Can you put Unbreaking on an elytra?

How to add it

The surest way is to combine an enchanted book with the elytra on an anvil: Unbreaking III costs 3 levels on a fresh elytra.

Plan it in the calculator

What it does on an elytra

A plain elytra lasts 432 seconds of gliding, about 7 minutes 12 seconds. Unbreaking III makes it last about four times as long, close to 28 minutes 48 seconds. Unbreaking III plus Mending is the standard elytra. Since an elytra can't take anything else useful, those two books are the whole build.

Step by step

1. First, get Unbreaking III as an enchanted book. Sources: a librarian villager (11–45 emeralds for a top-level book), an enchanting table (on a plain book) or fishing, chest loot.
2. Then put the elytra in the left slot of an anvil and the book in the right slot.
3. Finally, pay the cost shown: 3 levels on a fresh elytra, plus any prior work penalty the elytra already has.
4. If the elytra is getting more books, plan the order first so no step costs 40 levels or more.

Why it works

Unbreaking lists elytra 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 Unbreaking on an elytra, so it has to come from a book.

It conflicts with nothing else an elytra can take, so it fits into any elytra build.

What it costs on the anvil

First, the base price: on a fresh elytra, Unbreaking III costs 3 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 elytra already has Mending, put on in the cheapest order. That took 1 anvil use, so adding Unbreaking last costs 4 levels: 1 for the prior work penalty plus 3 for the book. Planning everything from the start costs 6 levels in total, with no step above 3.

Plan your own version in the calculator. The prior work penalty calculator shows how the penalty grows.

Where Unbreaking goes

• Unbreaking 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 offers it on the helmet, chestplate, leggings, boots, sword, axe, spear, mace, trident, bow, crossbow, pickaxe, shovel, hoe and fishing rod, while the elytra, shears, brush, flint and steel, shield, carrot on a stick and warped fungus on a stick need a book.

Commands and creative mode

In creative or with cheats, one command does it: /give @p elytra[enchantments={unbreaking:3}]. Holding the item, /enchant @s unbreaking 3 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 Unbreaking

Unbreaking gives items a chance to not lose durability when used. Tools and weapons benefit much more than armor.

Unbreaking has a max level of III. If you need a book, you can get it from the enchanting table, librarian villagers and enchanted loot from fishing and chests. A librarian sells an Unbreaking III book for 11 to 45 emeralds. Before you buy, read everything about Unbreaking, including what each level does.

What else an elytra can take

Besides Unbreaking, an elytra can take Mending. Then the best elytra enchantments page ranks them and gives the max build.

Related questions: Mending on elytra, Protection on elytra.

Related

• Best elytra enchantments
• Unbreaking
• Mending on elytra
• Protection on elytra