How to Get Thorns in Minecraft (Thorns III)

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Thorns goes on armor and gives each piece a level × 15% chance to hurt attackers back (1-5 damage) - melee, arrows and projectiles all trigger it. The enchanting table offers Thorns on chestplates only, and never Thorns III on any armor tier: combine books on an anvil or find it in loot, and budget for the durability cost.

What you need

Armor pieces (chestplate first - it's table-eligible)
Enchanting table + bookshelves
Librarian + lectern for books
Anvil for helmets/leggings/boots
Mending + Unbreaking III strongly recommended

Step by step

Enchant a chestplate: the enchanting table offers Thorns on chestplates only, and never level III on any armor tier - their enchantability does not reach the required threshold. Helmets, leggings and boots get it only through an anvil.
Trade with librarians: reroll lecterns for a Thorns book, lock it, and combine matching levels on an anvil up to III - the reliable route for all four armor pieces.
Fish and loot: fishing books, monster room chests and non-village structure loot carry Thorns, and some structure gear comes with Thorns III already on it.
Know the trigger: each enchanted piece independently rolls level × 15% when you're hit - 45% per piece at Thorns III - dealing 1-5 damage with knockback to the attacker. Works against melee, arrows and other projectiles.
Stack smart: four pieces means four independent rolls, so the chance of returning SOME damage climbs fast - but the invulnerability timer caps the total per hit, typically at 2 hearts. More pieces shift the average toward the top of the range rather than adding damage.
Pay the price: when Thorns triggers, the armor takes 2 EXTRA durability damage per triggering piece. That's why Thorns without Mending + Unbreaking III eats armor for breakfast.
Shields vs Thorns: incoming Thorns damage from projectiles can be blocked with a shield - the attacker's problem, not yours.
Boss notes: guardians and elder guardians have their own thorns-like spikes (melee only - yours works on everything). In Java, the Warden's sonic boom doesn't take Thorns damage - don't count on it there.
Verdict: Thorns III is a finisher for completed sets. Add it after Protection IV, Unbreaking III and Mending are in place, not before.

Java vs Bedrock

Core mechanics match: level × 15% chance per piece, 1-5 damage, -2 durability per trigger. Java-only detail: the Warden's sonic boom ignores Thorns (marked 'works as intended'); in Bedrock it reflects. Guardians' built-in spikes are melee-only in both editions, unlike the enchantment.

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Thorns worth it?

On a finished set, yes - free damage and knockback on everything that hits you, including skeletons shooting from range. But it costs 2 extra durability per trigger, so only run Thorns III with Mending and Unbreaking III already on the armor.

Does Thorns work on arrows?

Yes - Thorns triggers on melee hits, arrows and other projectiles alike, damaging and knocking back the attacker. That's what makes it different from guardian spikes, which only punish melee.

Does Thorns stack across armor pieces?

Each piece rolls independently, so more pieces mean a better chance of returning damage and a higher average - but the invulnerability timer caps the total damage per hit, usually at 2 hearts. Four pieces maximize consistency, not raw damage.