In Minecraft, repairing and combining items using an anvil comes with a level cost that increases by 2 each time an action is performed on the same item. While renaming the item first can mitigate this cost somewhat, it still adds to the level cost for future repairs and combinations. Here are some ways to reduce the cost of repairs in Minecraft:
Use Diamonds Instead of Sacrifice Items
If you’re trying to repair an item with a high level cost, try using raw diamonds instead of another copy of the item as the sacrifice. This can be more expensive in terms of materials, but it avoids the increasing level cost from using the anvil repeatedly.
Install a Repair-Reducing Plugin
If you’re hosting a Minecraft server, you can install plugins that reduce the level cost of repairs in the anvil. For example, the BetterRepair plugin allows you to reduce the level cost for items after using the anvil too many times.
Prioritize Enchanting Over Repairing
Instead of repeatedly repairing a high-level item, it may be more cost-effective to enchant a new item from scratch using 30 levels. This allows you to start fresh with a lower level cost and potentially better enchantments.