enchantment
Efficiency in Minecraft | MinecraftBible
Efficiency is a level 1-5 mining enchantment in Minecraft 1.21.4. Increases block-breaking speed. Formula: base speed × (level² + 1). Level V = 26× faster on the correct tool tier. This enchantment page includes real crafting data, contextual links, and related Minecraft references, with version-aware coverage mapped across the last 11 major updates (1.21, 1.20, 1.19, 1.18, 1.17, 1.16, 1.15, 1.14, 1.13, 1.12, 1.11).
What does Efficiency do?
Efficiency is a Minecraft enchantment in the Mining category with a Common rarity. It scales up to level 5. It is available from the enchanting table with sufficient bookshelves. Villager librarians can trade enchanted books of this enchantment.
Effect: Increases block-breaking speed. Formula: base speed × (level² + 1). Level V = 26× faster on the correct tool tier.
Priority: S-tier on every mining tool. Efficiency V + Haste II = instant-mine stone.
How to get Efficiency
- Enchanting table
- Librarian villager trades
- Dungeon chests
- Mineshaft chests
- Stronghold chests
Librarian trade: Cure or trap a villager, place a lectern to convert them to a librarian, then break and re-place the lectern to reroll trades until a Efficiency book appears. Expected price: 5–19 emeralds at profession level 1+.
XP cost by level for Efficiency
| Level | Min cost | Max cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 51 |
| 2 | 11 | 61 |
| 3 | 21 | 71 |
| 4 | 31 | 81 |
| 5 | 41 | 91 |
Primary items for Efficiency
Items whose native enchantment category matches "Mining":
Secondary-compatible items
Items that accept Efficiency through broader tags (durability, vanishing, equippable):
Synergy enchantments with Efficiency
These enchantments stack productively on the same item:
Enchantment properties
- Category: Mining
- Rarity: Common
- Max level: 5
- Weight: 10
- Min cost formula: 10 × level + -9
- Max cost formula: 10 × level + 41
- Anvil item cost / level: 1×
- Anvil book cost / level: 1×
- Treasure only: No
- Tradeable: Yes
- Discoverable via enchanting table: Yes
- Curse: No
Practical Guide
Efficiency is an enchantment in Minecraft 1.21.4 with a maximum level of 5, usable on 24+ real item types. Increases block-breaking speed. Formula: base speed × (level² + 1). Level V = 26× faster on the correct tool tier.
Practical Steps
- Effect: Increases block-breaking speed. Formula: base speed × (level² + 1). Level V = 26× faster on the correct tool tier.
- Obtainable from: Enchanting table; Librarian villager trades; Dungeon chests; Mineshaft chests; and more (see Obtaining section).
- Level 5 enchanting-table cost lands between 41 and 91 XP — budget your levels before committing.
- Apply to compatible gear such as Wooden Shovel, Wooden Pickaxe, Wooden Axe. See the Primary Items section for the full list.
- Librarian route: cure or trap a villager, place a lectern, and reroll trades by breaking + replacing the lectern until you see the book. Expect 5-19 emeralds at profession level 1+.
Pro Tips
- Priority: S-tier on every mining tool. Efficiency V + Haste II = instant-mine stone.
- Use a grindstone to safely strip this enchantment and reclaim a small XP refund.
- Before an anvil merge, confirm the two enchantments aren't in each other's exclusive list — conflicts turn the merge red and waste XP.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Efficiency do in Minecraft?
Increases block-breaking speed. Formula: base speed × (level² + 1). Level V = 26× faster on the correct tool tier. Max level is 5.
What is the max level of Efficiency?
Efficiency caps at level 5. At max level the enchanting-table cost formula lands between 41 and 91 XP.
How do I get Efficiency?
Efficiency can be obtained from: Enchanting table; Librarian villager trades; Dungeon chests; Mineshaft chests; Stronghold chests. A librarian villager at profession level 1+ can sell an enchanted book of it for 5-19 emeralds.
Can I trade for Efficiency with a villager?
Yes — cure a zombie villager or trap a fresh villager, place a lectern to convert them to a librarian, then break and replace the lectern until they roll a Efficiency book. Expected price is 5-19 emeralds and requires villager level 1+.
Does Efficiency conflict with other enchantments?
Efficiency has no incompatible enchantments and can be freely combined with others.
What is the anvil cost for Efficiency?
Applying Efficiency to a target from an enchanted book costs 1× per level in anvil work units, or 1× per level when combining from another enchanted item. Every anvil use also doubles the prior-work penalty on the target.