Can you put Mending on a fishing rod?
Yes. You can put Mending on a fishing rod in Java 26.3.
How to add it
Mending is a treasure enchantment, so the enchanting table never offers it. Instead, combine an enchanted book with the fishing rod on an anvil: Mending costs 2 levels on a fresh fishing rod.
/give @p fishing_rod[enchantments={mending:1}]What it does on a fishing rod
Fishing gives experience on every catch, so a Mending rod repairs itself while you fish. A fishing rod has only 64 durability. Each catch costs 1, but it also drops 1 to 6 experience points, which repair 2 to 12 durability. That is why Mending is part of every serious fishing rod, next to Luck of the Sea and Lure.
Step by step
- First, get Mending as an enchanted book. Sources: a librarian villager (10–38 emeralds for a top-level book), fishing, chest loot or trial chamber vaults.
- Then put the fishing rod in the left slot of an anvil and the book in the right slot.
- Finally, pay the cost shown: 2 levels on a fresh fishing rod, plus any prior work penalty the fishing rod already has.
- If the fishing rod is getting more books, plan the order first so no step costs 40 levels or more.
Why it works
Mending lists fishing rod among its supported items. That matters because each enchantment's data file lists the items it supports, and the anvil checks that list. The enchanting table never offers Mending on a fishing rod, so it has to come from a book.
It conflicts with nothing else a fishing rod can take, so it fits into any fishing rod build.
What it costs on the anvil
First, the base price: on a fresh fishing rod, Mending costs 2 levels. Java charges the full new level of each book, so upgrading later costs the whole level again. Each anvil use also raises the item's prior work penalty for the next step.
Order matters. Say your fishing rod already has Luck of the Sea III, Lure III and Unbreaking III, put on in the cheapest order. That took 3 anvil uses, so adding Mending last costs 9 levels: 7 for the prior work penalty plus 2 for the book. Planning everything from the start costs 24 levels in total, with no step above 9.
Plan your own version in the calculator or follow the fishing rod enchant order. The prior work penalty calculator shows how the penalty grows.
Where Mending goes
- Mending goes on helmet, chestplate, leggings, boots, elytra, sword, axe, spear, mace, trident, bow, crossbow, pickaxe, shovel, hoe, fishing rod, shears, brush, flint and steel, shield, carrot on a stick and warped fungus on a stick. The enchanting table never offers it, so every one of them needs a book. Related questions: Mending on bow, Mending on elytra, Mending on shield, Mending on trident, Mending on spear, Mending on mace, Mending on crossbow, Mending on shears, Mending on pickaxe, Mending on helmet, Mending on flint and steel, Mending on brush.
Commands and creative mode
In creative or with cheats, one command does it: /give @p fishing_rod[enchantments={mending:1}]. Holding the item, /enchant @s mending 1 works too. Creative mode also ignores the anvil's 40-level limit. The command generator writes the right syntax for your edition.
Java and Bedrock
As far as the item list goes, the answer is also the same in Java and Bedrock. The anvil differs, though: Java charges the full new level of every book. This page follows Java 26.3.
About Mending
Mending repairs an item with experience orbs. When you pick up experience while holding or wearing a Mending item, the XP goes into repairing it first, at 2 durability per XP point.
Mending has a max level of I. If you need a book, you can get it from librarian villagers, trial chamber vaults and enchanted loot from fishing and chests. A librarian sells a Mending book for 10 to 38 emeralds. Before you buy, read everything about Mending, including what each level does.
What else a fishing rod can take
Besides Mending, a fishing rod can take Luck of the Sea, Lure and Unbreaking. Then the best fishing rod enchantments page ranks them and gives the max build.
Questions
Can you put Mending on a fishing rod?
Yes. You can put Mending on a fishing rod in Java 26.3.
What else can Mending go on?
helmet, chestplate, leggings, boots, elytra, sword, axe, spear, mace, trident, bow, crossbow, pickaxe, shovel, hoe, shears, brush, flint and steel, shield, carrot on a stick and warped fungus on a stick.
Does fishing repair a Mending rod?
Yes. Every catch drops experience, and Mending puts it into the rod first.
Can you fish up a Mending book?
Yes. Enchanted books are part of the fishing treasure loot, and Mending is one of the enchantments they can carry.
How many levels does Mending cost on a fishing rod?
Mending costs 2 levels as a book on a fresh fishing rod. Earlier anvil work adds its prior work penalty on top.