A good bow is one of the most reliable weapons in Minecraft, and the right enchantments turn it from a backup into your main way of dealing damage from range. This guide ranks every bow enchantment, explains what each one actually does, and gives you the ideal loadout, including the one enchantment conflict you have to plan around.
Everything here is confirmed in the current 2026 version of Minecraft (26.2).
Quick answer: the best bow setup is Power V, Flame I, Infinity I, and Unbreaking III. Power boosts damage, Flame sets targets on fire, Infinity means you never run out of arrows, and Unbreaking keeps the bow alive. The catch: Infinity and Mending cannot go on the same bow, so you pick unlimited arrows (Infinity) or self-repair (Mending), not both.
Bow Enchantments at a Glance
| Enchantment | Max | What it does | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | V | +damage per hit | Must-have |
| Infinity | I | Shoot forever from 1 arrow | Pick one |
| Mending | I | Repairs from XP orbs | Pick one |
| Flame | I | Arrows ignite targets | Great |
| Unbreaking | III | Bow lasts ~3x longer | Great |
| Punch | II | Knockback on hit | Situational |
| Curse of Vanishing | I | Item lost on death | Skip |
The One Choice: Infinity vs Mending
The big decision on any bow is Infinity or Mending, because they are mutually exclusive, you cannot have both.
- Infinity lets you fire endlessly as long as you carry one arrow in your inventory. You never spend arrows, so you never run dry mid-fight.
- Mending repairs the bow from experience orbs, but you still have to supply arrows normally.
For most players, Infinity is the better pick, one arrow becomes infinite ammo, and you can just craft a fresh bow when it wears down. Choose Mending instead if you already have an arrow farm or use special arrows (tipped, spectral) that Infinity does not duplicate.
Power V: The Damage Enchantment
Power is the bow’s version of Sharpness, and it is the first thing you want. Each level adds damage, and at Power V a fully drawn shot deals massive damage, often enough to drop most mobs in one or two hits. There is no reason to run a combat bow without Power V.
Flame: Fire on Every Arrow
Flame I sets whatever you hit on fire, adding burn damage on top of the arrow’s impact. It is excellent against unarmored mobs and players, and it doubles as a handy way to light campfires, TNT, or nether portals from a distance. The burn also finishes off targets that survive the initial hit.
Unbreaking III: Keeping the Bow Alive
Unbreaking III makes the bow last roughly three times longer before breaking. On an Infinity bow, where you are shooting constantly, this matters a lot, it is the closest thing to durability an Infinity bow can have, since it cannot also take Mending.
Punch: Knockback for Control
Punch II adds strong knockback, pushing targets back with every hit. It is situational: great for keeping skeletons, creepers, or players at a distance, but it can also knock mobs out of your line of fire or off ledges before you finish them. Useful on a PvP or crowd-control bow, skippable on a pure damage build.
Skip: Curse of Vanishing
Curse of Vanishing makes the bow vanish when you die. No upside for survival, leave it off.
The Best Bow Loadout, and How to Apply It
The ideal all-round survival bow is:
- Power V
- Flame I
- Infinity I (or Mending if you prefer self-repair)
- Unbreaking III
- Punch II only if you want knockback
Enchant the bow at a table for Power, Flame, and Infinity, then use an anvil to combine any missing enchantments from books. Remember the table will never give you Infinity and Mending together, and neither will an anvil, so decide which one you want first. For crossbows, the enchantment list is different, see our best crossbow enchantments guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Power V, Flame I, Infinity I, and Unbreaking III. Power boosts damage, Flame adds burn, Infinity gives unlimited arrows, and Unbreaking keeps the bow durable. Add Punch II if you want knockback.
Infinity is better for most players because one arrow becomes unlimited ammo. Choose Mending if you use special arrows or want the bow to self-repair. They cannot both go on the same bow.
No. Infinity and Mending are mutually exclusive in survival. You must choose one.
Power V is the maximum and gives the biggest damage boost per fully drawn shot.
Yes. Flame, Power, Infinity, and Unbreaking all stack on one bow. Only Infinity and Mending conflict.
Situationally. Punch II adds knockback that keeps enemies at range, which helps in PvP and crowd control, but it can push mobs out of your line of fire, so many pure-damage builds skip it.
The best bow comes down to Power V for damage, Flame for burn, Unbreaking III for durability, and then the big call: Infinity for endless arrows or Mending for self-repair. Pick the ammo style that fits how you play, and you will have a bow that carries you from the first skeleton to the End.
