Best Enchantments for Hoes, Shears, Shields and More

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Hoes take Efficiency, Fortune or Silk Touch, Unbreaking and Mending. Shears, shields, flint and steel, brushes and riding sticks take Unbreaking and Mending - shears also take Efficiency. Most of these need an anvil and books rather than the enchanting table.

What you need

An anvil plus enchanted books (most of these tools skip the enchanting table)
Librarians or loot for Mending and Unbreaking books
XP levels

Step by step

Hoe: Fortune III turns leaf-breaking into a sapling-and-stick factory and boosts crop drops; Silk Touch is the leaf-block alternative. Add Efficiency V, Unbreaking III and Mending for the sculk-and-leaves super-tool.
Hoe note: the hoe is the fastest tool for leaves, hay bales, sponges, moss and sculk-family blocks - enchanting one is worth it in the deep dark.
Shears: apply Unbreaking III, Mending and Efficiency V through an anvil with books, not the enchanting table. Efficiency speeds up mining suitable blocks such as wool, leaves and cobwebs; it does not speed up shearing sheep. Bedrock also permits Silk Touch on shears.
Shield: Unbreaking III and Mending are useful anvil-book choices. Curse of Vanishing is also possible but is best avoided. Mending repairs it when you collect XP while holding the damaged shield.
Flint and steel: Unbreaking III and Mending by anvil - yes, you can, and a netherite-grade lighter is oddly satisfying.
Brush: Unbreaking III and Mending by anvil - archaeology brushes break fast, so enchant before the big dig.
Carrot on a stick and warped fungus on a stick: Unbreaking and Mending for pig and strider riding - pure luxury.
General rule: if a tool accepts no table enchantments, the anvil-plus-books route still applies Unbreaking and Mending - nothing durable should leave your base unenchanted.

Java vs Bedrock

Shears use an anvil and books in both editions, not the enchanting table. Bedrock permits Silk Touch on shears; Java does not in normal Survival. Efficiency affects block mining, not sheep shearing.

Versions: Describes the current Java and Bedrock releases. See the edition note for differences.

Frequently asked questions

Can you enchant a shield?

Not at the enchanting table - but an anvil with books applies Unbreaking III and Mending to a shield, and you absolutely should.

Is Fortune on a hoe worth it?

Yes for farmers and builders: Fortune III boosts drops from leaves, sweet berry bushes and crops, and Silk Touch hoes pick up leaf blocks directly for hedges.

What is the fastest tool for leaves?

The hoe - by design. An Efficiency V hoe clears leaf canopies instantly, which is why end-game builders carry one.