Minecraft's latest update is 1.18, also known as the Caves and Cliffs Part 2 update. This massive update includes all sorts of new critters, different Minecraft ore distribution, and even a selection of new biomes for players to explore.
All New Biomes in Minecraft 1.18
While Caves and Cliffs Part 1 focused mainly on new mobs, Part 2 has brought players a variety of new biomes to explore. As the name of the update implies, these new biomes are under the ground (Caves) and on mountains (Cliffs). There are a total of seven new biomes in Minecraft's Caves and Cliffs Part 2 update, all of them just underneath the surface or on the highest mountains. These biomes are:
- Lush Caves
- Dripstone Caves
- Mountain Meadow
- Mountain Grove
- Snowy Slopes
- Lofty Peaks
- Snow Capped Peaks
The New Cave Biomes in Minecraft
The first cave biome is called a Lush Cave. These caves are filled with plant life and the occasional underground lake or river. Here players can find hanging vines with glow berries, azalea trees, roots, dripleaf plants, and axolotls. These caves can feature pools of lava, and they can now generate extremely close to the surface.
The second cave is the Dripstone Caves. These are filled with stalagmites and stalactites. They also have the possibility of generating underground water features and even have glowing dripstone tiles. These unique and beautiful new caves can also spawn closer to the surface, and can now even dip below what used to be rock bottom in Minecraft.
Unfortunately, this update does not contain the promised Deep Dark Cave Biome or Deep Dark Cites. Players will be able to look forward to these cuts to Caves and Cliffs in future updates.
The New Mountain Biomes in Minecraft
Mountain Meadows are one of two new mountain biomes that will show up in the 100 to 140 height. In this biome, players can expect to find flowers, sweet berries, wolves, and loads of trees. This biome is also the only Mountain biome where Minecraft villagers and villages can spawn. These only spawn right at the bases mountains.
The second biome that appears at the Y-axis height of about 100 to 140 is the Mountain Grove. Here players will find polar bears, rabbits, and snow deep enough to make players freeze to death. These patches of snow won't support a player's weight unless they are wearing leather boots, and players fall through the drifts into danger. This biome is filled with snowy spruce trees.
If players are looking for the goat Minecraft mobs, they will want to check out the Snowy Slopes. Appearing a little higher than the last two biomes, players need to climb to about 140 to 170 to find one of these biomes. Here, there are no trees, but the snow is still a massive danger to players without the right equipment.
Jagged Peaks which are also sometimes called Lofty Peaks are taller than any Minecraft mountains have ever been before. Spiked and towering, these massive geological features can tower over the map and head into the clouds. Players will find these at 170 or higher.
Snow-Capped Peaks, Smooth Peaks, or Frozen Peaks all describe the same biome in Minecraft. These are the older, more rounded mountaintops and are usually covered with ice rather than snow. These also spawn at 170 or higher.
Minecraft is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Raspberry Pi, Wii U, and PlayStation Vita, among others.