Java Edition:Phantom Enchanted Equipment
In 13w36a (1.7 snapshot), enchanting anything except enchanted books via enchanting table would add the enchant tag, but not actually apply any enchantments[1]. Only an empty enchantments tag (ench:[]) is applied. This bug also affects villager trades and mob drops. The enchantments tag is later converted to Enchantments:[] in 1.13, and then "minecraft:enchantment_glint_override": 1b in 24w14a.
Obtaining
To obtain, the player must enchant an item in 13w36a. This only works by enchanting via enchanting table, meaning the items that can have the tag include all variants of helmets, chestplates, leggings, boots, pickaxes, shovels, axes, and swords, as well as bows and fishing rods. This does not work on books, nor does it work by applying enchantments in an anvil. Additionally, villagers in this version that can enchant tools and armor will also phantom enchant them, due to a bug they will also do this for free. Killing mobs that have enchanted armor or tools also drop phantom enchanted equipment. Phantom enchanted equipment can not be re-enchanted, as that no longer keeps the tag empty.
Updating
In 1.11 pre-1, the items lose their glint. This, however, does not revert them to normal, because they still have the enchanted tag, with 0 entries. A good way to tell them apart from regular items is to press F3+H to see if it has 2 NBT tags (or one more than expected if the player has obtained additional tags such as a name). This is the only difference they will have from normal items past 1.11 pre-1.
Phantom enchanted equipment is deleted if loaded in any version between 24w09a and 24w13a (1.20.5 snapshots) due to a bug[2] in the migration to components, but they are correctly converted to "minecraft:enchantment_glint_override": 1b in 24w14a and above.
Gallery
A chestplate enchanted in 13w36a. Notice it doesn't have any visible enchantments, aside from the enchantment glint.
A Phantom Enchanted Chestplate carried to 1.16.
See also
- Phantom Enchanted Equipment Mobs
- Phantom Enchantment Equipment Trade
- Enchantments Tag Soul Speed Enchanted Book
- Blank Enchanted Book
- Ench Tag Equipment
- Numeric ID Enchanted Book