Understand Chainmail Helmet
Useful when…
- Wear for two armor points in the head slot.
- Use Respiration to extend underwater breathing time or Aqua Affinity to increase underwater mining speed.
- Repair at an anvil with iron ingots or another helmet while preserving enchantments.
Armor and enchantments
The helmet equips in the head slot and provides two armor points. Respiration extends breathing time underwater, and Aqua Affinity increases underwater mining speed. It can receive Protection, Projectile Protection, Blast Protection, or Fire Protection; these four protection enchantments are mutually exclusive. The helmet has 165 maximum durability.
Repair and trims
An anvil with an iron ingot restores 25% of maximum durability, rounded down. Combining two helmets in an anvil preserves their enchantments. Crafting or grindstone combination adds the durability of both helmets plus 5% of maximum durability, but loses enchantments. A trim can be added with a smithing template and an ingot or crystal; it does not change gameplay strength.
Java Edition acquisition and slot comparison
In Java Edition, an armorer journeyman may trade a chainmail helmet, and eligible mobs wearing armor may drop their helmet; armorer villagers may also give one to players with the Hero of the Village effect. Among the four chainmail slots, the helmet provides two armor points, compared with five for the chestplate, four for leggings, and one for boots.
Limitations and tradeoffs
- The helmet provides two armor points, compared with other values among the four chainmail slots.
- The four protection enchantments cannot be combined with one another.
- Crafting and grindstone combinations do not preserve enchantments.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using crafting or grindstone combination on an enchanted helmet when its enchantments must be retained.
- Expecting Aqua Affinity to extend underwater breathing; Respiration provides that effect.
- Assuming a trim adds armor strength.