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This page documents a major update currently being worked on. 
Therefore, not all official feature names or items are mentioned.

1.17, the first release of the Caves & Cliffs update, is an upcoming major update to Java Edition set to release in mid-2021.[1] It was first announced during Minecraft Live 2020 on October 3, 2020.[2]

Additions

Blocks

Amethyst Bud
  • Grows from budding amethyst, which is found in amethyst geodes.
  • Starts out small, but grows into medium after a while, large after even more time and eventually becomes an amethyst cluster.
  • Unlike crops, each growth stage is a separate block instead of a block state.
  • Drops only when mined with a Silk Touch pickaxe.
Amethyst Cluster
  • The final, mature stage of the amethyst bud, which grows from budding amethyst in amethyst geodes.
  • Drops amethyst shards if broken, in an amount affected by Fortune, but can also be picked up with Silk Touch.
  • Emits a light level of 5.
Block of Amethyst
  • A block found in amethyst geodes.
  • Unlike the Budding Amethyst, the Block of Amethyst can be obtained when mined.
  • Can also be crafted with 4 amethyst shards.
Budding Amethyst
  • Generates amethyst crystals on any of its sides (if next to a water source block or air, and if the side is not against another block), in a given time.
  • Cannot be obtained when mined, even with Silk Touch, and does not drop anything.
  • Breaks immediately if pushed by a piston or sticky piston.
    • Cannot be pulled by sticky pistons.
  • Generates in amethyst geodes.
Calcite
  • An off-white stone that generates in geodes, between tuff and amethyst.
Candle
  • Crafted with honeycomb and string.
  • Comes with 16 dyed types and a yellowish non-dyed type.
  • Can be lit by any item that produces fire.
  • Up to 4 can be placed in a single block, similar to sea pickles, for a maximum light level of 12.
    • Only candles of the same color can be placed on the same block.
  • Only one can be placed on an uneaten cake and lit.
    • If any of the cake is consumed, the candle pops off.
  • Can be placed, but cannot be lit, underwater.
Copper Block
  • Can be crafted with 4 copper ingots, and can also be crafted back into 4 copper ingots.
  • Oxidises and changes texture to a turquoise-green over time.
  • Can be stopped from oxidizing by combining it with a honeycomb to create a Waxed Copper Block.
  • Can be crafted into cut copper.
Copper Ore
  • Generates randomly underground in small veins, but this has been confirmed to be a placeholder.
  • Has the same rarity as iron.
  • Generating starts at the same minimum level(s) as iron.
  • Can be smelted into a copper ingot.
Cut Copper
  • Can be made into stair and slab variants.
  • Oxidises and changes texture over time.
  • Can be stopped from oxidizing by combining it with a honeycomb to create Waxed Cut Copper.
Cut Copper Slab
  • Oxidises and changes texture over time.
  • Can be stopped from oxidizing by combining it with a honeycomb to create a Waxed Cut Copper Slab.
Cut Copper Stairs
  • Oxidises and changes texture over time.
  • Can be stopped from oxidizing by combining it with a honeycomb to create Waxed Cut Copper Stairs.
Dripstone Block
  • A decoration block.
  • Appears to be made of the same materials as stalactites and stalagmites but as a full cube.
  • Only generates in the Dripstone caves biome which is currently only available through single biome, caves, or floating islands world types.
Lightning Rod
  • Can be crafted with 3 copper ingots.
  • Nearby lightning strikes within a 32-block radius get redirected to the lightning rod.
  • Gives off a redstone signal with a strength of 15 if hit by lightning.
  • Can be activated directly by throwing a trident with Channeling at it during a thunderstorm, though this does not produce a redstone signal.
Pointed Dripstone
  • Can be either placed on a ceiling to create a stalactite, or on top of a block to create a stalagmite.
    • Can be combined to form longer stalactites and stalagmites.
  • Thrown tridents break pointed dripstone. Will also break when pushed directly or with a block by a piston.
  • Stalagmites break if not attached to something below, and hurt entities which fall on top of them.
    • Damage is relative to height: For example, jumping on a stalagmite deals 2♥ of damage, and falling from 3 blocks deals 8♥♥♥♥ of damage.
  • Stalactites can fall or break if unsupported (unlike sand or gravel, they break apart on impact), and hurt entities they fall on.
    • Damage is relative to height: For example, one falling from 2 blocks deals 2♥ of damage, and one falling from 3 blocks deal 4♥♥ of damage.
    • They drip water or lava into cauldrons if a source block is placed above the stalactite, and gradually fill the cauldron. Water drips even without any water above the block, but does not fill the cauldron.
Powder Snow
  • A variant of snow, Entities that walk over it will sink into it.
  • Leather boots can be worn to prevent entities from sinking into powder snow blocks.
    • Players can still crouch to descend with leather boots. Wearing leather boots also allows powder snow to be "climbed", like water or scaffolding.
  • When inside a powder snow block, a frosty vignette appears around the player's screen and any entity inside starts freezing and taking damage after a short time.
  • Can be collected and placed with a bucket.
Sculk Sensor
  • A new redstone component that can be used for wireless redstone.
  • Does not generate naturally, only available from the Creative inventory.
  • Senses vibrations such as block placement, footsteps, and projectiles, and emits a redstone signal.
  • File:Particle of the Vibration.gif Emits particles when it senses a vibration nearby.
  • Will emit a different strength if connected to a comparator, and the signal strength is based on the vibration's frequency.
  • Does not detect not ambient weather such as rain.
  • Wool can occlude its ability to sense. This can be placed between or completely around the source of the input.
Tinted Glass
  • A black variant of glass that does not let light pass through.
  • Can be crafted with 4 amethyst shards and a glass block.
    • Stained glass cannot be used to craft tinted glass.
  • Drops itself if mined without Silk Touch or even by hand, unlike glass.
Tuff
  • A grayish stone that composes the outer layer of amethyst geodes.
  • Texture may be subject to change.

Items

Amethyst Shard
  • Obtained from breaking amethyst clusters.
  • The amount dropped can be increased with the Fortune enchantment.
  • Can be used to craft tinted glass, blocks of amethyst and a spyglass.
Bundle
  • Crafted with 2 string and 6 rabbit hide.
  • Used to store other items (except shulker boxes) inside of it.
  • Can only hold a stack of items, but is able to hold different types of items inside of it.
    • Items with smaller stacks, such as ender pearls, take up more room in a bundle, and non-stackable items take up the whole bundle.
  • The bundle's contents can be opened by pressing use while holding it, throwing out its entire content into the world.
    • Right-clicking a bundle in the inventory empties one item from the bundle.
  • Even though bundles are not stackable, bundles can be nested.
    • Can hold up to 16 bundles.
    • Only empty bundles can be placed in other bundles without using commands.
  • Has a GUI when hovering over it.
    • Shows contained items in its GUI's inventory slots when hovering over it, as well as fullness as a number.
  • Note: Bundles can hold any amount of any item if added using commands.
Copper Ingot
  • Obtained by smelting copper ore.
  • Used to craft copper blocks, lightning rods and spyglasses.
Powder Snow Bucket
  • Obtained by using a bucket on powder snow.
  • Can be used to place a powder snow block wherever it is used, or can be used to fill cauldrons with powder snow.
Spyglass
  • Crafted with 2 copper ingots and an amethyst shard.
  • When used, it zooms in on wherever the player is looking, but limits their view to a square.
  • There is a unique animation for using the spyglass, which is visible in third person perspective.

World generation

Amethyst Geodes
  • A new feature found uncommonly underground (can rarely appear exposed to the surface close to sea level).
  • Contains blocks of amethyst and budding amethyst blocks, which are encased in a shell of calcite and tuff.
    • Also generates with a small air pocket nearby which may open into the geode.
  • Generally generates at or below sea level (y = 63).
  • Most commonly generates at lower levels (y = 0 to y = 40)
  • Overrides standard caves and ravines, but is overridden by abandoned mineshafts.
  • Currently has a high generation rate, presumably for testing purposes which was also done with ruined portals before.
Dripstone Caves
  • A new underground biome, consisting of a massive cave biome containing vast quantities of stalactites and stalagmites.
  • Made up of primarily dripstone blocks and stone, with large clusters of dripstone blocks hanging from the ceiling, pointed dripstone on the floor and ceiling and many pools of water.
  • Does not generate naturally in normal worlds, and can only be generated using buffet worlds with "Dripstone Caves" selected as the source biome.

Command format

/item
  • Modifies the inventory of a block or entity.
    • This command has three forms:
      • /item <target> replace <item stack> [<count>] – same as old /replaceitem
      • /item <target> modify <modifier> – modifies item (without copying).
      • /item <target> copy <source> [<modifier>] – copies item for source to target(s), optionally applying modifier
    • Possible sources and targets: entity <selector> <slot> or block <x> <y> <z> <slot>
    • For example, /item block ~ ~ ~ container.0 copy entity @s enderchest.0 will copy first item from player's enderchest to first slot of container player is currently standing on.
Item modifiers
  • Reuse functions syntax of a loot table to describe item modification in /item command.
  • The function part of loot tables can now be defined as separate data pack resource in item_modifiers directory.
    • Such files can contain a single function (i.e single JSON object) or an array of functions.
Gamerules
  • freezeDamage
    • Whether entities take damage from freezing inside of powder snow.

Gameplay

Death messages
  • Added 4 new death messages, related to freezing in powder snow and being skewered by a falling stalactite:
    • "<player> froze to death".
    • "<player> was frozen to death by <entity>".
    • "<player> was skewered by a falling stalactite"
    • "<player> was skewered by a falling stalactite whilst fighting <entity>"
Loot tables
  • Rolls, set_damage, and possibly other parameters now require "type:uniform" (or other valid values for "type") when using min-max for numbers. set_count has had the same requirement for a few versions.
  • New condition: value_check
    • Checks range of value.
    • Parameters:
      • value – see "New value providers" section (currently combination of random generators and score)
      • range – min/max range
  • New function: set_enchantments
    • Modifies enchantments on item.
    • Parameters:
      • enchantments – map of enchantment id to level value (can be score or random number)
      • add – if true, change will be relative to current level. If false, level will be replaced with current value (default behavior)
  • New value providers: score
    • Returns scaled scoreboard value.
    • Parameters:
      • score – scoreboard name
      • target – same as target in score predicate
      • scale – scaling factor (float)

General

Loot tables
  • New functions: set_banner_pattern
    • Sets tags needed for banner patterns. Parameters:
      • patterns - list of pattern objects:
        • pattern - name of pattern (square_bottom_left, bricks, etc.)
        • color - name of color (light_gray, etc.)
      • append - if true, new elements will be appended to existing ones instead of replacing
Particles
  • Added 3 new particle types: dust_color_transition, snowflake, and vibration.
Tags
  • Added the candle_cakes block tag.
    • Contains all 17 types of candle cake.
    • If the player puts a candle on a cake, and keeps clicking the candle on the cake, the candle will be duplicated.
    • Blocks in this tag are considered candle cakes and can be lit, if they have the lit block states set to false.
  • Added the candles block and item tags.
    • Contains all 17 types of candles.
    • Blocks in this tag are considered candles and can be lit, if they have the lit, and waterlogged block states and both are false.
    • Cakes use this tag to determine if a candle item can be placed on it or not.
  • Added the cauldrons block tag.
    • Contains cauldrons, water cauldrons, lava cauldrons and powder snow cauldrons.
    • This tag is used in certain pathfinding processes.
  • Added the crystal_sound_blocks block tag.
    • Contains amethyst blocks and budding amethyst.
    • Blocks in this tag play play the "amethyst block chime" sound repeatedly for a short amount of time after being stepped on, gradually decreasing in volume.
  • Added the dripstone_replaceable_blocks block tag.
    • Contains the base_stone_overworld block tag and dirt.
    • Used in dripstone generation to determine what dripstone can replace and what pointed dripstone can generate on.
  • Added the freeze_immune_wearables item tag.
    • Contains leather boots, leather pants, leather tunic, and leather cap.
    • Having an item in this tag in an armor slot prevents players from freezing.
  • Added new game_events tag type.
  • Added the ignored_by_piglin_babies item tag.
    • Contains leather.
    • Baby piglins do not attempt to pick up items in this tag. Adult piglins are unaffected. Baby piglins still follow the other rules adult piglins follow.
      • If an item is in this tag while simultaneously being recognized as a wanted item by piglins, this tag takes precedence.
  • Added the ignore_vibrations_stepping_carefully game event tag.
    • Contains the step, falling, and shooting projectile events.
    • Game events in this tag will be ignored by sculk sensors if the source entity is sneaking.
  • Added the inside_step_sound_block block tag.
    • Contains snow and powder snow.
    • Blocks in this tag will create snow stepping noises while the player walks in them.
  • Added the occludes_vibration_signals block tag.
    • Contains the wool block tag.
    • Blocks in this tag will prevent sculk sensors from hearing vibrations if the block is between the sculk sensor and the vibration.
  • Added the piglin_food item tag.
    • Contains raw and cooked porkchop.
    • Piglins can eat items in this tag.
      • Eating refers to the piglin seeking out and picking up an item without appearing in its inventory, thus vanishing.
  • Added the powder_snow_walkable_mobs entity tag.
    • Contains rabbits, endermites, and silverfish.
    • Entities in this tag can walk on top of powder snow.
  • Added the vibrations game event tag.
    • Contains every game event.
    • Game events in this tag will trigger sculk sensors.

Changes

Blocks

Cakes
  • Have a variation called "Candle Cake".
    • Can be created by using a candle on an uneaten cake.
    • The candle on the cake comes with 17 colors, depending on the color of the candle used to create it.
    • Pop out the original candle when any of the cake is eaten.
Banners
  • The unused "base" pattern has been renamed to the "field" pattern and given proper translation strings (its ID is still "base").
Cauldrons
  • Can now be filled with lava and powdered snow.
    • Lava filled cauldrons can damage players and mobs inside of it, and give off a redstone comparator signal of strength 1.
    • Powdered snow cauldrons are formed when cauldrons are under the sky during snowfall.
    • Can also be filled with powder snow by using a powder snow bucket on it.
  • Have been split into normal, water, lava, and powdered snow cauldrons.
Dispenser
Grass Path
  • Renamed to "Dirt Path", as per Bedrock Edition.
    • The block ID has also been changed to dirt_path.
  • Can now be made with dirt, coarse dirt, mycelium, and podzol.
Lapis lazuli block
  • Renamed to "Block of Lapis Lazuli".
Pistons
  • Particles now appear if a block is broken by a piston.
    • Sounds, however, do not.[3]
  • Breaks Budding Amethyst if pushed/pulled w/ a piston/sticky piston.
Rails
  • Are now able to be waterlogged.
  • No longer break when contacted by water.
Shulker boxes
  • Now mimics the opening and closing of a shulker.
    • Unlike its mob counterpart, it does not elevate the player when they are standing on it.
Structure block
  • Default mode of structure blocks is now "Load". "Data" is now hidden by default.
  • "Data" can be accessed by clicking the mode button while holding the Alt key.
Water
  • Flowing water no longer breaks rails.

Items

Clock
  • The texture has been changed. The gold is now more vibrant and better matches other instances of gold in the Texture Update texture.
Compass and Lodestone Compass
  • The texture has been changed. The iron is now more vibrant and better matches other instances of iron in the Texture Update texture.
Firework Rockets
  • Simple firework rockets with one gunpowder can now be crafted using the recipe book.
Pufferfish
  • The strength of the poison effect has been decreased from IV to II.[4]

Mobs

Shulkers
  • If a shulker is hit by another shulker's projectile, it now has a chance of spawning a new shulker. Shulkers are more likely to spawn new shulkers when there are fewer shulkers nearby.

Non-mob entities

Experience Orbs
  • Will now sometimes merge when in large quantities, to improve performance.
    • Merging will not affect the amount of experience gathered from collecting the merged orbs.
  • No longer follow dead players.
Minecarts
  • Can now move in water, but move considerably slower than they do on land.

World generation

Biomes
  • Biome-specific sky colors now blend more smoothly.

Command format

/replaceitem

Gameplay

Absorption effect
  • The yellow absorption hearts will now stay yellow if the player has the Poison or Wither effects, instead of appearing empty.
Loot tables
  • Loot tables can now access scoreboard values by UUID.
  • Loot table values inside random number generators can now be nested.
  • Changed condition: score
    • entity parameter has now been replaced with target. It can either contain value from old entity field (like this) or be an score holder name in form {"name": "..."}.
  • Changed function: set_damage
    • This function now has add parameter. If true, change will be relative to current damage. If false, damage will be replaced with current value (default behavior)
  • Changed function: set_count
    • This function now has add parameter. If true, change will be relative to current item count. If false, item count will be replaced with current value (default behavior)
  • Changed function: copy_nbt
    • source parameter can now be set to {"storage": <namespaced id>}, to access command storage.
Recipe Book
  • Some recipe-unlocking advancements had criteria names changed.
  • The chiseled nether bricks recipe is now unlocked by having a nether brick slab instead of a nether bricks block.
Snowfall

General

Custom dimensions
Data and Resource Packs
  • Changed the pack_version number in pack.mcmeta from 6 to 7.
  • Changed the resource pack version number from 6 to 7, as the following have been changed:
    • Drowned texture mirroring has changed.[5]
    • Slots for the game mode selector are now 26 pixels instead of 25.
  • Data pack version is also changed to 7.
Dedicated servers
  • A dedicated server can enforce custom resource packs by setting require-resource-pack in server.properties. When this option is used, players will be prompted for a response and will be disconnected if they decline the required pack.
Entity storage
  • Entities have been extracted from main (terrain) chunks and are now stored in separate entities directory (similar to POI storage). Those new files are still region files with NBT.
Libraries
  • The game now uses javabridge 1.1.23 instead of 1.0.22.
Menu screen
  • Buttons tied to a set of values can now be scrolled through.
  • Clicking ⇧ Shift on a menu button changes it to the previous value.
  • The debug mode can now only be accessed by holding Alt instead of ⇧ Shift while clicking on the world type button.
Servers
  • Removed the max-build-height server setting.
Translation strings
  • The "World Type" string no longer contains a colon (":"). The colon is still visible in-game, however.
  • Changed "Use VSync" to "VSync".
  • Removed the unused string for enabling VBOs, "Use VBOs".
  • Added strings, "Mode", "Type", "Triggering", and "Track output". These are read out by the narrator for buttons in the command block UI.

Planned additions

Blocks

File:Restoring clay pots.png Clay Pot
  • Seems to use the texture of clay block.
  • Ceramic Shards can be incorporated into an unfired pot.
  • Can be fired by lighting fire under the pot.
  • Pot can fit up to 8 Ceramic Shards.
File:Painted clay pot.png Painted Clay Pot
  • Seems to use the texture of terracotta.
  • Created by firing a clay pot.
  • Upon firing, any placed Ceramic Shards become permanently incorporated on to the clay pot.
Azalea Leaves File:Blooming Azalea Leaves.png Azalea Leaves
  • Part of a new tree, marking the location of the lush cave.
  • Has variants with either no blossoms, pink blossoms, or purple blossoms.
File:Baby azalea tree.png File:Baby blooming azalea tree.png Azalea Sapling[unofficial name]
  • Has variants with either no blossoms, pink blossoms, or purple blossoms
File:Azalea Roots.png Azalea Roots
  • Part of the Azalea tree.
  • Resembles a dirt block, but with the roots of the Azalea tree intertwined.
  • Probably is the source of all the life in lush caves.
  • May be a new variant of the dirt block.
File:Roots bloody roots.png Hanging Azalea Roots[unofficial name]
  • Seen in the distance of a lush caves biome behind a spore blossom.
  • Can also be seen hanging beneath the dirt variant that spawns below the Azalea tree and on the ceiling in the axolotl clip, possibly just a decorative feature of this block.
File:New Vine.png File:New Vine 2.png Glowlight Berry Vines
  • Light source.
  • Grows edible glow berries.
Spore Blossom Spore Blossom
  • Can be placed on ceilings.
  • Sends particles downward when opened.
  • This item can be found in the lush caves.
Dripleaf Plant Dripleaf Plant
  • A plant that can be used for platforming.
  • If the player stands on top of the plant for 2 seconds (40 ticks), the player falls through the plant.
  • Can be placed on a grass block.
File:Baby dripleaf plants.png Small Dripleaf Plant[unofficial name]
  • Appear highly varied in models.
File:Unidentified foliage object.png Moss Block[unofficial name]
  • An opaque block that appears grassy on all sides.
  • Can be found in lush caves.
File:Foliage carpet.png Moss Blanket[unofficial name]
  • Same texture as the moss block, but one pixel thick.
Sculk Block Sculk Block
  • Generates in the mysterious new cave biome, referred to as the "deep dark" temporarily.
  • Has an animated texture.
File:Unidentified Sculk Block.png Sculk Trap[unofficial name]
  • Generates in the deep dark biome
  • Has a different top texture than the Sculk Block and Sculk Chute.[6]
File:Sculk Something.png Sculk Chute[unofficial name]
  • Generates in the deep dark caves.
  • While this block's use and function is currently unknown, it is speculated that this block is the source of the other sculk blocks due to the block always appearing in the middle of each sculk growth. This could possibly mean that the other sculk blocks grow out from the sculk chute, however this is just speculation.
  • Has the same texture as the skulk block, even though part of the skulk chute is made of bones.[7]
File:Sculk Growth.png Sculk Growth
  • Generates in the deep dark cave biome.
  • Generates in a layer on top of blocks, similar to snow.
  • Some have parts that are transparent, allowing the player to see the block it is on top of.
File:Unnamed Stone.png Darkstone/Deepstone[unofficial name]
  • Can be found around the dark deep cave biome walls.
  • Can be found in large groups.
Unspecified underground light sources
  • A video by Henrik Kniberg explicitly states that the temporary showcased feature of ore blocks emitting light was intended as a placeholder for underground light sources, potentially hinting at further new cave light sources.[8]

Items

Goat Horn Goat Horn
  • This feature is currently available in beta development versions of Bedrock Edition 1.16.200.
  • Goats have a chance to drop this item when they ram into a block.
  • Holding use while holding this item plays the raid horn sound effect.
File:Axolotl Bucket JE1.png Bucket of Axolotl
  • Obtained by using a water bucket on an axolotl, similar to fish.
  • Had no name in the Minecraft Live 2020 demo, showing its translation string item.minecraft.axolotl_bucket.
Brush Brush
  • Used to sweep away debris from archaeological items.
  • Sweeps debris off archaeological items one layer at a time. If interrupted, the block it was being used on simply disappears, and does not yield custom block heights.
  • Also comes in a blue-green variant: Brush 2
    • This may imply a connection to copper, as both the variant and normal brushes have corresponding colors to the blocks shown.
Blue Ceramic Shard Orange Ceramic Shard Ceramic Shard 1 Ceramic Shard 2 Ceramic Shard 3 Ceramic Shard 4 Ceramic Shards
  • Obtained with a brush at archeological sites.
  • Come in different colors and different designs, each depicting a different picture, such as an ender dragon, a cow, Alex, a skeleton, a tree and a vindicator.
  • Can be placed/customized on clay pots.
  • Currently using placeholder art, according to Jasper Boerstra.[9]
Glowlight Berries
Spawn Eggs
  • Spawn eggs for the new mobs are added.
  • Warden Spawn Egg The Warden spawn egg is visually confirmed but not yet implemented.[10]
  • Goat Spawn Egg BE1 The Goat spawn egg is present in the Bedrock Edition beta.

Mobs

File:Axolotl (albino).png File:Axolotl (brown).png File:Axolotl (green).png Axolotl
"Axolotl" redirects here. For the music track, see Music § Underwater music.
  • Based on the critically endangered Mexican salamander with the same name in real life.
  • Found in bodies of water within lush caves biomes.
  • The first amphibian added to Minecraft.
  • Can be caught in a bucket like fish.
    • Can be tamed by capturing it in a bucket.
  • Come in different colors (leucistic, yellow, green, brown, and purple/pink).[2]
  • Plays dead when damaged, receiving Regeneration. Appears to turn invisible or teleport after this, although the latter may be just a bug or a glitch.
    • This regeneration ability is likely based on how real axolotls can regrow lost limbs.
  • Attacks drowned, guardians, elder guardians and fish, damage not yet official.
  • Sometimes can give Regeneration to the player who tamed it.
Glow Squid Glow Squid
Goat Goat
  • This feature is currently available in beta development versions of Bedrock Edition 1.16.200.
  • Spawns in mountain biomes.
  • Can jump high to avoid obstacles, about 5 blocks tall.
  • Attacks nearby animals by charging and knocking them a considerable distance.
  • Takes reduced fall damage.
  • Avoids Powder Snow by jumping over it.
  • Can be bred with wheat, and produces 3-8 babies at once.
  • Has a chance to drop a goat horn when ramming into a block.
Warden Warden
Warden&Golem

A picture of the Warden and Iron Golem standing side by side

  • Spawns in the new deep dark biome.
  • It is the first blind mob.
  • When sensing movement, it moves toward the source of the movement.
    • When attacked, it path finds toward the player.
    • Seems to follow the same rules as the sculk sensor when detecting noise.
      • When it detects a vibration, the growths on its head rattle and light up, similar to the sculk sensor.
    • If any projectile, like a snowball or an arrow, lands near the Warden, it causes the mob to head to the location of where the projectile landed, due to the projectile itself creating movement and noise, therefore distracting the warden.
    • Does not detect players that are sneaking.
    • Can detect players that are invisible.[12]
    • Can detect players using elytra.[13]
    • When aggravated for long enough, the warden follows the player continuously, regardless of any other distractions.
    • Attacks any mob that makes vibrations, not just players.[14]
    • Can detect ringing bells.[15]
    • Can detect players eating.[16]
  • Incredibly strong, doing 30♥ × 15 damage, bringing players wearing full netherite armor from full health to 7♥♥♥♥ health points.
  • Has at least 84♥ × 42 health points, although it is estimated to have up to 100♥ × 50, putting it on par with the iron golem and ravager.[17]
  • A mob designed to be extremely difficult, and fled from.[18]
  • Has a way to counter the strategy of building up 3 blocks to avoid attacks.[19]
  • At least as fast as the player's walking speed.
    • Seems to use the energy of vibrations to move faster.
  • Seems to have knockback resistance.
  • The warden's chest has a glowing core that appears to brighten and dim in tandem with the ambient lighting of the deep dark cave biome.
    • The core creates a low throbbing sound as it pulses. The sound and animation seem to speed up rapidly when the warden notices a player.
  • Is about 3.2 blocks tall, making it one of the tallest mobs in the game, exceeding the iron golem and enderman in height and width (the same).[note 1][20][more information needed]

World generation

Archaeological excavation
  • A new semi-underground structure where archeological items and ceramic shards can be found.
Deep dark biome
  • New biome at the "deepest depths of the world".
  • Wardens can spawn here.
  • May contain candles.
  • Contains sculk blocks, and the new Skulk Sensor Blocks, a new block that responds to vibrations.
  • Contains a new Unnamed Block.
Lush caves
  • Generate below azalea trees.
  • Contains tall grass, glow berries, dripleaf plants, spore blossoms, moss blocks, moss blankets, clay blocks, azalea roots, and azalea saplings.
  • Can spawn axolotls.
Mesh caves
  • Seems to be possibly a large tunnel-like cave.
  • Not much is known about this biome yet, but it was confirmed on Twitter by Henrik Kniberg.[21]
  • It's a variation of caves rather than a biome, as stated by Henrik Kniberg. [22]
  • Possibly contain "catacomb" style branching cave sections.
General
  • More extreme and smooth terrain.
  • Likely change to the generation of alternate stone types, to make them appear in larger but less numerous deposits.[23]
    • Possibly seen in a screenshot tweeted by Henrik Kniberg,[24] in which Diorite appears to generate in a long and flat horizontal strip, rather than a small unevenly shaped patch.

Gameplay

Archaeology
  • The player can find items and blocks in gravel and dirt inside the dig site structure by using the brush.
  • Possible items shown in the preview footage include:
Dimming of light[unofficial name]
  • While in the deep dark cave biome, the ambient lighting occasionally dims temporarily, limiting the player's visibility. This serves as a warning that the warden is nearby.[25]
Vibrations
  • An action can cause vibrations in the air, which can be picked up by sculk sensors and wardens
  • Can be caused by walking (but bats?), block placing, block breaking, doors or trapdoors opening, chests of any kind opening, pistons activating, and projectiles such as snowballs, eggs, or arrows landing. This does not include ambient weather such as rain or snow [26]

Planned changes

UndergroundLake

Local water levels forming an underground lake shown during Minecraft Live 2020.

World generation

Caves
  • Complete generation overhaul.
  • Many variations on cave types and cave design.
  • Biomes within caves introduced.
Local water levels
  • A new underground water level generation aspect has been introduced, which allows for certain areas of a world to generate with a specified water level different from that of another area (such as sea level).
  • File:Caves & Cliffs Mountains largersize.png

    The preview of updated mountain generation given during Minecraft Live 2020.

    Allows for the generation of larger underground lakes and connections to oceans.
  • Allows for the generation of many underground waterfalls.
  • Allows for underwater entrances.
Mountains
  • Height dependent generation.
  • Revamped, featuring some new small spruce trees on the slopes and ice or packed ice above the peaks.
  • Contain snow blocks, goats, and a new form of snow called powder snow, which is said to be "snowier than snow".
Ore veins
  • To be revamped, possibly to balance the generation of copper.
  • Some stone appears a little different and when that stone is mined, more of the ore should be found behind it.
Other Stones

Blocks

Wool
  • Used to block a sculk sensor's ability to sense vibrations.

Unconfirmed features

These features are not confirmed for 1.17, but were mentioned or showcased by developers during the development of 1.17. Main article: Mentioned features.

Structures

Underground Cabin[unofficial name]
  • Seen in the Deep Dark biome during the Minecraft Live 2020 stream.[27]
  • Consists of a chamber with a cobblestone floor and stripped log support beams, containing 3 barrels, a blast furnace, and a large chest, with cobwebs and candles in and around it.
  • May possibly not be a generated structure, but instead a construction built for the purpose of the Warden showcase.

General

Height limit
  • May be increased.[28]
  • As of 20w49a. World-height related values are now exposed for customized worlds, which might confirm that height limit might get removed or increased.[29]

Trivia

Fixes

75 issues fixed
From released versions before 1.17
  • MC-2490 – TNT animation ends at 80 ticks, ignores fuse length changes.
  • MC-3615 – Lava and water are completely transparent at certain height levels.
  • MC-18880 – The Absorption effect has no texture for poison/wither hearts (appears empty instead)
  • MC-53518 – Endermen don't attack endermites spawned using spawn eggs or /summon.
  • MC-80468 – Inconsistency between block names.
  • MC-98219 – Experience orbs follow dead players.
  • MC-99259 – The wither health bar doesn't go up during spawn.
  • MC-108469 – Chunk-wise entity lists often don't get updated correctly (entities disappear).
  • MC-110903 – Cannot remove horse saddle using /replaceitem.
  • MC-112147 – Lava burning items or XP orbs sound muted when "Friendly Creatures" slider is turned off.
  • MC-127201/replaceitem makes quite an obnoxious sound, which is not heard by the person whose items are being replaced.
  • MC-127692 – Experience build up in furnace when using a hopper which can cause severe lag.
  • MC-130449 – Cartographer villager freezes or crashes the game when unlocking explorer maps.
  • MC-130584 – When a structure loads, water sources in the structure spread into waterloggable blocks.
  • MC-133691 – Blocks cannot be placed normally on a full cauldron.
  • MC-135552 – Dead entities are saved to chunk.
  • MC-136497 – XP orbs causing severe lag.
  • MC-141034taiga_fisher_cottage_1 is filled with water.
  • MC-143821 – Using empty map in Creative mode can create additional map with ID 0.
  • MC-147729 – Crafting via the recipe book can delete items if picking up items while crafting.
  • MC-160994 – Blocks broken by pistons do not display breaking particles.
  • MC-162910 – Additional map is created when using an empty map in Creative in a newly created world.
  • MC-168398 – Guardian beam is darker.
  • MC-169900 – Incorrect jigsaw setting in snowy_small_house_8.
  • MC-169945 – Skeletons do not burn in minecarts while being exposed to daylight.
  • MC-170653 – Fireworks fired from a dispenser get stuck in the air when removing the block they crashed into.
  • MC-171852 – Putting item in a spectator's hand plays sound "Gear equips" for other players.
  • MC-173745 – Lower part of end gateway block beam renders incorrectly
  • MC-174685 – Drowned arm texture is reversed by the model.
  • MC-175959 – One door is open in taiga_shepherds_house_1.
  • MC-176614 – Swimming and doing certain actions make the player look very odd/does not have animations for swimming + doing certain actions.
  • MC-177622 – One log in taiga_butcher_shop_1 seems to be misrotated - causing the side roof to look asymmetrical.
  • MC-177624 – Entrance in snowy_medium_house_2 is asymmetrical.
  • MC-181889 – Equipping sound plays when mobs picking up non-armor items.
  • MC-182954 – "block.minecraft.banner.base.<color>" displays raw translation string (is untranslated).
  • MC-183771 – Gamemode switcher icons in the F3+F4 menu are not centered.
  • MC-183917 – Min and max are both required in entity_scores condition.
  • MC-185357 – Removing a plant from a flower pot still plays generic armor equipping sound/shows Gear equips in subtitles.
  • MC-185359 – Using a bucket in Survival mode still plays generic armor equipping sound/shows Gear equips in subtitles.
  • MC-185360 – Milking a mooshroom for stew still plays armor equip sound/shows Gear equips subtitle.
  • MC-185605 – Kelp generates on top of magma blocks.
  • MC-188044 – Using a banner on a filled cauldron plays hand animation.
  • MC-188448 – Food pops off of campfire when extinguished.
  • MC-189482 – LAN World screen buttons are selected in the wrong order when using Tab ↹.
  • MC-189565 – Some entities do not render inside of spawners and producing error log spam in console, potentially causing lag.
  • MC-190896 – Lag when opening a shipwreck chest containing buried treasure map.
  • MC-192594plains_stable_1 misplaced blocks.
  • MC-192629plains_stable_2 misplaced blocks.
  • MC-192876 – Misplaced trapdoor on taiga_decoration_6.
  • MC-192879 – Wall incorrectly placed on certain taiga houses.
  • MC-192930 – Zombies picking up items play the gear equipping sound and subtitle.
  • MC-193071 – Eating food items that return empty containers still play gear equipping sound.
  • MC-194685 – Collecting water from cauldrons with glass bottles in Creative mode is still inconsistent.
  • MC-194686 – Collecting water from cauldrons with buckets in Creative mode is still inconsistent.
  • MC-195125plains_animal_pen_1 misplaced block.
  • MC-195126plains_animal_pen_3 misplaced blocks.
  • MC-195351 – Comparator in compare mode can schedule unneeded tileticks.
  • MC-195461 – The upper part of potted cactus/bamboo texture is not visible if there is a half block above it.
  • MC-196425 – "Off" is not completely capitalized for the Distortion Effects and FOV Effects sliders, which is inconsistent with other sliders.
  • MC-196542 – Small cleanup for skylight propagation code.
  • MC-196638 – Placing an armor stand logs warning "Trying to add entity with duplicated UUID".
  • MC-197009 – Referencing empty item tag in recipe can crash client.
  • MC-197140 – Jack o'lantern does not come after carved pumpkin in Creative inventory.
  • MC-197179 – Baby piglins that pick up leather do not despawn, cluttering the Nether with unnecessary baby piglins.
  • MC-197276 – Pufferfish gives Poison IV instead of II.
  • MC-197524 – Border chunks do not enforce neighbors to be loaded, causing light updates to get stuck.
  • MC-198129ReplaceBlobsFeature changed from 1.16.1 to 1.16.2, affecting Basalt Delta generation.
  • MC-198414 – If the angle in /spawnpoint is set to ±infinity, and the player dies, it will kick the player, and upon rejoin will crash the game.
  • MC-198514 – Creating a Superflat world with nothing but air crashes the game.
  • MC-198725 – Crash when clicking "Presets" after setting the Superflat preset with a non-existent biome.
  • MC-198807 – Making piglins and piglin brutes angry at certain entities (like dropped items) crashes the game.
  • MC-198864 – World border does not render below y0 / above y255.
  • MC-200696 – Clock's texture does not match the new gold color pallete
  • MC-201840 – Optional function tags sometimes don't run even when the tag exists
  • MC-202246 – Drowned navigation causes memory leak/performance degredation.

Notes

  1. Height of the Warden is based from the image found on twitter.

References

  1. a b "Minecraft Live 2020 @ 2:10:28" – Minecraft on YouTube, October 3, 2020
  2. a b "Minecraft Live: The Recap" – Minecraft.net, October 3, 2020
  3. MC-203550
  4. MC-197276
  5. 174685
  6. "While not related, Sculk name was inspired by Jeb's process with naming the Shulkers - he liked the word "Lurker", but changed it around a bit to feel new. Sculk is one letter changed of Skulk, meaning "keep out of sight, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive""@kingbdogz on X, October 13, 2020
  7. "That is actually a bone-like material, not End Stone :)"@kingbdogz on X, November 13, 2020
  8. "Once Upon a Time in the Underground (Minecraft cave prototype) @ 0:27" – Henrik Kniberg on YouTube, October 8, 2020
  9. "Note: Everything in the archeology vid was placeholder art"@JasperBoerstra (Jasper Boerstra) on X, October 3, 2020
  10. "Feeling kinda short myself..."@kingbdogz on X, October 6, 2020
  11. "The other two will go back to the ideas pile. They might come in the future, they might never happen. Choose wisely!"@_Ulraf_ on X, October 1, 2020
  12. "Wardens will still be able to detect entities that are invisible :)"@kingbdogz on X, October 26, 2020
  13. "I believe so, yes."@kingbdogz on X, October 26, 2020 in response to "Will the skulk detect players that flying with elytra?(without rocket)"@TRnone12 on X, October 26, 2020
  14. "Correct."@kingbdogz on X, October 26, 2020 in response to "Does that mean the Warden will attack any mob that makes a vibration, not just the player?"@RealZombieManF on X, October 26, 2020
  15. "Bells make movement so you will ;)"@kingbdogz on X, October 26, 2020
  16. "Yes"@kingbdogz on X, October 26, 2020 in response to "It will detect when you eat?"@Otto96680070 on X, October 26, 2020
  17. This health amount is only an estimate based on the amount of damage it was shown to survive during Minecraft Live 2020, and therefore is uncertain.
  18. "I'd actually consider it something entirely new. The Warden is a force of nature, not a boss. When a tornado is barreling toward you, you don't try to kill it - you run away! The Warden is exactly the same."@kingbdogz on X, October 4, 2020
  19. "It absolutely has some tricks up its sleeves to counter that particular strategy :)"@kingbdogz on X, October 26, 2020
  20. "Looking kinda short there, Iron Golem."@kingbdogz on X, October 6, 2020
  21. "Mesh caves. You'll see it later."@henrikkniberg on X, October 6, 2020
  22. https://twitter.com/henrikkniberg/status/1333044852834103296
  23. "Lol been prototyping that today actually! Thx for the pic though very useful."@henrikkniberg on X, October 8, 2020
  24. "Sometimes weird things happen when messing around with world generation. The villagers up there look mighty confused :) #devbloopers"@henrikkniberg on X, October 22, 2020
  25. "The mechanical purpose is to warn you that the Warden is nearby. You should get ready if you start to see pure darkness like that..."@kingbdogz on X, October 5, 2020
  26. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named rain
  27. https://youtu.be/DWZIfsaIgtE?t=2536
  28. "We can say that we are looking into it, but we can unfortunately not promise anything at this point" - Agnes Larsson on "Ask Mojang: All About Caves & Cliffs @ 8:53" - Minecraft on Youtube, October 30, 2020
  29. https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-snapshot-20w49a
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