attackers, it increases armor durability loss and benefits from Mending and Unbreaking.
Items You Can Enchant
Select an item to see how Thorns performs on it and explore the best enchantment combinations.
Max Level
123
Thorns can be applied up to level 3.
Incompatible Enchantments
No incompatibilities — Thorns works alongside all other enchantments.
Best Enchantments to Pair with Thorns
• Situational Pairings
Useful combinations with Thorns depending on your playstyle:
Blast ProtectionPvP/End
Extra protection while dealing reflected damage.
Projectile ProtectionRanged PvP
Counter archers and reduce damage taken.
How to Get Thorns in Minecraft
• Enchanting Table
You can obtain Thorns by using an enchanting table. Surround it with up to 15 bookshelves to unlock higher enchantment levels. Place your item and lapis lazuli in the table, and Thorns may appear as one of the offered enchantments. The outcome is random, so you may need multiple attempts.
• Loot Chests
Enchanted books containing Thorns can be found inside loot chests throughout the world — in dungeons, mineshafts, desert temples, jungle temples, and strongholds. Some chests may also contain items pre-enchanted with Thorns. Loot chest drops are random, so exploration is key.
• Villager Trading
Librarian villagers can offer enchanted books including Thorns in exchange for emeralds. By resetting a librarian's trades (breaking and replacing their lectern), you can cycle through available enchantments until Thorns appears. This is one of the most reliable ways to target a specific enchantment in survival mode.
How to Apply Thorns
• Enchanting Table
Place your item and lapis lazuli in the enchanting table to apply Thorns directly. The enchantment is randomly selected, so results may vary.
• Anvil
Use an anvil to combine an enchanted book containing Thorns with your item. This gives you precise control over which enchantment is applied.
How to Apply Thorns with a Command in Minecraft
The /enchant command applies Thorns directly to the item held in the player's main hand. Best used in creative mode or with cheats enabled. The item must already be in your inventory. This is the fastest way to add a specific enchantment without needing an enchanting table or anvil.
Syntax
/enchant <player> thorns [level]
Label
/enchant @s thorns 3
@s targets yourself (the command executor)
@p targets the nearest player
Replace the player argument with a player name or target selector
The enchantment ID (shown in the command above)
A number from 1 to the maximum level for this enchantment