Protection Enchantment in Minecraft

Protection is a Minecraft enchantment for armor. Reduces most types of damage. Its maximum level through normal enchanting is IV. This page lists what it does, which items accept it, how to get it and the command to apply it in Java Edition and Bedrock Edition.

Protection at a glance

How to get Protection

• Enchanting table: it can appear as one of the offered enchantments when you spend lapis lazuli and levels on a compatible item.
• Enchanted books: find them in chests, trade with librarian villagers or fish them up, then combine the book on an anvil. Our anvil calculator shows the level cost.
• Commands: see below.

Protection command

Apply it to the item in your main hand:

/enchant @s protection 4

The /enchant command only accepts levels up to the normal maximum and only on items that can take the enchantment. To make an item with any level, use the give command generator on Java Edition. See the /enchant wiki page for the full syntax.

Tips for Protection

• Enchantments that conflict cannot be on the same item. Cannot be combined with Fire, Blast or Projectile Protection.
• Combine two books of the same level on an anvil to raise the level by one, up to the maximum.
• Prior work penalty makes each extra anvil step cost more, so plan the order of combinations. See how to use an anvil.

When to use it

Protection IV on all four armor pieces is the common baseline for survival and PvP. Choose Blast, Fire or Projectile Protection on specific pieces only when you are facing that damage type, because the protection enchantments cannot be combined on a single piece.

Command block guide · All Minecraft commands

Protection FAQ

What is the maximum level of Protection?

IV with the enchanting table and anvil.

What items can have Protection?

Armor.

What is the command for Protection?

/enchant @s protection 4 while holding a compatible item, with cheats enabled.