How to Make an Anvil in Minecraft

An anvil is an essential tool in Minecraft that allows players to repair items, combine enchantments, and rename objects. Whether you’re looking to fix your enchanted gear or create powerful weapon combinations, an anvil is a must-have in any survival or creative world. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to craft an anvil, explain its uses, and provide some helpful tips to maximize its functionality.

Materials Needed to Make an Anvil

To craft an anvil, you will need a significant amount of iron. Here’s what you’ll need:

3 Blocks of Iron (equivalent to 27 Iron Ingots)
4 Iron Ingots

How to Obtain Iron

Iron is a common resource in Minecraft, but you’ll need quite a bit to craft an anvil. You can find iron ore underground in caves, ravines, and mountains. To collect iron, mine iron ore blocks with a stone pickaxe or better. Once mined, smelt the iron ore in a furnace to obtain iron ingots.

Crafting Iron Blocks

Since an anvil requires 3 blocks of iron, you’ll need to craft them before proceeding. To create an iron block, place 9 iron ingots in a 3x3 crafting grid. Repeat this process three times to get 3 iron blocks.

Crafting an Anvil

Once you have the required materials, follow these steps to craft an anvil:

Open your crafting table.
Place the 3 iron blocks in the top row of the crafting grid.
Place 1 iron ingot in the center slot of the crafting grid.
Place the remaining 3 iron ingots in the bottom row.
Drag the anvil into your inventory.

How to Use an Anvil in Minecraft

Anvils serve multiple purposes in the game, making them a valuable asset for both beginner and advanced players.

1. Repairing Items

One of the primary functions of an anvil is repairing tools, weapons, and armor. To do this:

Open the anvil interface.
Place the damaged item in the first slot.
Place an identical item or the respective material (like iron for an iron pickaxe) in the second slot.
The repaired item will appear in the output slot.

Using an anvil to repair items preserves enchantments, unlike a crafting table, which removes them.

2. Combining Enchantments

Anvils allow you to combine enchantments from two enchanted items. This is particularly useful for creating powerful tools and armor. To do this:

Place two enchanted items of the same type in the anvil slots.
The combined item will carry over enchantments, and if applicable, upgrade enchantment levels (e.g., two Sharpness II swords become a Sharpness III sword).
The process costs experience levels, so make sure you have enough XP.

3. Renaming Items

Anvils allow you to rename items in Minecraft. This can be helpful for organization or just for fun. To rename an item:

Open the anvil interface.
Place the item in the first slot.
Click the name field at the top of the menu and enter a new name.
Take the renamed item from the output slot.

4. Enchanting Books and Items

You can use an anvil to apply enchanted books to items. This is a great way to customize tools and weapons with specific enchantments without relying on an enchantment table.

Anvil Durability and Breaking

Anvils have limited durability and gradually take damage with use. Each time you use an anvil, it has a chance of becoming slightly damaged, then very damaged, and eventually breaking entirely. To extend the lifespan of your anvil:

Use it sparingly.
Keep spare iron on hand to craft a replacement.

Additional Tips

Anvils fall due to gravity and can damage mobs and players if dropped from a height.
Naming an item prevents it from stacking with identical items in chests or inventory.
The XP cost for repairs and enchantments increases each time an item is used in an anvil. Gain XP by performing certain tasks in-game like killing mobs or mining ores.

Conclusion

Anvils are an incredibly useful tool in Minecraft, providing the ability to repair and enhance items, apply enchantments, and rename gear. While crafting an anvil requires a large amount of iron, the benefits outweigh the cost. With this guide, you now have everything you need to create and use an anvil effectively in your Minecraft world. Happy crafting!