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Minecraft Caves and Cliffs Update

Minecraft Caves and Cliffs is the new update for the vanilla version of Minecraft. It is divided into two updates and contains a large number of changes.

Finally a new update: 1.17 and 1.18 are coming!

Minecraft players have been waiting for many years for Mojang to finally release a new updated version of the basic version of Minecraft (Vanilla). In October 2020, during Minecraft Live 2020, it was announced that there would be such an update in the following year, called Caves and Cliffs. It was then announced that this update would be split into two release dates. The first Minecraft update would release in early summer and the second in the pre-Christmas period. The division has several reasons, both technical (size and scope of the update), and related to the pandemic. In addition, Mojang has the desire to create a high-quality update.

This results in the updates 1.17 (early summer) and 1.18 (pre-Christmas).

The two updates are the (series) successors of the small 1.16 Nether update, but only purely numerically. For the 1.17 update, a release date (for Java and Bedrock) is now known: June 8, 2021!

With Caves and Cliffs, underground exploration is even more fun, since you’ll be able to explore new caves and biomes.

Why the name “Caves and Cliffs”?

The name of the update Caves & Cliffs refers to new features in the area of caves and mountains. The long-time wish of the Minecraft community for improved caves is finally being fulfilled. The time spent in caves to mine ores or explore the Minecraft world will be much more varied with the new 1.17 update. Thus, there will be lakes in caves and even underground waterfalls. In addition to stalactite caves, you can also discover Lush Caves. At Minecon 2019, the biome ‘mountains’ scored the most votes for rework. New additions come to the mountains with this update, and there is a lot to discover.

Caves and Cliffs Part 1 (1.17) Update: What awaits you?

Part 1 (1.17) will mainly bring out biomes, mobs, and new materials. We give you a first insight:

Wildlife in Caves and Cliffs

Meet Goats in the Mountains

Probably the most famous new addition says “Baaa”… Goats are making their way into the Minecraft world. When the goats are not climbing around in the mountains, they relish chewing on cloves. Since the stubborn horned animals are quite aggressive and are going to give a ramming attack to anyone who gets too close to them, one thing is required: Watch out!

In the mountains you can meet goats – but be careful, the horned animals are aggressive!

A new aquatic inhabitant

A more familiar animal is now finally introduced to Vanilla: The glowing octopus. Already known from Minecraft Earth, the glowing animals from the deep sea will now also roam around in the normal Minecraft world. The underwater creatures otherwise behave like normal squids and have a slight glow effect. If you defeat one of the special squids, then you can get hold of a glowing ink bag.

Sweet, Sweeter, Axolotl

Another rather unusual animal enters the Minecraft world: the axolotl. The cute little animal can be found in the new Lush Caves and can be caught by fishing them out with a bucket, for example. The lurcher can also play dead. The axolotl is expected to appear in 5 colors:

  • Pink 
  • Brown
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • Green
With the update axolotls join us in the Minecraft world.

The axolotl is a good companion on underwater exploration tours: if you release several amphibians in your vicinity, they will fight by your side. Treat your amphibian companion after a successful fight with a tropical fish – and your axolotl will love you. 

A new mob comes with Minecraft Caves & Cliffs

The Warden makes an entrance – or not. Because this creature lives in the darkest depths and can only be found there. If you see the eerie mob, you’ll recognize the Warden immediately. Being blind, it is sensitive to vibrations and sounds and will attack any creature that emits them. They can sense the subtle changes via the skulk sensor blocks on their heads. Thus the Warden attacks everything that is near it.

The Warden is very strong and will penetrate pretty much any armor with one blow. He is therefore to be considered a disaster and urgently avoided! If you do get into a confrontation with a Warden, you have a chance to lure him away with snowballs and escape.

Biomes and materials

The amethyst is introduced. With a bit of luck, you’ll find the pretty quartz crystal in caves. This quartz is excellent for making binoculars (which are also new in 1.17). This way you can see from a distance where treasures are hiding or dangers are lurking.

In underground caves you can find pretty quartz or amethyst.

Veins of ore now run through the underground. This makes the heart of every Minecraft player beat faster, since it makes mining much easier.

Dripleaves make traversing the world easier and can also be mined.

The lightning rod is now the must-have for your home. Lightning can be safely diverted into the earth, and you can give your own four walls more security. You can make the lightning rod with copper from copper ore. Try out what else is possible with lightning rods.

Powder snow is now available in Minecraft Vanilla. The super light snow is beautiful but also treacherous, because you can sink into it. On the other hand, it can be filled into a bucket and dumped somewhere else. Maybe a new tactic to sink monsters in powdery snow?

Bundles are small bags where several things can be transported at once (64 pieces in a stack).

New animals await you – from cute to creepy, there’s a lot to discover!

New blocks in Caves & Cliffs

Three new blocks are known to date:

  • Copper Ore
  • Sculk Sensor 
  • Stalactites and stalagmites 

Long awaited, now included in the update: the copper block! Copper as a building material is finally available. Copper has a special property: you can now see its age (the weathering of time changes its color) – not only in the real world, but also in Minecraft. For the builders among you: The copper is also great for covering the roofs of new houses.

The Sculk Sensor is also new, they react to movement and then send a redstone signal. With this new Skulk Sensor block, you can let your imagination run wild and build new inventions, such as a wireless redstone signal.

The spelunkers among you will enjoy exploring new underworlds with stalactites and stalagmites. However, be careful with these fragile beauties: If you fall on one of the stone sculptures made of pointed blocks, you’ll suffer fall damage.

Caves and Cliffs Part 2 (1.18) Update: What to expect?

We can’t tell you much about part 2 of the Caves and Cliffs update yet. Expected are the big changes regarding the landscape, especially the mountains and cave changes.

Check GPORTAL regularly for the latest insights into the second update 1.18!

Minecraft Caves & Cliffs Part 2: Update 1.18 + Release Date

On November 30, the time has come: Minecraft Caves & Cliffs Part 2 will be released with the update 1.18. In the update, Mojang not only completes the reworking of mountains in Minecraft for the time being, but also makes some very fundamental changes to the game.

Important information about 1.18 at a glance

  • 1.18 Release Date: 11/30/2021
  • Update also for Java and Bedrock Edition
  • More blocks in the Minecraft world

Minecraft Caves & Cliffs Part 2: Contents

In addition to caves and mountains, the changes coming with update 1.18 also affect biomes in general and mob behavior. Here you can find a brief overview.

General Minecraft changes

Height of the game world

Until now, you could build the Minecraft world at a height of 0 to 256 blocks. This has come to an end with the Minecraft update 1.18. The new maximum building height is now 320 blocks, and you can now go as deep as -64 blocks. This expands the Minecraft world vertically by 128 blocks. So you have 50% more room to explore, build, and play upwards and downwards.

Minecraft’s new ore distribution

With the expanded height of the game world, Minecraft also gets a new ore distribution. It shall now no longer be possible to mine all ores on a single level. The additional space will be used to distribute the ores more in depth, which will probably require a bit more planning when mining in the future.

Tip: In the deep rock layers you can discover fossils. Here your inner archaeologist should awaken and dig out the fossil, because you will be rewarded with valuable ores.

Monsters from the darkness

Enemy mobs will only spawn in total darkness as of update 1.18. This makes it easier for you to secure a certain area by illuminating it.

New updates in old worlds

Furthermore, Mojang introduces so-called world blending with Caves & Cliffs Part 2. Previously, major updates required you to start a new world. With world blending, you should be able to play in previously created worlds with Minecraft 1.18 and subsequent versions. The changes are simply integrated into your existing world and you can get started right away.

Mountains in the new update 1.18

With this update, the mountains and caves in Minecraft will get another major overhaul. You can expect nine new biomes, including snow-covered, rocky or pointed peaks, mountain forests, idyllic meadows and extensive cave systems. The extended height of the game world is used to make the mountain landscapes more varied and realistic.

In order to realistically depict the coexistence of flora and rocks in mountains, terrain variations are also introduced. For example, small forests can appear on slopes or hills without being biomes in their own right.

Caves in Minecraft 1.18

Caves will be much more varied: you can expect many narrow passages, stalactite and stalagmite caves, and underground lakes. Also, the Lush Caves are finally coming with the update 1.18: In the underground paradise you can marvel at new plant species and watch the shallow waterfalls. Here you can meet your buddies axolotl and glow squid. On top of that, there are more new caves that are generated, such as a Cheese Cave with lots of holes or Noodle Caves with winding passages.  So you’d better adjust your construction helmet and go underground. There is a lot to discover!

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