Piercing in Minecraft
Arrows pass through up to one extra entity per level, and shields no longer stop them.
| Max level | IV (4) |
|---|---|
| Applies to | Crossbow |
| How to get it | Enchanting table, anvil or loot |
| Conflicts with | Multishot |
| Anvil cost | 1 per level from a book · 1 per level from an enchanted item |
| Command | /enchant @s piercing 4 |
Is Piercing worth it?
The competitive pick. Arrows stay recoverable, unlike Multishot.
Getting Piercing onto your gear
You can roll Piercing straight from an enchanting table with 15 bookshelves, or trade for the book from a librarian villager. Applying it from a book costs 1 level per level of the enchantment, before the anvil’s prior work penalty is added.
Work out the cheapest order for a full set with the Minecraft enchantment calculator — it will tell you which books to pair up first and flag any step that would trip the “Too Expensive” limit.
FAQ
What is the max level of Piercing?
Piercing goes up to level IV in survival Minecraft.
What does Piercing do?
Arrows pass through up to one extra entity per level, and shields no longer stop them.
What does Piercing conflict with?
Piercing cannot be combined with Multishot.