Java Edition guides/Nether Update

For the Bedrock Edition version of this guide, see Bedrock Edition guides/Nether Update.

Nether Update

Edition	Java Edition
Official name	Nether Update
Released versions	1.16 • 1.16.1 • 1.16.2 • 1.16.3
◄ Buzzy Bees

This guide is a simplified overview of all changes in the Nether Update (Java Edition 1.16.x releases), which assumes at least some familiarity with the Buzzy Bees update (Java Edition 1.15.x releases).

Mobs

New

Name	Image	Habitat	Drops	Note
Hoglin		Crimson forest Hoglin stables in bastion remnants	Raw Porkchop (2–4) Leather (0–2)	Hoglins will run if in contact with warped fungi, respawn anchors, or nether portals. Hoglins will turn into zoglins if in the Overworld or the End after 15 seconds. Hoglins can be bred with crimson fungi. Hoglins are hostile towards the player.
Piglin		Crimson forest Nether wastes Bastion remnant	8.5% of chance to drop their naturally-spawned equipment. Which can be a golden sword, a crossbow, or random golden armor.	Adult piglins are hostile and babies are passive. Adult piglins can be bartered with. Piglins will run from placed soul fire and soul fire items. Piglins will not attack the player if they're wearing a piece of golden armor. Piglins will turn into zombified piglins if in the Overworld or the End after 15 seconds. Piglins will occasionally hunt hoglins and wither skeletons, with a 10% chance of doing a ”victory dance” after killing a hoglin by jumping and running around the area. Up to 3 baby Piglins can ride on a baby hoglin at one time. The top one(s) piggy-back. Piglins will also hold, but not barter for, gold items (golden carrots, golden armor, etc.) Piglins will attack any player that has opened a chest in the bastion or has mined the nether gold ore
Piglin Brute		Bastion remnant	8.5% chance to drop their held item (a golden axe with random durability).	Piglin brutes are tougher and stronger variants of piglins. Piglin brutes are always hostile unlike other piglins. Piglin brutes attack the player even when they're wearing golden armor. Piglin brutes do not run away from placed soul fire and soul fire items. Piglin brutes will occasionally join other piglins to hunt adult hoglins, but will never engage themselves. Piglin brutes will turn into zombified piglins if in the Overworld or the End after 15 seconds.
Strider		Nether lava lakes	String (0–5)	Striders can walk on top of the surface of lava. Striders can be saddled, and can be controlled with warped fungi on a stick. Striders are attracted by warped fungi. Striders can be bred using warped fungi. Striders shiver and turn purple outside of lava. Striders are damaged by rain and water.
Zoglin		None	Rotten Flesh (1–3)	Zoglins and baby zoglins attack all nearby mobs and players except for creepers and other zoglins. Zoglins are incapable of breeding. Unlike baby hoglins, do not play with baby piglins. Piglins will flee from zoglins if unengaged in combat. Zoglins do not flee from warped fungi.

Changed

Name	Image	Changed
Bee		Reduced the maximum distance a bee can wander away from its home hive when randomly wandering to around 22 blocks.
Cow		Cows can now be milked in Creative mode.
Enderman		Enderman now spawn in the Nether more commonly again, especially in warped forests. Enderman now pick up nylium, roots, and fungi variants. Enderman no longer pick up netherrack.
Ghast		Ghasts' sounds are now heard at a shorter range.
Mooshroom		Mooshrooms can now be milked in Creative mode. Mushroom stew and suspicious stew can now be obtained in Creative mode.
Parrot		Parrots imitate hostile mobs less often. Parrots no longer randomly imitate hostile mobs when gamemode is on Peaceful.
Snow Golem		Snow golems are now damaged by splash and lingering water bottles. Snow golems now drop carved pumpkin when they are sheared.
Villager		When any villager is struck by lightning, the witch it is converted to will no longer despawn, regardless of whether the villager had been traded with or not.
Farmer villager		Farmer villagers can now put seeds in the composter to create bone meal. Farmers can now use bone meal to grow crops.
Wither		Withers can now be summoned using soul soil in the base.
Zombie Pigman		Zombie pigmen were renamed to "zombified piglin" and given a new model and texture. Zombified piglins now also spawn rarely in crimson forests. Zombified piglins no longer attack players who have not attacked a zombified piglin. Zombified piglins now stop being angry if the targeted player dies nearby. (But only if gamerule forgiveDeadPlayers is set to true)

Blocks

New

Name	Image	Obtaining	Tool Required	Uses
Ancient Debris		Ancient debris can be found in the Nether, but are extremely rare. Never generates exposed to air, and is most common between levels 8 and 22.	Ancient debris can be mined with a diamond or netherite pickaxe.	Ancient debris can be smelted into netherite scrap. Ancient debris can be used in blast-resistant doors.
Basalt		Basalt can be found in the Nether making up basalt pillars within soul sand valley biomes. Basalt deltas contain an abundance of basalt blocks, as it is one of the main blocks that form the biome. Basalt is formed when lava flows over soul soil next to blue ice.	Basalt can be mined with any pickaxe.	Basalt can be used as a decorative block. Basalt can be crafted into polished basalt.
Blackstone		Blackstone can be found in large patches in basalt deltas. Blackstone can be found on all nether biomes at the lava level.	Blackstone can be mined with any pickaxe.	Blackstone can be used as a substitute for cobblestone in certain crafting recipes. Blackstone can be made into slabs, stairs and wall variations. Blackstone can be crafted into polished blackstone. Blackstone's bottom texture is changed with the top texture.
Block of Netherite		Ingredients Crafting recipe Netherite Ingot	Blocks of netherite can be mined with a diamond or netherite pickaxe.	Blocks of netherite can be used decoratively, as a storage block for netherite ingots, or as part of a blast-resistant wall/door. Blocks of netherite can be used in the base of a beacon.
Chain		Ingredients Crafting recipe Iron Nugget + Iron Ingot	Chains can be mined with any pickaxe.	Chains can be used as a decorative block. Chains can be used to suspend bells and both types of lanterns.
Chiseled Nether Bricks		Ingredients Crafting recipe Nether Brick Slab	Chiseled nether bricks can be mined with any pickaxe.	Chiseled nether bricks can be used decoratively.
Cracked Nether Bricks		Ingredients Smelting recipe Nether Bricks + Any fuel	Cracked nether bricks can be mined with any pickaxe.	Cracked nether bricks can be used decoratively.
Crimson and Warped Fungus		Crimson fungi generate in crimson forests and warped fungi in warped forests.	Fungi can be mined with any tool or hand.	Fungi can be used as a decorative block. Crimson fungi can be used to breed hoglins, while warped fungi will repel them. Warped fungi can be used to breed striders. Fungi can be grown into huge fungi when bonemeal is used on it.
Crimson and Warped Nylium		Crimson nylium generates in crimson forests and warped nylium in warped forests.	Nylium can be mined with any pickaxe.	Crimson or warped fungi will grow on their respective nylium variants. Only drop themselves when broken with Silk Touch, otherwise it will drop netherrack. Spread to an adjacent block using bone meal.
Crimson and Warped Planks		Ingredients Crafting recipe Crimson Stem or Warped Stem 44	Crimson and warped planks can be broken with any tool as well as by hand, with axes being the fastest way to break them.	Crimson and warped planks can be used to craft respective slabs, stairs, fences, fence gates, pressure plates, buttons, doors, trapdoors, and signs. Crimson and warped planks do not burn and cannot be used as fuel in a furnace.
Crimson Roots, Warped Roots and Nether Sprouts		Can be found in crimson or warped forests.	Crimson roots, warped roots, and nether sprouts can be mined with any tool or hand.	Crimson roots, warped roots, and nether sprouts can be used as a decorative block. Crimson roots, warped roots, and nether sprouts can randomly offset. Nether sprouts can be obtained with shears.
Crimson and Warped Stem		Stems comprise the trunks of huge fungi.	Stems can be broken with any tool as well as by hand, with axes being the fastest way to break them.	Stems can be placed directionally, similarly to logs. Stems do not burn and cannot be used as fuel in a furnace. Stems can be stripped.
Crimson Hyphae and Warped Hyphae		Ingredients Crafting recipe Crimson Stem or Warped Stem 33	Hyphae can be mined with any tool or hand.	Hyphae does not burn and cannot be used as fuel in a furnace. Hyphae can be stripped.
Crying Obsidian		Crying obsidian can be bartered from piglins and found in the Ruined Portal structures.	Crying obsidian can be mined with a diamond or netherite pickaxe.	Crying obsidian is used to craft respawn anchors. Has the same blast resistance and hardness as obsidian.
Gilded Blackstone		Gilded blackstone can be found in bastions.	Gilded blackstone can be mined with any pickaxe.	Gilded blackstone has a chance to drop gold nuggets or the block itself. Gilded blackstone is affected by the Fortune enchantment.
Lodestone		Ingredients Crafting recipe Chiseled Stone Bricks + Netherite Ingot	Lodestone can be mined with any pickaxe.	Lodestones can be used to link one or more compasses to its position, acting as a waypoint. Lodestones can be used in any dimension.
Nether Gold Ore		Nether gold ore can be found at any height in the Nether.	Nether gold ore can be mined with any pickaxe.	Nether gold ore drops gold nuggets. Nether gold ore is affected by the Fortune enchantment. Nether gold ore requires Silk Touch to be obtained. Nether gold ore otherwise behaves exactly like normal gold ore.
Polished Basalt		Ingredients Crafting recipe Basalt 4	Polished basalt can be mined with any pickaxe.	Polished basalt can be used as a decorative block.
Polished Blackstone and Chiseled Polished Blackstone		Ingredients Crafting recipe Blackstone 4	Polished blackstone can be mined with any pickaxe.	Polished blackstone can be used as a decorative block. Polished blackstone can be made into slabs, stairs and wall variations. Polished blackstone slabs can be used to craft chiseled polished blackstone.
Polished Blackstone Bricks and Cracked Polished Blackstone Bricks		Ingredients Crafting recipe Polished Blackstone 4	Polished blackstone bricks can be mined with any pickaxe.	Polished blackstone bricks can be used as a decorative block. Polished blackstone bricks can be made into slabs, stairs and wall variations. Polished blackstones can be smelted in a furnace to create cracked polished blackstone bricks.
Quartz Bricks		Ingredients Crafting recipe Block of Quartz 4	Quartz bricks can be mined with any pickaxe.	Quartz bricks can be used as a decorative block. Quartz bricks have a different pattern than stone bricks.
Respawn Anchor		Ingredients Crafting recipe Crying Obsidian + Glowstone	Respawn anchors can be mined with a diamond or netherite pickaxe.	The player can set their spawn point by clicking the respawn anchor in the Nether. Only four charges can be set at once, and one is used up for every respawn. Respawn anchors can be recharged with glowstone. Respawn anchors emit 4 different light levels depending on what charge it is at. Respawn anchors explode if used in the Overworld or End. Respawn anchors can be charged with a dispenser.
Shroomlight		Shroomlights can be found on huge fungi.	Shroomlights can be mined with any tool, but hoes are the most efficient.	Shroomlights emits a light level of 15, similarly to glowstone.
Soul Campfire		Ingredients Crafting recipe Stick + Soul Soil or Soul Sand + Any Log or Any Stripped Log or Any Wood or Any Stripped Wood or Any Stem or Any Stripped Stem or Any Hyphae or Any Stripped Hyphae	Soul campfires can be broken with any tool as well as by hand, with axes being the fastest way to break them.	Soul campfires emit a light level of 10, instead of 15 by the regular one. Soul campfires have a blue flame instead of orange. Soul campfires deals damage at a rate of 2 per tick as opposed to the 1 per tick of regular campfire. Soul campfires have all behaviors of the campfire. Soul campfires repel piglins.
Soul Fire		Soul fire generates naturally in the soul sand valley biome in the Nether. Fire lit on soul soil is soul fire regardless of dimension.	Soul fire can't be obtained but can be extinguished by clicking on it.	Soul fire deals damage at a rate of 2 per second as opposed to the 1 per second of regular fire. Soul fire repels piglins. Soul fire has a hitbox.
Soul Lantern		Ingredients Crafting recipe Iron Nugget + Soul Torch Soul lanterns are crafted similarly to a normal lantern, using a soul torch instead of a normal torch.	Soul lanterns can be mined with any pickaxe.	Soul lanterns give off a light level of 10. Soul lanterns repel piglins.
Soul Soil		Soul soil generates in the soul sand valley, alongside conventional soul sand.	Soul soil can be broken with any tool as well as by hand, with shovels being the fastest way to break them.	Fire lit on soul soil appears as soul fire. The player does not sink and is not slowed when walking on soul soil. Soul soil can be used to summon the Wither.
Soul Torch		Ingredients Crafting recipe Coal or Charcoal + Stick + Soul Soil or Soul Sand 4	Soul torches can be broken instantly with any tool as well as by hand.	Soul torches give off a light level of 10. Soul torches repel piglins.
Target		Ingredients Crafting recipe Redstone Dust + Hay Bale	Targets can be broken with any tool as well as by hand, with hoes being the fastest way to break them.	Targets emit a Redstone signal for 1 second when hit with most projectiles. The closer a projectile hits to the center, the stronger the signal it gives off.
Twisting Vines		Twisting vines generate in the warped forest biome. Twisting vines grow upward.	Twisting vines can be broken instantly with any tool as well as by hand.	Twisting vines can be used as a decorative block. Twisting vines can be climbed like vines. Twisting vines can be grown using bone meal.
Warped Wart Block		Warped wart blocks generate as a part of huge warped fungi.	Warped wart blocks can be broken with any tool as well as by hand, with hoes being the fastest way to break them.	Warped wart blocks can be used as a decorative block.
Weeping Vines		Weeping vines generate in the crimson forest biome.	Weeping vines can be broken instantly with any tool as well as by hand.	Weeping vines are placed on the bottom of a block and grows downward. Weeping vines can be used as a decorative block. Weeping vines can be climbed like vines. Weeping vines can be grown using bone meal.

Changed

Name	Image	Changed
Bamboo Sapling		Renamed to "Bamboo Shoot".
Beacon		Beacons can now have a base composed of blocks of netherite. Beacons can now use netherite ingots as a fuel.
Bell		Bells will now ring when hit by any projectile.
Bone Block		Bone blocks now generate as part of nether fossils in soul sand valleys. Bone blocks now have their own sound, instead of using the stone sound.
Campfire		Campfires now ignite when hit by any burning projectile.
Dispenser		Dispensers can now saddle pigs, striders, and tamed horses, donkeys and mules. Dispensers can now put horse armor on tamed horses. Dispensers can now put carpets on tamed llamas. Dispensers can now put chests on tamed llamas, donkeys, and mules. Dispensers can now shear mooshrooms and snow golems. Dispensers now display a new death message: [player] went off with a bang due to a firework fired from [item] by [player/mob]
Fire		Fire now has a proper hitbox (1⁄16 blocks). Fire can no longer be put out by swords or tridents in Creative mode, akin to other blocks, and can be modified via the debug stick. Fire now has loot tables.
Flower Pot		Flower pots now have a bottom texture.
Gravel		Gravel now generate naturally in all nether biomes at the lava level.
Jigsaw Block		Jigsaw blocks can now have one of 12 orientations. Now have a new "Keep Jigsaws" option that controls whether jigsaw blocks in the resulting structure after using "Generate" will remain jigsaw blocks or be replaced by their "Turns Into" block. Defaults to "ON".
Lantern		Lanterns can now be waterlogged.
Lava		Lava now pushes entities.
Nether Wart Block		Nether wart blocks now generate as a part of huge crimson fungi.
Netherrack		Using bone meal on netherrack adjacent to nylium converts it into nylium. If two nylium blocks of different types are present, it chooses the type at random based on how many blocks of each type are around it.
Observer and Block of Redstone		Observers and blocks of redstone now allow placing of ladders and tripwire hooks.
Redstone Dust		A single redstone wire is now represented as a cross. Redstone will provide power to blocks on sides it shows a visual connection to, and not do so on those sides without a visual connection. A wire on top of a block, which is redirected from below, will now power the sides it is redirected to. Wires that redirect upwards to wires on non-conductive blocks used to only be redirected visually, now this redirection applies to their behavior as well. A wire that is redirected to go over a block will now always provide power to the block. This is most noticeable when the wire has signal strength 1. Redstone dust's hitbox now adjusts to its shape. Redstone dust now visually connects when traveling up soul sand and 8-layer snow stacks. Redstone dust now visually connects when going up the back (including far-side) of Stairs Particles are now generated across the entire area of the redstone dust. (Fixed Bug: MC-181566)
Smithing Table		Smithing tables now have a GUI use. Smithing tables can now be used to upgrade diamond gear to netherite
Snow		Doors, rails, buttons, torches, pressure plates and redstone can now be placed on a full-block of snow layers.
Soul Sand		Soul sand now generates in soul sand valley biomes at the lava level of the lava ocean. Soul sand with a rail on top will no longer slow-down minecarts. Doors, buttons, torches, pressure plates and redstone can now be placed on soul sand.
Structure Block		A structure block's maximum size per axis now expands to 48.
TNT		TNTs now ignite when hit by any burning projectile.
Vines		Vines now play a sound when climbed.
Wall		Walls in the middle of a row have longer pillars when stacked vertically. Block state now uses none, low, and tall for east, west, north, and south directional values.

Items

New

Name	Image	Obtaining	Uses
Banner Pattern (Snout)		Snout banner patterns can be found in chests in bastion remnants.	Snout banner patterns have the same function as any other banner pattern.
Music Disc (Pigstep)		Pigstep music discs can be found in chests in bastion remnants.	Pigstep music discs have the same function as any other music disc.
Netherite Scrap		Ingredients Smelting recipe Ancient Debris + Any fuel	Netherite scraps can be crafted into Netherite Ingots.
Netherite Ingot		Ingredients Crafting recipe Netherite Scrap + Gold Ingot	Netherite ingots can be used for upgrading diamond armor, weapons and tools
Netherite Armor		Ingredients Smithing recipe Diamond Helmet or Diamond Chestplate or Diamond Leggings or Diamond Boots + Netherite Ingot Upgrade Gear	Does not burn in lava. Floats on lava. Tougher than diamond armor. Have higher durability and enchantability than diamond.
Netherite Axe, Hoe, Pickaxe, Shovel, and Sword		Ingredients Smithing recipe Diamond Axe or Diamond Hoe or Diamond Pickaxe or Diamond Shovel or Diamond Sword + Netherite Ingot Upgrade Gear	Does not burn in lava. Floats on lava. All items, except the hoe, deal 1 more damage than their diamond counterparts. Have higher durability, mining level, breaking multiplier, and enchantability than diamond.
Warped Fungus on a Stick		Ingredients Crafting recipe Fishing Rod + Warped Fungus	Warped fungus on a stick can be used to control Striders Warped fungus on a stick functions similarly with striders as carrot on a stick separately would with pigs.
Spawn Egg (Hoglin/Piglin/Strider/Zoglin)		Can be obtained only via creative inventory.	Has the same function as any other spawn egg.

Changed

Name	Image	Changed
Bone Meal		Bone meal can now be used to grow kelp, weeping vines, and twisting vines. Bone meal will now grow fungus, roots, and nether sprouts if it is used on a nylium block. A fungus can be grown into a huge fungus on its corresponding nylium.
Clay		Clay is renamed to "Clay Ball".
Compass		Using a compass on a lodestone creates a lodestone compass, which points to that block. Compasses can now be enchanted with Curse of Vanishing.
All hoes		Each tier now has a different speed at which it mines blocks it is effective against. Hoes can now be enchanted with Efficiency, Fortune, and Silk Touch through the enchanting table. Hoes are now the appropriate tools for mining hay bales, targets, dried kelp blocks, sponges, wet sponges, leaves, shroomlights, nether wart blocks, and warped wart blocks.

Biomes

New

Name	Image	Description	Structures
Soulsand Valley		An open space made mostly of soul sand and soul soil. Basalt pillars span from floor to ceiling. Nether fossils generate across the valley. Ash falls through the air. A light blue glow envelopes the valley. Ghasts and skeletons traverse the valley. Biome-exclusive ambient sounds can be heard within the valley. The music track 'So Below' composed by Lena Raine will play inside this biome. Soul Sand can be found on this biome at the lava level of the lava ocean.	Nether Fossils Basalt Pillars
Warped Forest		Warped nylium carpets the cave floor with nether sprouts and warped fungi growing throughout the biome. Huge warped fungi make up the "trees" of this forest, with shroomlights lighting up their interiors. Many twisting vines grow upwards from the floor of the biome. A dark blue fog covers the forest. Warped spores swirl through the air. The warped forests are the least hostile places in the Nether. Endermen can be found more frequently within the forests. Biome-exclusive ambient sounds can be heard within the forests.	Huge Warped Fungi
Crimson Forest		Crimson nylium makes up the floor of the Crimson Forest with nether sprouts, crimson roots, and crimson fungi growing throughout the biome. Huge crimson fungi grow abundantly throughout the biome, providing crimson stems and shroomlights, as well as nether wart blocks. Weeping vines will often grow down from the nether wart blocks on the huge crimson fungi. A red fog covers the entirety of the biome. Red ashes and particles often flow through the air. Many hoglins, piglins and zombified piglins can be found spawning within the crimson forest. The crimson forest has many new, exclusive ambient sounds. The music track 'Chrysopoeia' composed by Lena Raine will play inside this biome.	Huge Crimson Fungi
Basalt Deltas		Basalt is found in an abundance in this biome. Patches of blackstone generate inside the basalt formations. A gray fog covers the deltas. White ash swirls through the air. Magma cubes spawn very frequently within the deltas. The basalt deltas come with a variety of ambient sounds. The music track 'So Below' composed by Lena Raine will play inside this biome.

Changed

Name	Image	Changed
Nether		The Nether was split into biomes.
Nether (as original biome)		The Nether biome is renamed to Nether Wastes. Piglins and striders now spawn here. Added new ambient sounds. The music track 'Rubedo' composed by Lena Raine will play inside this biome.

Structures

New

Name	Image	Generates	Chests	Mobs	Description
Bastion Remnant		Generate in the Nether in all biomes except basalt deltas.	Yes (3)	Piglins Magma Cubes Hoglins Piglin Brutes	Serves as the home of piglins. Piglin brutes spawn only in this structure. Gilded blackstone naturally generates only in this structure, both as one of the blocks that make up the structure and as chest loot.
Nether Fossil		Nether fossils generate in The Nether and are found exclusively in Soul Sand Valley biomes.	No	No	Remains of unknown creatures
Ruined Portal		Generate in all biomes in both the Nether and the Overworld. They can spawn underground (partially or fully), underwater, or exposed to the air.	Yes (1)	No	Naturally generated damaged nether portals Overworld materials in Overworld, Nether in Nether.
Basalt Pillar		Basalt pillars generate in The Nether and are found exclusively in Soul Sand Valley biomes.	No	No	Pillars, made from Basalt blocks

Music

New

Four new music tracks composed by Lena Raine have been added to the game.

Filename	Gameplay	Soundtrack Title	Track Preview
Rubedo	Nether Wastes	"Rubedo"
Chrysopoeia	Crimson Forest	"Chrysopoeia"
So Below	Soul sand valleys and Basalt Deltas	"So Below"
Pigstep	Music Disc (Bastion Remnants)	"Pigstep"

Enchantments

New

Enchantment	Max Level	Applicable Items	Notes
Soul Speed	3	Boots	Makes the player move faster when on Soul Sand and Soul Soil, and overrides the slowing functionality of the former.

Gameplay

New

Name	Description
Bartering	Randomized Trading(-like) system between players and piglins.

Changed

Name	Changed
Fishing	To find treasures, the bobber must be cast into water that is at least 5x3x5 blocks.