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What does Respiration do in Minecraft?

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One of the biggest impediments to building in Minecraft are the large bodies of water that claim multiple lives. But players aren’t subject to a Minecraft lifetime of drowning every time they wade into the water. With the enchantment Respiration, players can actually ‘respirate’ underwater, giving them a few extra seconds of aquatic life. 

There are a lot of enchantments that go into making a maxed-out armor in Minecraft, and having the Respiration enchantment is a crucial aspect. It’s not easy to get a maxed-out armor, and it takes time to build and collect. Each enchantment part of the armor gives your player different abilities. While enchantments like ‘Respiration’ give special abilities, other enchantments help provide protection or improve combat abilities. 

If you’re wondering how to find and use the Respiration enchantment, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to this underwater enchantment. 

What is Respiration in Minecraft?

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Respiration is a helmet-only enchantment in Minecraft that gives you the ability to breathe underwater. If you don’t have the respiration enchantment, your player can survive for a maximum of 15 seconds under the water before succumbing to their fate. 

With the Respiration enchantment, players can enjoy an extended time underwater without drowning. Depending on the level of enchantment, the time your player can breathe underwater keeps increasing. So not only can your player survive for longer, but it can also resist per-section damage. When a player uses Respiration and resists damage for a more extended amount of time, it allows them to travel and accomplish much more in the game. 

What are the levels of Respiration Enchantment in the game?

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Like other enchantments in Minecraft, Respiration also has three different levels that upgrade the player’s special abilities. 

Respiration has three different tiers to acquire. Each level adds 15 seconds of extra time that your player can survive underwater and slows down the damage points. Here’s what each tier of Respiration unlocks for your player: 

Respiration Level 1

In Level 1 of the Respiration enchantment, the player enjoys an additional 15 seconds of underwater survival from the default 15 seconds. 

This means that the player can breathe underwater for 30 seconds with Level 1 Respiration. 

It also slows down the damage hits from drowning even after 30 seconds. 

Respiration Level 2

Respiration Level 2 adds 15 seconds to the previous level. After acquiring Level 2 Respiration, the Minecraft player can survive for a total of 45 seconds underwater. Like with the earlier levels, damage hits from drowning are slowed down as well. 

Respiration Level 3

Respiration Level 3 adds another 15 seconds to the previous level. This is the maximum level in the Respiration Enchantment and the longest period of time that a Minecraft player can survive underwater.

With Respiration Level 3, the player can breathe for a total of 1 minute underwater. Respiration level 3 can only be achieved through an enchantment table or by merging level 1 and level 2 respiration to get the desired results. 

With the maxed-out Respiration level, your player can survive for 1 minute with decreased damage levels underwater. This helps you complete challenges and other vital aspects of the popular sandbox game

How to get the Respiration Enchantment in Minecraft 

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Respiration is a helmet-only enchantment, but it can also be added to any leather cap on your player. 

To add the respiration enchantment, you’ll have to use any one of the following: 

  • Anvil
  • Enchantment Table
  • Game command


Here’s how to get it: 

Step 1: Create an enchantment table. 

You cannot make any enchantments if you don’t have an enchantment table. If you already have an enchantment table, you can skip directly to step 2. 

  1. Craft the enchantment table by getting together one leather book, two diamonds, and four blocks of obsidian. 
  2. In case you don’t have a book, you’ll have to acquire leather (by killing a cow) and craft paper from sugar cane found near swamps. 
  3. If you don’t have obsidian and diamonds, the best way to do this is by mining. You’ll have to mine Lapis Lazuli as well. Mining involves using a pickaxe and mining down Level 12 or below the ground. 
  4. Once you’ve found your diamonds, it’s time to create obsidian. You’ll have to travel to lava and pour water into it – creating obsidian. However, you cannot collect it until you have a diamond pickaxe. 
  5. Lapiz Lazuli cannot be mined or created, so you’ll just have to be on the lookout for it. Lapiz Lazuli is a dark blue/purple gem that you’ll come across on your travels in the game. 
  6. Now that you’ve collected all your materials, it’s time to craft the enchantment table. Craft a 3×3 space and lay the materials in place. Place the leather book you created in the top middle space. Place two diamonds in the second row, in the left and right space, while leaving the center of the table empty. Finally, place the obsidian in the center of the middle row, and finish the last row with obsidian.
  7. You’ve now created an enchantment table. Remember that an enchantment table can only be transported by picking it, and punching will destroy the entire table. 

Step 2: Open the Enchantment Table

You can open the enchantment screen by traveling to the enchantment table and right-clicking on it. 

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You should see the enchantment screen with empty slots to place items in. The enchantment table allows you to enchant any item, but not all enchantments will bind with items. That’s why it’s important to know what enchantments work with which items. 

  1. Select either a helmet, turtle shell, or leather cap to enchant. You’ll have to place this inside the first slot. 
  2. Add a lapis lazuli into the second slot. The Lapis Lazuli crystal energy is what will power the enchantment table. You will not be able to perform enchantments without powering up the table. That’s why it’s important to collect Lapiz Lazuli in Step 1. 
  3. Once you’ve entered the item as well as the Lapis Lazuli in both slots, you’ll see the enchantment options appear on the three slots on the right. These will appear in the form of glyphs. 

Step 3: Select the Respiration Enchantment

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  1. Hover your mouse over the glyphs to see the different enchantment options. Keep in mind that you won’t see all enchantment options here. You’ll only see the enchantment options according to two factors: the player’s level in Minecraft and the available number of Lapis Lazuli. 
  2. You’ll need to level up and acquire the correct number of Lapis Lazuli to get the maximum enchantment level. Enchantments also unlock in order. For example, you cannot enchant your item to level three of Respiration if you haven’t already enchanted to level 1 and 2, even if you’re at a high Minecraft level with enough Lapis Lazuli. 
  3. Remember that enchantments also require experience points. An easy way to acquire experience points is to fight mobs, mine, or smelt at the furnace.
  4. Once you’ve found the right Respiration enchantment option, click on it. You should see an immediate change in your item’s (helmet, turtle shell, or cap) appearance, signifying that it has now been enchanted with the Respiration. 

You have now successfully enchanted your item with Respiration and can use it underwater. 

Bonus: Craft the Turtle Shell

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One minute isn’t the maximum time your player can survive underwater, and you can extend the time your player stays underwater if you craft a turtle shell in your helmet.

A turtle shell gives you a bonus of 10 seconds underwater. When used in tandem with the Respiration enchantment, your player can enjoy up to a total of 70 seconds underwater.

How to craft a turtle shell for your helmet

  1. Open the crafting area made up of a 3×3 grid
  2. The only materials you’ll need to craft a turtle shell are scutes. You will need five scutes to make a turtle shell. Scutes are a valuable item in Minecraft, and they can only be acquired in one way. Baby turtles drop a single scute when they grow into adults. The most straightforward way to acquire scutes is to farm baby turtles. To ensure they don’t spawn far away, you’ll have to use a silk pickaxe to transport them to your location. 
  3. Another way to get scutes is by trading them with villagers. You can typically trade a single emerald for four scutes. 
  4. Once you’ve got the scutes, place them in the crafting area. Place three scutes in the first row of the crafting area, and the other two in the middle row, on the left and right. Ensure that the middle spot in the middle row is left empty. If this pattern is not replicated precisely, you won’t be able to craft the turtle shell. 
  5. You’ll now receive the turtle shell in the box on the right. Transfer this turtle shell to your inventory. You can now use the turtle shell!

Once you have the turtle shell, wear it in your player’s helmet slot. If you’re out of the water, this will give you the Water Breathing Status effect for 10 seconds. 

If you’ve also enchanted your turtle shell with the Respiration enchantment, your player now gets 70 seconds of water breathing.

How to Use the Respiration Enchantment in Minecraft?

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Now that you’ve done the hard work of enchanting your headgear with Respiration, you only have to wear it before entering a body of water. 

Having a helmet with Respiration is great if you’re planning to mine underwater, but it’s also very beneficial if you need to search for a shipwreck. You might also come across an underwater sea temple, and having Respiration enabled can help you explore much more. If you’re trying to defeat a guardian sea temple, there’s no way you can do it without Respiration (can’t be done in the original 15 seconds!). 

Speaking of accomplishing tasks underwater, here’s a great way to make a Water Elevator in Minecraft.

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Freelance Gaming Writer specializing in news and guides for various games. Apart from being passionate about writing and gaming, Kanishka is also a professional actor.