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I'm not completely sure if this is true or not. I usually add bookshelves around a enchantment table for the aesthetic. One of my friends told me that they make the enchantments better or stronger. Is this true?
If this is true, how much does it affect the enchantment table? Like, does it matter on how many bookshelves you place down?
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Step One - Applying modifiers to the enchantment level
The first thing that Minecraft does is apply two modifiers to the base enchantment level. Each modifier is restricted to a certain range, with numbers close to the middle of the range more common than those near the ends.
The first modifier is based on the item's "enchantability," which depends on the material and the type of the item (see the table below). Minecraft picks a number between 0 and the enchantability, then adds that number plus one to the enchantment level. Bows have an enchantability of 1 for this purpose.
Shoot...SCORE!
Only bookshelves the same height or one block higher than the enchantment table are counted when setting the maximum level the table can enchant. Additionally, only bookshelves exactly two blocks away from the table are counted, not bookshelves directly adjacent, nor bookshelves further away.
There is a popular version which was necessary until the changes in version 1.3: A two-high 5x5 square of bookshelves with a single one block wide door way, separated from the table in the center by a 3x3 square path of absolutely nothing except air. It's important to note anything placed between a bookshelf and the enchanting table will prevent the bookshelf from contributing to the table's maximum level.
There is an upper limit on the enchantment table's level. Beyond 15 bookshelves there is no additional effect to adding more, so there is no need to build this entire structure since version 1.3. With just 15 bookshelves in any of the valid positions you can achieve the maximum enchanting level which is 30.
Best Answer
Yes. The wiki has an in-depth article on the mechanics, but the very essence is that bookshelves placed within a 5x5 ring centered on the table, on the same level as the table and 1 level above contribute to the enchant level. Up to 15 bookshelves matter. Their distribution within that ring doesn't matter; what matters is that there's nothing between them and the table (within the 3x3, 2 tall ring around the table) - only air; no torches, no tall grass, no snow layers, no carpets etc.
The effect of adding the bookshelves is apparent as the cost of enchantment (in levels) increases - once your bottom slot enchantment requires you to have 30 levels, you have maxed out the enchanting setup.
Note this is still random - probabilities change, but you can still occasionally get scrub enchantments in max tier setup. Also, some basic, simple but useful enchantments are phased out and replaced by high-level low-usefulness enchants like Impaling V or Bane of Anthropods IV.