Why Your Anvils Keep Breaking and How to Stop It Forever
Anyone who has spent hours perfecting their gear in Minecraft knows the sinking feeling of watching an anvil crack and shatter right when you need it most. Anvils are essential for repairing tools, combining enchantments, and naming items, but their durability mechanic can feel punishing. After just a handful of uses, that heavy iron block crumbles into nothing, forcing you to haul 31 iron ingots back from the mines to craft a replacement. This constant cycle of destruction and rebuilding drains resources and interrupts your flow, especially on multiplayer servers where anvils see heavy traffic.
Server administrators and players alike have long wished for a way to make anvils permanent without disabling their core functionality. The ToughAnvils plugin answers that call by introducing a simple permission-based system to mark any anvil as indestructible. Instead of modding the client or altering game mechanics globally, this lightweight plugin targets only the anvils you choose, leaving everything else untouched. The result is a seamless experience where your favorite crafting station never wears out from normal use, though it can still be mined with a pickaxe if you decide to relocate it.
How ToughAnvils Works Under the Hood
The plugin’s magic lies in its ability to locate the physical anvil block tied to an inventory action. This is surprisingly difficult because the Bukkit API does not provide a direct way to retrieve the anvil block from an AnvilInventory event. ToughAnvils solves this by using a clever workaround that identifies the exact location of the anvil being used. Once the plugin knows which block you are interacting with, it applies a persistent tag that prevents durability damage from being applied. When you later use that anvil to repair a diamond sword or merge enchanted books, the block remains at full health indefinitely.
For players who manage their own modpacks or server plugins, installing ToughAnvils is refreshingly straightforward. You can grab the latest build and drop it into your server’s plugins folder, then reload or restart. If you prefer a more streamlined approach, this mod can be easily installed via the foxygame.net launcher — a convenient, flexible, and modern Minecraft launcher where you can download mods right from the menu without hunting through forum threads. The launcher handles version compatibility and keeps your setup tidy, so you spend less time troubleshooting and more time crafting.
Commands and Permissions at a Glance
ToughAnvils keeps its command set minimal to avoid cluttering your chat window. Once you have the necessary permissions, you can toggle an anvil’s indestructible status with a single command and a left-click. Here is the complete list:
- /toughanvils set – Marks the anvil you click next as indestructible. Normal use will never wear it out.
- /toughanvils unset – Reverts the anvil back to its default destructible state, so it will eventually break after enough uses.
Both commands trigger a prompt asking you to hit the target anvil. This two-step process prevents accidental changes and gives you precise control over which block is affected. The change takes effect immediately, and you can verify it by opening the anvil interface and using it without seeing the durability bar drop.
Permissions follow a straightforward hierarchy that server owners can assign to moderators, trusted players, or keep admin-only:
- toughanvils.command – Grants access to the base /toughanvils command. Without this, none of the sub-commands work.
- toughanvils.command.set – Allows a player to use /toughanvils set.
- toughanvils.command.unset – Allows a player to use /toughanvils unset.
Integrating ToughAnvils Into Your Server Ecosystem
Beyond its primary function, ToughAnvils exposes a public API that other plugin developers can hook into. The plugin instance provides a method called getAnvilLocation(AnvilInventory inv) which returns the Location of the anvil block associated with a given inventory. This is invaluable for developers who need to know exactly where an anvil is placed without writing their own block-detection logic. The snippet below shows how to access it safely:
ToughAnvils toughAnvilsPlugin = (ToughAnvils) getPluginManager().getPlugin("ToughAnvils");
if (toughAnvilsPlugin != null && toughAnvilsPlugin.isEnabled()) {
return toughAnvilsPlugin.getAnvilLocation(inv);
}
return null;
This opens the door to creative add-ons like anvil-based minigames, economy systems that charge for anvil use, or visual effects tied to specific anvil locations. The source code is openly available on GitHub, so you can audit the implementation or contribute improvements. Compatibility currently covers Minecraft versions 1.7.2 through 1.7.4, with backports to the 1.6.x series planned. While these are older server versions, the plugin’s core concept remains relevant for legacy servers and private communities that prefer stable, long-term worlds.
Best Practices for Using Indestructible Anvils
Making an anvil permanent can dramatically improve quality of life, but it is worth considering a few balance tips. If you run a survival server, you might restrict the set command to donors or staff members to preserve a sense of progression. Another approach is to place a single public indestructible anvil at spawn, creating a community hub where players gather to repair gear and socialize. Because the anvil can still be broken with a pickaxe, griefers cannot permanently destroy it without the proper tool, and you can always re-set it if needed.
For single-player worlds or small co-op servers, marking your main base anvil as indestructible removes the tedium of constant replacement while keeping the anvil’s core role intact. You will still need to spend experience levels for repairs and enchantments, so the game’s challenge remains. The plugin simply removes the arbitrary resource tax of iron ingots and time, letting you focus on building, exploring, and fighting mobs.
Final Thoughts on Permanent Anvils
ToughAnvils addresses a long-standing annoyance in Minecraft with a lightweight, permission-driven solution that fits neatly into any server setup. By giving you control over exactly which anvils degrade and which stand the test of time, it respects both vanilla mechanics and player convenience. The plugin’s clever block-detection workaround, clean command structure, and developer-friendly API make it a standout choice for anyone tired of watching their anvils crumble. Whether you are managing a bustling multiplayer world or just want to preserve your personal crafting station, this plugin ensures your anvils stay tough enough to handle anything you throw at them.