Curse of Vanishing is one of the rarest Enchanted Books in Minecraft. Mainly because it’s a cursed book and must be found naturally in the game world.
It has few uses, with one of the main ones being a good opportunity to troll any friends you’re playing with. Apply the curse to their tool, and they’ll lose it for good. If you happen to play on a PvP server, it’s also a great way to ensure that any enemy players get none of your loot from killing you.
In this guide, we’re going to show you everything you need to know about the Curse of Vanishing Enchantment in Minecraft. For more guides and best-of content, check out our dedicated area here! We also have a video version of this guide available below.
What is Curse of Vanishing in Minecraft?
Curse of Vanishing is a Curse Enchantment in Minecraft which was added in 1.2.0 for Bedrock Edition and 1.11 Java Edition. It’s a ‘Treasure Enchantment’, which means it can’t be obtained from the Enchanting Table.
Treasure Enchantment means it must be found naturally in the game. Either through Loot Chests (dungeons, villages, temples etc), Fishing, or Trading with Villagers. To obtain the book through trading, you will want to speak to Librarians specifically, who have a chance of selling Enchanted Books from their lowest level.
Curse of Vanishing is compatible with every tool and armor item in Minecraft, including Swords, Axe, Pickaxe, Shovel, Bow, Fishing Rods, Hoe, Shield, Tridents, Crossbows, Helmets, Chestplates, Leggings, Boots and Elytra.
What does Curse of Vanishing Do?
When you have an item equipped with the Curse of Vanishing Enchantment, it will disappear upon death in-game. And once it’s gone, it’s really gone.
If you are killed by another play, enemy mob or even fall damage, any item in your inventory with Curse of Vanishing will be gone forever, and not be recoverable. Where as usually, the item would drop to the ground.
How to Get Curse of Vanishing
Actually finding Curse of Vanishing can be complete luck (or bad luck depending on your perspective). The easiest way to get Curse of Vanishing would be by trading. If you set up some Bookcases and a Lectern in a Village, you should get a Librarian Villager who will trade the Curse of Vanishing Enchantment with you.
By completing transactions with the Librarian, you will unlock more trade options on the left hand side, increasing your chances of finding the Curse of Vanishing. Otherwise, you should look for Temples and Dungeons in the game world and search their chests for the Cursed Book.
How to Remove Curse of Vanishing
Thankfully, if you have an item with the Curse of Vanishing Enchantment applied, it’s possible, and simple enough to remove it. All you need is the same item that carries the curse, but un-enchanted.
To remove Curse of Vanishing, open up the crafting table. In the image above, I have a Diamond Sword with Curse of Vanishing, and a Diamond Sword without. Merge the two together in the crafting table which will not only repair the damaged item, but remove the Curse of Vanishing Enchantment too.
Now the Grindstone is usually used to remove Enchantments from tools or weapons, but it doesn’t work with curses. This seems to be the most viable and easiest method. However you will lose any other enchantments you have equipped alongside Curse of Vanishing.
