What does Respiration do in Minecraft: Everything you need to know
Need to breath longer underwater in Minecraft?
Reviewed by: Naim Rosinski
As you may have guessed, you can't swim for a long time underwater in Minecraft. After some time, you will have to get to the surface and catch a breath. Players only have 15 seconds before they start drowning in Minecraft. What if we told you that there is a way to tweak that? To solve this problem, Minecraft offers an enchantment called Respiration. In this guide, you will learn what Respiration does, how to use it, and how to get the most out of it!
What is Respiration?
Respiration is an enchantment for helmets in Minecraft. It lets players stay underwater for more time than normal. Without any enchantments, a player can hold their breath for 15 seconds. Respiration increases this time by adding extra seconds, depending on the enchantment level.
This enchantment works on any helmet, including leather caps. Players can add it using an enchantment table, anvil, or game command. Respiration has three levels. The higher the level, the more time players can stay underwater.
What does Respiration do in Minecraft?
Respiration increases the amount of time a player can breathe underwater. Each level adds 15 more seconds. At the highest level, Respiration III, the total breathing time is 60 seconds. This includes the default 15 seconds and 45 extra seconds from the enchantment.
Respiration also gives a chance to avoid drowning damage. After running out of air, the player usually takes damage every second. With Respiration, there is a chance to skip this damage. The chance depends on the level:
- Level 1: 50% chance to avoid damage each second
- Level 2: 66% chance
- Level 3: 75% chance
The enchantment also improves visibility underwater, making it easier to see in deep or dark areas.
Players can get Respiration in different ways:
- Use an enchantment table to enchant a helmet
- Find enchanted books while fishing
- Trade with librarian villagers
- Loot chests in dungeons or other structures
- Defeat mobs during a raid (Bedrock Edition only)
Supported Platforms
Respiration is available on almost all Minecraft versions. The table below shows the supported platforms:
How to use Respiration in Minecraft
To use Respiration, players must wear the helmet with the enchantment. After enchanting the helmet, place it in the character’s helmet slot. Once worn, the enchantment activates. No other steps are needed.
Respiration works automatically. While wearing the enchanted helmet, players can breathe underwater for a longer time and avoid damage when air runs out.
Is Respiration useful in Minecraft?
Yes. Respiration is helpful in many situations. It gives players more time underwater, which is important for:
- Exploring shipwrecks
- Collecting sea lanterns, coral, or sponges
- Mining blocks underwater
- Building underwater bases
- Escaping from hostile mobs in water
It also helps players avoid sudden drowning and gives them more time to return to the surface.
How long can you stay underwater with Respiration 3?
With Respiration III, players can breathe underwater for 60 seconds. This includes 15 base seconds and 45 bonus seconds from the enchantment.
Wearing a turtle shell helmet adds another 10 seconds, for a total of 70 seconds. This gives players a much better chance to explore underwater safely.
Respiration III also gives a 75% chance to avoid drowning damage each second. This means players can stay underwater for a little longer even after running out of air.
Is Respiration 3 good?
Yes. Respiration III is the best version of the enchantment. It gives the highest breathing time and the highest chance to avoid damage.
With Respiration III, players get 45 extra seconds underwater. This is a big improvement. It also reduces drowning damage. Normally, players take 2 damage per second after running out of air. With Respiration, the damage may be only 1 point, depending on the chance.
If players explore underwater often, Respiration III is one of the most useful enchantments they can have.
Can Aqua Affinity and Respiration go together?
Yes. Aqua Affinity and Respiration can be added to the same helmet. They work well together.
Respiration helps with breathing. Aqua Affinity makes underwater mining faster. Together, they make it easier to explore and mine underwater.
Players can add both enchantments using an anvil, combining books, or getting lucky with an enchantment table.
Can you get Respiration 4?
No. Respiration only goes up to level 3 in Minecraft. Players may try to use commands to apply level 4, but it is not officially supported. In most versions, it does not work as expected. Respiration III is the maximum for normal gameplay and gives the full benefits.
Respiration is a must-have enchantment for any player who explores underwater. It increases breathing time, lowers drowning risk, and improves visibility. You can add it to any helmet and use it with other helpful enchantments like Aqua Affinity. Try to get to Respiration III to make the most of this enchantment in Minecraft. If you need more guides, check out the ones below:
Check out more of our Minecraft guides below:
- Minecraft beacon guide: How to make a beacon in Minecraft
- Minecraft blast furnace recipe: How to make a blast furnace in Minecraft
- All paintings in Minecraft and how to get them
- Observer recipe in Minecraft and what you need to know about the item
- Get your Minecraft shield recipe before heading into danger
Featured Image Credit: r/Minecraft
Onur Demirkol here, content writer for THESPIKEGG. I have been around for a very long time now, you may have seen me in the comments.
I started writing here in 2021, but my first gig was back in 2018. That was when I realized people actually get paid to write about games. I’ve written thousands of articles for different media outlets, led teams, and conducted interviews with players.
When I’m not behind the keyboard, I’m watching Galatasaray, following the NBA, or pretending I’m still good at basketball. I also work full-time at AnyDesk, writing serious things in not-so-serious ways.
If you want to reach out, feel free to contact me on X, LinkedIn, take a look at my work at MuckRack or send me an email at [email protected].
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