Minecraft guide · Updated 2026-06-15
Best Minecraft Pickaxe Enchantments: Fortune vs Silk Touch
Most players eventually want two pickaxes: a Fortune pickaxe for drops and a Silk Touch pickaxe for exact blocks. Trying to force both onto one pickaxe is the classic conflict.
The two-pickaxe answer
Fortune III and Silk Touch conflict, so the clean survival answer is two tools. Use Fortune III for ores and resource drops. Use Silk Touch for glass, ice, bookshelves, sculk, and blocks you want to move exactly.
Shared must-have enchants
Efficiency V, Unbreaking III, and Mending are the normal backbone for both pickaxe types. They improve mining speed, durability, and long-term repair value.
Avoid wasting prior work
Do not experiment on your final netherite pickaxe. Plan the target enchantments, combine books in a low-risk order, then apply the final result to the tool late in the chain.
FAQ
Quick answers
Can Fortune and Silk Touch be on the same pickaxe?
No. Fortune and Silk Touch are incompatible, so plan separate pickaxes.
Is Mending better than repairing with diamonds?
For long-term survival tools, yes. Mending lets XP repair the pickaxe and avoids repeated repair costs.
Should I enchant diamond or netherite first?
Many players enchant diamond first and upgrade later, but the safest answer depends on your resources and prior work state.