Shovel Enchantment Calculator
Does Fortune work on gravel or sand with a shovel?
Yes where those blocks drop flint or other multiplied loot tables; Silk Touch collects the block itself instead.
Silk Touch shovel: what is it for?
Grass blocks, mycelium, podzol, and delicate paths for builds—pair with a Fortune shovel for bulk digging.
Efficiency V shovel merge order tip?
Treat Efficiency like other high-cost books: merge after Mending and Unbreaking to keep prior-work penalties lower.
Best Shovel Enchantments — Complete Reference
Efficiency V — How Fast Can You Dig Sand and Gravel?
Near-instant mining on soft blocks—pair with beacon Haste II for megabase perimeter clears.
Silk Touch — Collecting Grass Blocks, Mycelium & Podzol
Without Silk, grass breaks into dirt. Silk preserves decorative blocks intact.
Fortune III — More Flint From Gravel
See drop table below—Fortune III turns gravel into a reliable flint source.
What Is Silk Touch Used for on a Shovel?
- Grass blocks vs plain dirt
- Mycelium and podzol for mushroom islands
- Snow layers for farms and paths
- Mud, clay, and gravel relocation
Fortune III Flint Drop Rate Table
| Fortune tier | Flint from gravel |
|---|---|
| None | 10% |
| Fortune I | 14% |
| Fortune II | 25% |
| Fortune III | 100% (guaranteed) |
Optimal Shovel Anvil Order (Efficiency + Fortune build)
- Shovel + Mending I → 2 lvl
- Result + Unbreaking III → 5 lvl
- Result + Fortune III → ~11 lvl
- Result + Efficiency V → ~20 lvl
- Total: ~38 levels
Silk Touch build: swap step 3 for Silk Touch I (~8 lvl) — total ~35 levels.
Shovel Enchantment FAQ
Can you put Silk Touch and Fortune on the same shovel? ▾
No. They are mutually exclusive. Keep a Silk shovel for grass and snow, a Fortune shovel for gravel flint.
Does Efficiency V work on gravel and sand? ▾
Yes. Efficiency V on a shovel mines sand, gravel, dirt, and clay at beacon-like speed—especially with Haste.
What does Fortune III do on a shovel? ▾
Fortune III guarantees flint from gravel (100% vs 10% base) and can improve other shovel-specific drops.
Is a shovel worth enchanting in Minecraft? ▾
Yes for large terraforms, gravel flint farms, and grass-block collection with Silk Touch.
What is the best shovel enchantment order? ▾
Mending first, then Unbreaking, then Fortune or Silk, then Efficiency V last to minimize prior work penalty.
Can you get Mending on a shovel from villagers? ▾
Yes. Librarians sell Mending books—trade once to lock the offer before moving the villager.