In Minecraft Dungeons – a game crawling with enemy mobs and tough bosses – having a strong, effective fighter is key. On one level, of course, this is achieved by gaining experience and snagging powerful equipment. However, these factors can also be enhanced by "enchanting" items. This is a level-linked system of buffs and abilities for weapons and armor, which can work towards assembling a powerful build.

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A Guide To Unlocking Armor Enchantments

For each level gained, players will notch an enchantment point that can be used on either armor or weapons. Enchanting armor is particularly useful as the player is given long-term buffs, bonuses, and various effects that can aid in survival, firepower, artifact use, speed, and more. These abilities remain in effect for as long as the piece of armor is worn.

Players will have anywhere from one to three enchantment slots to work with for each piece of equipment. More enchantment slots will be opened up as the player progress and depending on the difficulty setting as well as the armor. Each of the diamond slots will grant the option to pick from three enchantments. While these abilities are randomly generated, some options are unique to specific items.

Once this is selected, players can then upgrade to higher-tiered versions of the enchantment in question by spending more points. As is the case with weapons, armor can all be enchanted up to three times.

An item can also be salvaged to regain enchantment points and then applied to newly-obtained armor or weapons. This alleviates any worry about having to stockpile points for upgrades or squandering bundles of them on discarded armor.

With so many enchantments to choose from – and various ways to mix and match – it can be tough to pinpoint which to focus on when it comes to armor. This article will help players get a clearer picture by highlighting the overall strongest, most helpful armor enchantments the game has to offer.

Updated February 8th, 2021 by Stephen LaGioia: Minecraft Dungeons has quietly become one of the more popular dungeon crawlers of late, and an appealing choice for gamers on Microsoft's Game Pass service – especially for those who favor co-op multiplayer. Feeding off the success of the sandbox phenom Minecraft, Mojang has kept the momentum going with DLC content, including the recent release of the atmospheric Howling Peaks. Given its continuing popularity, and the vast array of enchantment options at one's disposal, it seemed appropriate to update this list with some additional information and even more great armor enchantments.

12 Potion Barrier

Minecraft Dungeons Potion Barrier armor enchantment usage

Though it might not look too glamorous, this ability is subtly effective in staving off damage, allowing players to live to fight another day.

Potion Barrier greatly boosts the usefulness of potions, as consuming one with this enchantment will grant a 90% reduction in damage for a short duration. The first tier offers a duration of 5 seconds, the 2nd tier gives 7 seconds, and the 3rd gives a whopping 9 seconds.

This can be particularly helpful when weathering those brutal assaults from tough boss fights and explosive Creepers.

11 Cowardice

Minecraft Dungeons Cowardice Melee armor anchantment

The Cowardice enchant is best suited to players who commonly begin fights at range as it increases ranged and melee damage while at full health. There are three tiers and the increase steps up from 20% to 30% and finally 40%.

A 40% damage increase is huge but as this is dependent on a full health bar, so it's best to combine it with health regeneration enchants or artifacts to make full use of it. Those who exclusively melee will likely find limited value in it due to this restriction.

10 Swiftfooted

Minecraft Dungeons Swiftfooted armor enchantment speed

If movement speed is important to one's playstyle then keep an eye out for the Swiftfooted enchant. It will grant a boost to movement speed after rolling, making for a nimble playstyle.

Use the roll function to get away from enemies and enjoy a movement speed boost of 30, 40, or 50%. It adds a lot of maneuverability to your character, especially in situations where you may be overwhelmed.

9 Cool Down

This enchant will reduce the cooldown of artifacts being used. At maximum strength, it will be reduced by 27%. For any build which frequently uses artifacts, this is a powerful option.

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Some of the strongest artifacts have a cooldown of around 30 seconds meaning a 27% reduction is pretty significant and will allow players to deal increased damage or healing through more frequent artifact use.

8 Frenzied

Minecraft Dungeons Frenzied armor enchantment usage

The Frenzied enchant is best-suited to a tanking or melee player as well as anyone soloing content, as it requires players to be at less than half health in order to activate. It will boost melee and ranged attack speed by 10, 20, or 30% while remaining below half health.

If you're often in the middle of a battle then this enchant can help generate faster hits as health is reduced, allowing you to get extra shots in when it matters most.

7 Snowball

Minecraft Dungeons Snowball armor enchantment usage

The Snowball enchant will fire a snowball at a nearby enemy every few seconds, slowing them down. It will trigger every 5 seconds initially but this is reduced to either 3 or 1 as it's leveled to its maximum.

It's a great way of slowing incoming enemies without having to use time or brain space to do so, since the effect is automatic. The enchant will help make enemy mobs more manageable with no input from the player.

6 Recycler

Minecraft Dungeons Arrows firing at enemies

Running out of arrows is every ranged player's worst fear but this enchant will help. It will allow a player to craft a small quiver of arrows after being hit by enemy fire. For every 30th projectile that hits you the enchant will craft the arrows.

Higher tiers reduce this to every 20th and every 10th projectile. The top tier can produce a steady supply of arrows, especially if combined with other arrow producing weapons, artifacts, or enchants.

5 Food Reserves

Enchanting armor with Food Reserves will help healing effects go further as it will drop 3 food items every time a healing potion is used. Since both potions and food are used as soon as they are picked up, this means that every potion will also heal your team.

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It's best to communicate that you have this enchant so teammates can allow you to pick up potions when possible and they can benefit from the food items left in your wake.

4 Deflect

The Deflect enchant gives the player a chance to deflect incoming attacks. It has a 20, 30, or 40% chance to trigger, depending on one's enchantment level. Not only will this help in terms of survival, but it is also very powerful if it can be combined with Cowardice.

Deflection is also a very versatile effect, making it useful for players of all types. Ranged and melee types will benefit equally from this enchant at all levels.

3 Health Synergy

Minecraft Dungeons Health Synergy armor enchantment usage

Artifacts are a large part of Minecraft Dungeons and most players will use them frequently. This is why the Health Synergy enchantment is so powerful. It will return a small portion of health every time an artifact is used. As you have access to three artifacts this can add up quickly.

The amount of health generated will increase from 3 to 4 and finally 5% of a player's overall health. It sounds like a small amount but it will add up very quickly.

2 Final Shout

Minecraft Dungeons Final Shout

While most of this article's enchantments are labeled "common" in terms of their rarity, Final Shout is one of a handful of rarer enchantments, which is tagged "powerful." These are generally more potent – though not always – and require more enchantment points to upgrade.

This one really can be a game-changer for survivalists who tend to get hit with regularity. When a player's health dips beneath 25%, all equipped artifacts will be triggered, ignoring the cooldown periods in the process.

This essentially gives a sort of "Super-Saiyan" beast mode to players, as various buffs, powers, and attacks will be initiated at once. This is especially effective for the third tier, as this will trigger every 8th second for as long as the player's health is under this threshold.

1 Thorns

Minecraft Dungeons Thorn armor enchantment farming for loot

Thorns is a common enchant that is incredibly powerful and especially helpful to solo players or those who prefer melee. Whenever a player takes damage, it will be dealt back to the attacker.

The amazing thing about this enchant is that it deals 100, 200, and a huge 300% damage back at each level. If you're lucky enough to get this option we recommend maxing it immediately.

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