Protection

What does Protection cover?

Protection reduces damage from all sources except hunger, a warden's sonic boom, the void, and the /kill command. It can reduce sources that normally ignore armor value, including falling and magic damage from status effects. Each level provides 4% reduction, so Protection IV provides 16% on one item; four Protection IV pieces provide 64% general reduction before considering the overall 80% cap.

Where should it be applied?

Protection is supported on the listed wearable armor, including turtle helmets. Its strength does not depend on which armor piece carries it: Protection on leggings does not specifically protect the legs. The reference also says its effect works on wearable items that do not normally accept it if applied by commands or in Creative, but that is outside ordinary supported use.

How does it compare with specialized protection?

Protection is the broad option; Fire, Blast, and Projectile Protection specialize in their corresponding damage types and are mutually exclusive with Protection through ordinary anvil combining. The reference describes an 80% overall cap and gives examples of combining general and specialized protection levels to reach it for specific damage types. Choose based on the damage you want covered rather than expecting every protection enchantment to coexist on one piece.

What does it not stop?

Protection does not reduce hunger damage, a warden's sonic boom, void damage, or damage from /kill. Its general coverage does not override those exclusions, and its level IV reduction on one piece is 16%, not 16% per damage source stacked without limit.

Limitations and tradeoffs

• Broad coverage can suit varied threats, while specialized protection focuses on particular damage types.
• Ordinary anvil combining makes Protection mutually exclusive with Fire, Blast, and Projectile Protection on the same item.