Anvil

Anvil

• 

  Java Edition

• 

  Bedrock Edition

View all images

Renewable	Yes
Stackable	Yes (64), same damage state only
Tool
Blast resistance	1,200
Hardness	5
Luminous	No
Transparent	JE: Yes BE: Partial (diffuses sky light, -2 to light)
Waterloggable	JE: No BE: Yes
Flammable	No
Catches fire from lava	No

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An anvil is an gravity-affected utility block used to rename items, combine enchantments and repair items without losing the enchantments. An anvil has limited durability, and as it is used or dropped too far, gradually becomes a slightly damaged anvil‌ or chipped anvil‌, then a very damaged anvil‌ or damaged anvil‌, then breaks and vanishes.

Obtaining

Breaking

Anvils can be mined using any pickaxe. If mined without a pickaxe, they drop nothing.

Block	Anvil
Hardness	5
Tool
Breaking time (sec)
Default	25
Wooden	3.75
Stone	1.9
Iron	1.25
Diamond	0.95
Netherite	0.85
Golden	0.65

Natural generation

A damaged anvil generates in the "Forge room" of the woodland mansion. A damaged anvil can also generate in trail ruins.

Crafting

A total of 31 iron ingots (including 27 for three blocks of iron) are required to craft an anvil.

Ingredients	Crafting recipe
Block of Iron + Iron Ingot

Usage

Repairing and renaming items

The GUI of the anvil.

Anvils have two modes to repair items that have a durability rating:

• As with the grindstone, a player may repair items by combining two similar items. With the anvil, however, the target retains its enchantments and may gain new ones from the sacrificed items.
• Alternatively, a player can use materials originally required in the crafting of the item (iron ingots for iron items with durability, diamonds for diamond items with durability) to repair a single item. One material can repair 25% of the target's maximum durability. This is a good deal in the case of a chestplate, for example; a full repair (four materials) would total only half of the item's original cost (eight materials). In the case of tools and weapons, however, this may be a significantly less economical option; combining two diamond shovels would cost two diamonds in total, while up to four diamonds could be required to directly repair one. Still, it may be worth making the more expensive upgrade if the enchantments are considered difficult to obtain.

If the items are unable to be combined, a red "X" appears over the arrow pointing to the slot of the resulting item. Also, if the target item is at full durability and the sacrifice does not have any enchantments, the anvil also refuses to combine the items, unless if renaming the item to a valid name.

In addition, the player can rename any item – not just items with durability – by using an anvil.

Repairing

Example showing a repair of two diamond pickaxes.

Repairing with materials works for the most part, but not with all items: in general, repairing works for items with their material in the default name. For example, an anvil can repair an iron pickaxe with materials (iron in this case) while an anvil cannot repair bows or shears except with other bows or shears. Special cases: chain armor can be repaired with iron ingots, turtle shells can be repaired with scutes, and elytra can be repaired with phantom membranes. The repair does not need to be complete; one material repairs ¹⁄₄ of the item's maximum durability. Repair of an unenchanted item can cost more material than simply crafting a new item or combining damaged items. The exception is armor, which consumes less material at the cost of experience levels.

Repairing with a matching item works for any item with durability including bows, shears and so on. The items must be a matching tool and of a matching material. For example, a golden pickaxe cannot combine with a golden sword or iron pickaxe.

In both cases, the resulting durability is limited to the item's maximum, and there is no discount for "over-repair".

As a subset of repairing one item with another, the anvil can transfer enchantments from the sacrifice to the target. This can have a synergistic effect when both items share identical enchantments, or simply add to each other when they do not. Two Sharpness II swords can be combined to make a Sharpness III sword, for example, or a pickaxe with Efficiency can be combined with one that has Unbreaking. This can produce enchantments and combinations that are not possible with an enchanting table. But even so, some enchantments cannot be combined if they are similar, or contradicting, in terms of what they do. If the target is damaged, the player has to pay for the repair as well as the transfer.

Transferring high-level enchantments is more expensive, and renaming an item has an additional surcharge. The anvil has a limit of 39 levels; beyond that, repairs are refused. This limit is not present in Creative mode.

Every time armor or tools are repaired, the minimum experience cost doubles (e.g., 1 level, 2 levels, 4 levels, 8 levels, etc.).

Renaming

Any item or stack of items can be renamed at a cost of one level plus any prior-work penalty. If the player is only renaming, the maximum total cost is 39 levels. The maximum length for renaming is 30 characters‌ or 50 characters‌. Some items have special effects when renamed:

• A name tag must be renamed before it can be used.
• Renaming a bucket of fish or axolotl renames the mob inside as well, meaning a fish or axolotl can be named without a name tag.‌
• A renamed item (can be any item, doesn't need to be a weapon) that kills another player or tamed mob causes the name to appear in the death message.‌
• A renamed spawn egg produces a mob with the same name.
• Chests, trapped chests, shulker boxes, furnaces, hoppers, droppers, dispensers, minecarts with chests, minecarts with hoppers, enchantment tables, barrels, smokers, blast furnaces and brewing stands display the name in their GUI when placed.
• Renamed command blocks use their name in chat messages instead of [@].

Any name changes to items are applied to the data tag {Item:{tag:{display:{Name:"{\"text\":\"<name>\"}"}}}}. Similarly, this data tag can be accessed by the nbt argument using target selectors.

If the item name field is left blank, or is only whitespace or non-breaking spaces (or a combination of both), the default name for that item is used instead. Also, if the item name is unchanged from its current name (which can occur when renaming an item for the first time and using any of the aforementioned blank parameters), a red "X" appears on top of the arrow in the GUI.

Named items do not stack with unnamed or differently-named items of the same type.

Enchanted books

Enchanted books can be used to enchant tools, armor and weapons. Enchanted books themselves can be combined to create higher-tiered books. This makes an anvil an alternative to the enchantment table.

Falling anvils

Falling Anvil

• 

  Java Edition

• 

  Bedrock Edition

Hitbox size	Height: 0.98 Blocks Width: 0.98 Blocks

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When there is no supporting block below an anvil, the anvil falls in the same way sand, gravel, concrete powder, and dragon eggs fall. A placed anvil cannot be pushed or pulled by pistons,‌ but a falling anvil can be pushed (though cannot be pulled), as it is an entity. This is different in Bedrock Edition where anvils can be pushed and pulled by pistons. Anvils make a metallic clang sound when they land.

A falling anvil damages any player or mob that it falls on. The damage amount depends on fall distance: 2 per block fallen after the first (e.g., an anvil that falls 4 blocks deals 6 damage). The damage is capped at 40 × 20, no matter how far the anvil falls. Wearing a helmet reduces the damage by ¹⁄₄, but this costs twice as much durability on the helmet as on other armor pieces. When a player dies by an anvil falling on them, the death message "<player> was squashed by a falling anvil" appears. However, if a player is merely touched by a falling anvil entity, no damage is dealt unless the falling anvil becomes an anvil block in the same block where the player is located.

If an anvil falls onto a block with a solid top surface, but the same block it is in cannot be replaced (torch, slab, etc.), it breaks and drops as an item.

An anvil can fall into the void if there is a straight path to it.

Maps

An anvil can be used instead of a crafting table to zoom a map out, to clone a map, or to place a player position marker on a map.‌

Name	Ingredients	Anvil usage	Description
Map or Locator Map (zoomed out)	Map or Locator Map + Paper	Repair & Name MapLocator Map8	‌ Supplying 8 sheets of paper results in a zoomed-out version of the input map.
Map or Locator Map (cloned)	Map or Locator Map + Empty Map	Repair & Name MapLocator MapMapLocator Map2222	‌ Only one copy can be made at a time. The non-empty input map must be a locator map for the output to be a locator map. An empty locator map is the same as an empty map for this recipe.
Locator Map	Map + Compass	Repair & NameMap	‌ Maps crafted with only paper do not show the location marker; to add it, a compass must be added to the map.

Becoming damaged

With each use, an anvil has a 12% chance to become damaged – degrading one stage at a time, first becoming chipped, then damaged, then eventually destroyed. An anvil typically survives for 25 uses on average or approximately one use per 1.24 iron ingots used in crafting the anvil.

An anvil can be damaged and destroyed from falling. If it falls from a height greater than one block, the chance of degrading by one stage is 5% × the number of blocks fallen.

The damage state does not affect the anvil's function, but only anvils of the same damage state can stack in inventory.

When an anvil is destroyed, the player automatically leaves the anvil GUI and it disappears.

Creative mode

In creative mode, the anvil functions a little differently than other game modes:

• Any repair/enchant/rename operation may be done, regardless of the player's experience level. Incompatible enchantments are allowed as well (enchanting blocks etc.)
  • The experience cost is not taken from the player.
• The repair cost of tools does still increase.
  • It continues doubling with each repair, past the usual limit of 39 levels.
  • When it reaches the capacity of signed 32-bit integers, no repair cost is shown and the "product" item cannot be taken out of the anvil. Tools in this state also cannot be renamed or enchanted.
• Anvils are not damaged on use.

Sounds

Generic

Java Edition:

v t e anvil sound type
Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Block broken	Blocks	Once the block has broken	block.anvil.break	subtitles.block.generic.break​	0.65	0.8	16 { "pitch": "0.8", "subtitle": "​Block broken", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.anvil.break", "distance": "16", "desc": "Once the block has broken", "sounds": [ "Stone dig1.ogg", "Stone dig2.ogg", "Stone dig3.ogg", "Stone dig4.ogg" ], "volume": "0.65", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.generic.break" }
	​Block placed	Blocks	When the block is placed	block.anvil.place	subtitles.block.generic.place​	0.65	0.8	16 { "pitch": "0.8", "subtitle": "​Block placed", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.anvil.place", "distance": "16", "desc": "When the block is placed", "sounds": [ "Anvil land.ogg" ], "volume": "0.65", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.generic.place" }
	​Block breaking	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	block.anvil.hit	subtitles.block.generic.hit​	0.1625	0.5	16 { "pitch": "0.5", "subtitle": "​Block breaking", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.anvil.hit", "distance": "16", "desc": "While the block is in the process of being broken", "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "volume": "0.1625", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.generic.hit" }
	None​​	Entity-Dependent	Falling on the block with fall damage	block.anvil.fall	None​​	0.15	0.75	16 { "pitch": "0.75", "subtitle": "''None''​'\"`UNIQ--ref-00000036-QINU`\"'​", "source": "''[[Sound#Entity-dependent categories|Entity-Dependent]]''", "id": "block.anvil.fall", "distance": "16", "desc": "Falling on the block with fall damage", "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "volume": "0.15", "java": "1" }
	​Footsteps	Entity-Dependent	Walking on the block	block.anvil.step	subtitles.block.generic.footsteps​	0.045	1.0	16 { "pitch": "1.0", "subtitle": "​Footsteps", "source": "''[[Sound#Entity-dependent categories|Entity-Dependent]]''", "id": "block.anvil.step", "distance": "16", "desc": "Walking on the block", "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "volume": "0.045", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.generic.footsteps" }

Bedrock Edition:

v t e anvil sound type
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	Once the block has broken	dig.stone	1.0	0.8-1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone dig1.ogg", "Stone dig2.ogg", "Stone dig3.ogg", "Stone dig4.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "1.0", "id": "dig.stone", "pitch": "0.8-1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Once the block has broken" }
	Blocks	When the block is placed	random.anvil_land	0.5	0.8-1.0 { "sounds": [ "Anvil land.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "0.5", "id": "random.anvil_land", "pitch": "0.8-1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "When the block is placed" }
	Blocks	While the block is in the process of being broken	hit.anvil	0.35	0.5 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "0.35", "id": "hit.anvil", "pitch": "0.5", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "While the block is in the process of being broken" }
	Players	Falling on the block with fall damage	step.stone	0.4	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.4", "id": "step.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Falling on the block with fall damage" }
	Players	Walking on the block	step.stone	0.6	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.6", "id": "step.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Walking on the block" }
	Players	Jumping from the block	step.stone	0.12	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.12", "id": "step.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Jumping from the block" }
	Players	Falling on the block without fall damage	step.stone	0.22	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Stone hit1.ogg", "Stone hit2.ogg", "Stone hit3.ogg", "Stone hit4.ogg", "Stone hit5.ogg", "Stone hit6.ogg" ], "source": "Players", "volume": "0.22", "id": "step.stone", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "Falling on the block without fall damage" }

Unique

Java Edition:

Sounds
Sound	Subtitles	Source	Description	Resource location	Translation key	Volume	Pitch	Attenuation distance
	​Anvil destroyed	Blocks	When an anvil is destroyed	block.anvil.destroy	subtitles.block.anvil.destroy​	1.0	0.9-1.0	16 { "pitch": "0.9-1.0", "subtitle": "​Anvil destroyed", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.anvil.destroy", "distance": "16", "desc": "When an anvil is destroyed", "sounds": [ "Anvil destroy.ogg" ], "volume": "1.0", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.anvil.destroy" }
	​Anvil landed	Blocks	When an anvil lands and survives	block.anvil.land	subtitles.block.anvil.land​	0.3	0.9-1.0	16 { "pitch": "0.9-1.0", "subtitle": "​Anvil landed", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.anvil.land", "distance": "16", "desc": "When an anvil lands and survives", "sounds": [ "Anvil land.ogg" ], "volume": "0.3", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.anvil.land" }
	​Anvil used	Blocks	When an anvil is used	block.anvil.use	subtitles.block.anvil.use​	1.0	0.9-1.0	16 { "pitch": "0.9-1.0", "subtitle": "​Anvil used", "source": "Blocks", "id": "block.anvil.use", "distance": "16", "desc": "When an anvil is used", "sounds": [ "Anvil use.ogg" ], "volume": "1.0", "java": "1", "translationkey": "subtitles.block.anvil.use" }

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
Sound	Source	Description	Resource location	Volume	Pitch
	Blocks	When an anvil is destroyed	random.anvil_break	1.0	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Anvil destroy.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "1.0", "id": "random.anvil_break", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "When an anvil is destroyed" }
	Blocks	When an anvil lands and survives	random.anvil_land	0.5	0.8-1.0 { "sounds": [ "Anvil land.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "0.5", "id": "random.anvil_land", "pitch": "0.8-1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "When an anvil lands and survives" }
	Blocks	When an anvil is used and survives	random.anvil_use	0.6	1.0 { "sounds": [ "Anvil use.ogg" ], "source": "Blocks", "volume": "0.6", "id": "random.anvil_use", "pitch": "1.0", "bedrock": "1", "desc": "When an anvil is used and survives" }

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

Name	Identifier	Form	Block tags	Item tags	Translation key
Anvil	anvil	Block & Item	anvil	anvil	block.minecraft.anvil
Chipped Anvil	chipped_anvil	Block & Item	anvil	anvil	block.minecraft.chipped_anvil
Damaged Anvil	damaged_anvil	Block & Item	anvil	anvil	block.minecraft.damaged_anvil

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Identifier	Numeric ID	Form	Item ID	Translation key
Anvil	anvil	145	Block & Giveable Item	Identical	tile.anvil.intact.name tile.anvil.slightlyDamaged.name tile.anvil.veryDamaged.name

Block states

Java Edition:

Name	Default value	Allowed values	Description
facing	north	east north south west	An anvil pointing north or south is aligned with its long dimension pointing north–south. An anvil pointing east or west is aligned with its long dimension pointing east–west. This value is 90° clockwise from the direction a player faces while placing an anvil.

Bedrock Edition:

Name	Metadata Bits	Default value	Allowed values	Values for Metadata Bits	Description
damage	0x4 0x8	undamaged	broken	3	Broken Anvil (inaccessible and unused, uses anvil base texture)
			slightly_damaged	1	Slightly Damaged Anvil.
			undamaged	0	Anvil.
			very_damaged	2	Very Damaged Anvil.
minecraft:cardinal_direction	Not Supported	south	east north south west	Unsupported	An anvil pointing north or south is aligned with its long dimension pointing north–south. An anvil pointing east or west is aligned with its long dimension pointing east–west. This value is 90° clockwise from the direction a player faces while placing an anvil.

Falling block entity

• Dynamic block entity data
  • • Tags common to all entities
  •  BlockState: The falling block represented by this entity.
    •  Name: The resource location of the block.
    •  Properties: Optional. The block states of the block.
      •  Name: The block state name and its value.
  •  CancelDrop: 1 or 0 (true/false) - true if the block should be destroyed instead of placed after landing on a solid block. When true, the block is not dropped as an item, even if the DropItem tag is set to true. However, if the entity is deleted due to its Time value being too high, this tag is ignored and an item is dropped depending on the DropItem tag. CancelDrop defaults to 1 for falling suspicious sand and suspicious gravel, and 0 for the other vanilla falling blocks and any summoned falling block.
  •  DropItem: 1 or 0 (true/false) – true if the block should drop as an item when it breaks. Any block that does not have an item form with the same ID as the block does not drop even if this is set.
  •  FallHurtAmount: Multiplied by the FallDistance to calculate the amount of damage to inflict. By default this value is 2 for anvils, and 6 for pointed dripstone.
  •  FallHurtMax: The maximum hit points of damage to inflict on entities that intersect this falling block. For vanilla falling blocks, always 40 × 20.
  •  HurtEntities: 1 or 0 (true/false) – true if the block should hurt entities it falls on. Defaults to 1 for anvils and pointed dripstone and to 0 for the other vanilla falling blocks and any summoned falling block.
  •  TileEntityData: Optional. The tags of the block entity for this block.
  •  Time: The number of ticks the entity has existed. When Time goes above 600, or above 100 while the block is at Y=-64 or is outside building height, the entity is deleted.

Achievements

Icon		Achievement	In-game description	Actual requirements (if different)	Gamerscore earned	Trophy type (PS4)
PS4	Other
		Organizational Wizard { "anchor": "", "title": "Organizational Wizard", "icon": "", "title": "Organizational Wizard", "description": "Name a [[Shulker Box]] with an [[Anvil]] ", "requirements": " ", "gamerscore": "30G ", "trophytype": "Bronze ", "rewards": "" }	Name a Shulker Box with an Anvil	—	30G	Bronze

History

Java Edition Indev
February 5, 2010					Anvils were mentioned by Notch. {"type": "java Indev", "version": "February 5, 2010", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "Anvils were mentioned by (link to Notch article, displayed as Notch)."}
Java Edition
October 7, 2012					Dinnerbone tweets the first images of the anvil's interface. {"type": "java", "version": "October 7, 2012", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to Dinnerbone article, displayed as Dinnerbone) tweets the first images of the anvil's interface."}
October 10, 2012					Dinnerbone tweets the first screenshot of the anvil. {"type": "java", "version": "October 10, 2012", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to File:Anvil (N) (pre-release).png article, displayed as 32px) Dinnerbone tweets the first screenshot of the anvil."}
1.4.2		12w41a			Added anvils. All anvil damage levels are available in the Creative inventory. {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.2", "exp": "", "snap": "12w41a", "content": "(link to File:Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Chipped Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Damaged Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) Added anvils. All anvil damage levels are available in the Creative inventory."}
					Anvils currently require one iron ingot and six blocks of iron: Ingredients Crafting recipe Block of Iron + Iron Ingot {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.2", "exp": "", "snap": "12w41a", "content": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)"}
		12w42a			Anvils now have an easier crafting recipe. Ingredients Crafting recipe Block of Iron + Iron Ingot {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.2", "exp": "", "snap": "12w42a", "content": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)"}
					It is now possible to repair tools using anvils, by using more of the material it is made of (such as adding diamonds to a nearly broken diamond pickaxe). {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.2", "exp": "", "snap": "12w42a", "content": "It is now possible to repair (link to tool article, displayed as tools) using anvils, by using more of the material it is made of (such as adding (link to diamond article, displayed as diamonds) to a nearly broken (link to diamond pickaxe article, displayed as diamond pickaxe))."}
					Items that are renamed now have item names that appear as italic text or orange text in Console Edition. {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.2", "exp": "", "snap": "12w42a", "content": "(link to Item article, displayed as Items) that are renamed now have item names that appear as italic text or orange text in Console Edition."}
					The # Levels information inside anvils has been renamed to Enchantment cost. {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.2", "exp": "", "snap": "12w42a", "content": "The ''# Levels'' information inside anvils has been renamed to ''Enchantment cost''."}
		1.4			Added new sounds for the anvil. {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.2", "exp": "", "snap": "1.4", "content": "Added new (link to sound article, displayed as sounds) for the anvil."}
					The level cap for anvils for creative mode have been removed. {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.2", "exp": "", "snap": "1.4", "content": "The level cap for anvils for creative mode have been removed."}
1.4.6		12w49a			Enchanted books have been added, which can be used only with the anvil. {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.6", "exp": "", "snap": "12w49a", "content": "(link to Enchanted book article, displayed as Enchanted books) have been added, which can be used only with the anvil."}
		12w50a			Enchanting non-tools with enchanted books using the anvil now works only in creative mode. {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.6", "exp": "", "snap": "12w50a", "content": "(link to Enchanting article, displayed as Enchanting) non-(link to tool article, displayed as tools) with enchanted books using the anvil now works only in (link to creative article, displayed as creative) mode."}
					Silk Touch can now be applied to shears by using the anvil, meaning cobwebs can now be harvested. {"type": "java", "version": "1.4.6", "exp": "", "snap": "12w50a", "content": "(link to Silk Touch article, displayed as Silk Touch) can now be applied to (link to shears article, displayed as shears) by using the anvil, meaning (link to cobweb article, displayed as cobwebs) can now be harvested."}
1.5		13w02a			Mobs spawned from renamed spawn eggs, from using the anvil, have the name of their spawn egg, and their names appear in the death message of them killing a player. {"type": "java", "version": "1.5", "exp": "", "snap": "13w02a", "content": "(link to Mob article, displayed as Mobs) spawned from renamed (link to spawn egg article, displayed as spawn eggs), from using the anvil, have the name of their spawn egg, and their names appear in the death message of them killing a (link to player article, displayed as player)."}
					Mobs that are spawned from renamed spawn eggs, from using the anvil, can now display their custom name as nametag using an NBT tag. {"type": "java", "version": "1.5", "exp": "", "snap": "13w02a", "content": "Mobs that are spawned from renamed spawn eggs, from using the anvil, can now display their custom name as nametag using an NBT tag."}
					Brewing stands, chests, dispensers, enchantment tables, furnaces and trapped chests that are renamed using anvils now display their new name in their GUI where the normal name used to appear. {"type": "java", "version": "1.5", "exp": "", "snap": "13w02a", "content": "(link to Brewing stand article, displayed as Brewing stands), (link to chest article, displayed as chests), (link to dispenser article, displayed as dispensers), (link to enchantment table article, displayed as enchantment tables), (link to furnace article, displayed as furnaces) and (link to trapped chest article, displayed as trapped chests) that are renamed using anvils now display their new name in their GUI where the normal name used to appear."}
		13w04a			Mobs now show the name given to them (either by renaming their spawn egg using an anvil or by external editors) above their head when the player looks directly at them within hitting range. {"type": "java", "version": "1.5", "exp": "", "snap": "13w04a", "content": "Mobs now show the name given to them (either by renaming their (link to spawn egg article, displayed as spawn egg) using an anvil or by external editors) above their head when the (link to player article, displayed as player) looks directly at them within hitting range."}
1.6.1		1.6			Renaming a spawn egg "Dinnerbone" or "Grumm" using an anvil now causes the mob to spawn upside down (this also works with renaming name tags). {"type": "java", "version": "1.6.1", "exp": "", "snap": "1.6", "content": "Renaming a (link to spawn egg article, displayed as spawn egg) \"(link to Dinnerbone article, displayed as Dinnerbone)\" or \"(link to Grumm article, displayed as Grumm)\" using an anvil now causes the (link to mob article, displayed as mob) to spawn upside down (this also works with renaming (link to name tag article, displayed as name tags))."}
1.7.4		13w48b			Renaming a sheep spawn egg to jeb_ using an anvil now causes the sheep to spawn with multicolored wool (this also works with renaming name tags). {"type": "java", "version": "1.7.4", "exp": "", "snap": "13w48b", "content": "Renaming a (link to sheep article, displayed as sheep) (link to spawn egg article, displayed as spawn egg) to <code>jeb_</code> using an anvil now causes the (link to sheep article, displayed as sheep) to spawn with multicolored wool (this also works with renaming name tags)."}
1.8		14w02a			The costs of using anvils have been reduced to balance out with the new enchanting system. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w02a", "content": "The costs of using anvils have been reduced to balance out with the new (link to enchanting article, displayed as enchanting) system."}
					Renaming items using anvils now costs only 1 level. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w02a", "content": "Renaming (link to item article, displayed as items) using anvils now costs only 1 level."}
					Repairing costs using anvils have been reduced, 1 level per raw material or sacrifice regardless of durability restored. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w02a", "content": "Repairing costs using anvils have been reduced, 1 level per raw material or sacrifice regardless of durability restored."}
					Extra costs for repairing an enchanted tool using anvils have been eliminated. Costs for combining enchantments have been reduced. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w02a", "content": "Extra costs for repairing an (link to enchanting article, displayed as enchanted) (link to tool article, displayed as tool) using anvils have been eliminated. Costs for combining enchantments have been reduced."}
					Repairing costs while using anvils can no longer be kept down by renaming items. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w02a", "content": "Repairing costs while using anvils can no longer be kept down by renaming (link to item article, displayed as items)."}
		14w04a			Prior work cost increase while using anvils has been changed from linear (1 per repair) to exponential (times 2 plus 1 per repair). {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w04a", "content": "Prior work cost increase while using anvils has been changed from linear (1 per repair) to exponential (times 2 plus 1 per repair)."}
					Repairing with a "sacrifice" while using anvils now costs 2 levels rather than only 1. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w04a", "content": "Repairing with a \"sacrifice\" while using anvils now costs 2 levels rather than only 1."}
		14w10a			The models of anvil have been changed. {"type": "java", "version": "1.8", "exp": "", "snap": "14w10a", "content": "(link to File:Anvil (N) JE2.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Chipped Anvil (N) JE2.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Damaged Anvil (N) JE2.png article, displayed as 32px) The models of anvil have been changed."}
1.9		15w42a			Renaming an item while using anvils no longer incurs a prior work penalty. {"type": "java", "version": "1.9", "exp": "", "snap": "15w42a", "content": "Renaming an (link to item article, displayed as item) while using anvils no longer incurs a (link to Anvil mechanics#Prior Work penalty article, displayed as prior work penalty)."}
1.11		16w32a			Anvils now give sounds when they break. {"type": "java", "version": "1.11", "exp": "", "snap": "16w32a", "content": "Anvils now give (link to sound article, displayed as sounds) when they break."}
		16w35a			Renamed items from anvils now keep their name when picked back up. {"type": "java", "version": "1.11", "exp": "", "snap": "16w35a", "content": "Renamed items from anvils now keep their name when picked back up."}
		16w39a			A damaged anvil now generates in woodland mansions. {"type": "java", "version": "1.11", "exp": "", "snap": "16w39a", "content": "A damaged anvil now generates in (link to woodland mansion article, displayed as woodland mansions)."}
1.11.1		release			Anvils no longer allow enchanted books to apply to items, if no change in enchantments would take effect. This can occur if all enchantments on the book are incompatible with existing enchantments on the item – or if the enchanted book has no enchantments. {"type": "java", "version": "1.11.1", "exp": "", "snap": "release", "content": "Anvils no longer allow (link to enchanted book article, displayed as enchanted books) to apply to (link to item article, displayed as items), if no change in (link to enchanting article, displayed as enchantments) would take effect. This can occur if all enchantments on the (link to book article, displayed as book) are incompatible with existing enchantments on the item – or if the enchanted book has no enchantments."}
1.13		17w47a			The different anvil damage block states for the anvil ID have been split up into their own IDs. {"type": "java", "version": "1.13", "exp": "", "snap": "17w47a", "content": "The different anvil damage block states for the <code>anvil</code> ID have been split up into their own IDs."}
					"Slightly Damaged Anvil" and "Very Damaged Anvil" renamed to "Chipped Anvil" and "Damaged Anvil", respectively. {"type": "java", "version": "1.13", "exp": "", "snap": "17w47a", "content": "\"Slightly Damaged Anvil\" and \"Very Damaged Anvil\" renamed to \"Chipped Anvil\" and \"Damaged Anvil\", respectively."}
					Prior to The Flattening, this block's numeral ID was 145. {"type": "java", "version": "1.13", "exp": "", "snap": "17w47a", "content": "Prior to (link to 1.13/Flattening article, displayed as ''The Flattening''), this (link to block article, displayed as block)'s numeral ID was 145."}
1.14		18w43a			The textures of anvils have been changed. {"type": "java", "version": "1.14", "exp": "", "snap": "18w43a", "content": "(link to File:Anvil (N) JE3.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Chipped Anvil (N) JE3.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Damaged Anvil (N) JE3.png article, displayed as 32px) The textures of anvils have been changed."}
1.17		21w19a			The maximum length of names in the anvil UI has been increased from 35 to 50. {"type": "java", "version": "1.17", "exp": "", "snap": "21w19a", "content": "The maximum length of names in the anvil UI has been increased from 35 to 50."}
1.18		Pre-release 5			The texture of GUI hammer has been changed. {"type": "java", "version": "1.18", "exp": "", "snap": "Pre-release 5", "content": "The texture of GUI hammer has been changed."}
1.20		Pre-release 5			Falling anvils no longer destroy item entities. {"type": "java", "version": "1.20", "exp": "", "snap": "Pre-release 5", "content": "Falling anvils no longer destroy (link to item (entity) article, displayed as item entities)."}
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.12.1		build 1			Added anvils. All anvil damage levels are available in the Creative inventory. {"type": "pocket Alpha", "version": "v0.12.1", "exp": "", "snap": "build 1", "content": "(link to File:Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Chipped Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Damaged Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) Added anvils. All anvil damage levels are available in the Creative inventory."}
v0.14.0		build 1			Anvils are now needed to add the markers onto maps by putting a map and a compass in. {"type": "pocket Alpha", "version": "v0.14.0", "exp": "", "snap": "build 1", "content": "Anvils are now needed to add the markers onto (link to map article, displayed as maps) by putting a map and a (link to compass article, displayed as compass) in."}
v0.15.0		build 1			Anvils can now be moved by pistons. {"type": "pocket Alpha", "version": "v0.15.0", "exp": "", "snap": "build 1", "content": "Anvils can now be moved by (link to piston article, displayed as pistons)."}
Pocket Edition
?					Renamed items using anvils now keep their name when picked back up. {"type": "pocket", "version": "?", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "Renamed (link to item article, displayed as items) using anvils now keep their name when picked back up."}
1.1.0		alpha 1.1.0.0			Very damaged anvils now generate in woodland mansions. {"type": "pocket", "version": "1.1.0", "exp": "", "snap": "alpha 1.1.0.0", "content": "Very damaged anvils now generate in (link to woodland mansion article, displayed as woodland mansions)."}
Bedrock Edition
?					Added broken anvils. {"type": "bedrock", "version": "?", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to File:Broken Anvil (N) BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) Added broken anvils."}
1.2.13		beta 1.2.13.5			Changed models of anvils. The models of anvils now also use top texture on top face of the raised portion. Mirrored textures vertically on sides. {"type": "bedrock", "version": "1.2.13", "exp": "", "snap": "beta 1.2.13.5", "content": "(link to File:Anvil (N) BE2.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Chipped Anvil (N) BE2.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Damaged Anvil (N) BE2.png article, displayed as 32px) Changed models of anvils. The models of anvils now also use top texture on top face of the raised portion. Mirrored textures vertically on sides."}
1.10.0		beta 1.10.0.3			The textures of anvils have been changed. {"type": "bedrock", "version": "1.10.0", "exp": "", "snap": "beta 1.10.0.3", "content": "(link to File:Anvil (N) BE3.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Chipped Anvil (N) BE3.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Damaged Anvil (N) BE3.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Broken Anvil BE2.png article, displayed as 32px) The textures of anvils have been changed."}
1.20.30		Preview 1.20.30.20			Anvils now use the minecraft:cardinal_direction block state instead of direction. {"type": "bedrock", "version": "1.20.30", "exp": "", "snap": "Preview 1.20.30.20", "content": "Anvils now use the <code>minecraft:cardinal_direction</code> (link to block state article, displayed as block state) instead of <code>direction</code>."}
Legacy Console Edition
TU14	CU1	1.04	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added anvils. Unlike other editions, only the undamaged anvil can be obtained inside the Creative inventory. {"type": "console", "xbox": "TU14", "xbone": "CU1", "ps": "1.04", "wiiu": "Patch 1", "switch": "1.0.1", "content": "(link to File:Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Chipped Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Damaged Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) Added anvils. Unlike other editions, only the undamaged anvil can be obtained inside the (link to Creative inventory article, displayed as Creative inventory)."}
TU31	CU19	1.22	Patch 3		Anvil repairing has been rebalanced as per Java 1.8 changes. {"type": "console", "xbox": "TU31", "xbone": "CU19", "ps": "1.22", "wiiu": "Patch 3", "switch": "", "content": "Anvil repairing has been rebalanced as per (link to Java Edition 1.8 article, displayed as Java 1.8) changes."}
		1.90			The textures of anvils have been changed. {"type": "console", "xbox": "none", "xbone": "none", "ps": "1.90", "wiiu": "none", "switch": "none", "content": "(link to File:Anvil (N) JE3.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Chipped Anvil (N) JE3.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Damaged Anvil (N) JE3.png article, displayed as 32px) The textures of anvils have been changed."}
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0					Added anvils. All anvil damage levels are available in the Creative inventory. {"type": "new3ds", "version": "0.1.0", "exp": "", "snap": "", "content": "(link to File:Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Chipped Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) (link to File:Damaged Anvil (N) JE1 BE1.png article, displayed as 32px) Added anvils. All anvil damage levels are available in the Creative inventory."}

Issues

Issues relating to "Anvil" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

• If placed on top of exploding TNT blocks, the explosion does not affect the surrounding area. This is because the anvil falls into the space the TNT entity is occupying, and since the TNT's explosion power is not high enough to destroy the anvil, no blocks are destroyed.
• Before they were added to Minecraft, anvils were already present in Minicraft.

Gallery

Renders

Java Edition

• 

  Anvil

• 

  Chipped Anvil

• 

  Damaged Anvil

Bedrock Edition

• 

  Anvil

• 

  Slightly Damaged Anvil

• 

  Very Damaged Anvil

• 

  Broken Anvil

Screenshots

• 

  The old anvil GUI in Pocket Edition (now Bedrock Edition)

• 

  Top down view of the three stages of anvils. From left to right: anvil, chipped anvil, damaged anvil

• 

  3D view of the three stages of anvils. From left to right: anvil, chipped anvil, damaged anvil

Development images

• 

  Merging pickaxe with efficiency 4.

• 

  With fortune 1 unbreaking 2.

• 

  The result is pickaxe with efficiency 4, fortune 1, unbreaking 2 for 33 levels

• 

  Merging resulting pickaxe.

• 

  With efficiency 4, unbreaking 3.

• 

  The result is pickaxe with efficiency 5, fortune 1, unbreaking 3 for 46 levels.

• 

  The first screenshot of the anvil itself.

External links

• Taking Inventory: Anvil – Minecraft.net on November 26, 2020