Best Spear Enchantments in Minecraft, Ranked

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: The best spear enchantments are Sharpness V (or Smite V for undead farms), Lunge III for the launch-into-charge combo, Looting III for drops, and Mending plus Unbreaking III to keep it alive. Skip Curse of Vanishing. Knockback II and Fire Aspect II are solid fillers depending on taste.

What you need

A spear (diamond or netherite recommended)
An enchanting table with 15 bookshelves
An anvil and enchanted books for Mending and combinations

Step by step

1. Sharpness V - the default damage pick: up to 3 extra damage per hit, and it works on both jabs and charges. Mutually exclusive with Smite and Bane of Arthropods.
2. Smite V - the specialist: far better than Sharpness against zombies, skeletons and the wither; pick it for a dedicated undead farm spear.
3. Lunge III - the signature spear enchant: jabbing launches you forward, and chaining the launch into a charge attack converts the speed into massive charge damage. It costs hunger and 1 durability per launch, and needs 6+ hunger points.
4. Looting III - more drops from everything you kill; ideal on a farm spear and helps farm other players' tridents of drops... or spears from zombies (8.5% base, 11.5% with Looting III).
5. Mending - XP repairs the spear; essential on a netherite spear. Get it as a treasure book from trading, fishing or loot.
6. Unbreaking III - roughly quadruples durability; pairs with Mending on any main spear.
7. Knockback II - pushes targets further on jabs; fun for spacing but it can push enemies out of your own charge lane.
8. Fire Aspect II - sets targets on fire; nice damage over time and auto-cooks meat from animals, but annoying against endermen.
Skip: Bane of Arthropods (Sharpness out-damages it outside spiders) and Curse of Vanishing (never worth it on a main weapon).
Recommended final build: Sharpness V, Lunge III, Looting III, Unbreaking III, Mending - every slot filled with zero conflicts.

Java vs Bedrock

Build the spear around Lunge: it is the only weapon enchant that is also a movement tool, and it directly feeds the charge attack's speed-scaled damage.

Versions: Enchantment list verified as of 26.x; the spear accepts Sharpness, Smite, Bane of Arthropods, Looting, Knockback, Fire Aspect, Lunge, Unbreaking, Mending and Curse of Vanishing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best enchantment for a spear in Minecraft?

Sharpness V for raw damage and Lunge III for the spear's signature mobility - jab to launch forward, then convert the momentum into a charge attack. Add Mending and Unbreaking III to finish the build.

Can a spear have Sharpness and Lunge together?

Yes - Sharpness and Lunge are fully compatible. The only damage-enchant conflict on a spear is Sharpness vs Smite vs Bane of Arthropods.

Is Knockback good on a spear?

Situationally: it helps keep enemies at jab range, but it can knock targets out of your charge path. Most players prefer Looting or Fire Aspect in that slot.