How to Craft an Anvil in Minecraft: Step-by-Step Guide

To craft an anvil in Minecraft, arrange 3 iron blocks across the top row and 3 iron ingots in the middle row’s left and right slots plus 1 in the bottom center of your 3x3 crafting grid. You’ll need 30 iron ingots total (3 blocks = 27 ingots + 3 loose). This guide delivers precise measurements, durability-saving techniques, and village alternatives you won’t find elsewhere.

Why Your Anvil Matters in Survival Mode

Forget temporary fixes—anvils are your gateway to permanent gear upgrades. Unlike grindstones that sacrifice enchantments, anvils let you:

• Combine enchanted items without losing powers
• Repair tools using matching materials
• Rename items for organization (critical for stack management)

But here’s what most guides miss: crafting one costs 30 iron ingots—nearly 4 full stacks. That’s why getting it right the first time saves hours of mining.

Materials Breakdown: Beyond Basic Requirements

Item	Quantity Needed	Smart Acquisition Tips
Iron Ingots	30 total	Mine at Y=-58 for highest vein density; use Fortune III on ancient debris for extra nuggets
Iron Blocks	3 (27 ingots)	Smelt iron ore in blast furnace (40% faster) before compressing
Workbench	1	Carry spare in inventory—village blacksmith chests often contain one

Step-by-Step Crafting: Avoiding the #1 Beginner Mistake

New players often place iron ingots incorrectly, wasting precious resources. Follow this exact sequence:

1. Open your 3x3 crafting grid (crafting table required)
2. Place iron blocks in all top-row slots (left to right)
3. Put iron ingots in middle-left and middle-right slots
4. Add final ingot to bottom-center slot (not corners!)

Pro Techniques Most Players Never Discover

Durability Preservation

Anvils degrade with use. Place them on slabs to prevent fall damage during raids. When damaged, combine two cracked anvils in another anvil to reset durability—this trick saves 60 iron long-term.

Village Alternative

Savanna and desert villages generate with intact anvils in blacksmith chests. Always check these before crafting—you’ll conserve 30+ iron ingots. Pro tip: Pillager outposts sometimes contain anvils too.

Why This Recipe Beats Other Methods

Some players suggest using grindstones for repairs, but that removes enchantments. Others recommend sacrificing tools to repair others, which is inefficient. The anvil’s true power lies in enchantment merging—combining two Sharpness III swords creates Sharpness IV. This requires precise anvil usage that only comes with understanding its crafting foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I craft an anvil with less than 30 iron ingots?

No—the recipe requires exactly 3 iron blocks (27 ingots) plus 3 loose ingots. However, salvaging damaged anvils from villages reduces your iron expenditure significantly.

Why does my anvil disappear after crafting?

This happens if you’re using a cracked or broken anvil in the recipe. Only intact anvils produce usable results. Check village loot tables for undamaged versions.

How do I repair an anvil in Minecraft?

Combine two damaged anvils (e.g., slightly damaged + badly damaged) in another anvil. This resets durability without consuming additional iron ingots—a crucial survival tactic.

Does smelting iron ore in a blast furnace affect anvil crafting?

No—blast furnaces only speed up smelting. The resulting iron ingots work identically in crafting, making them ideal for mass-producing anvil materials.