Mojang's blocky best-seller Minecraft is the gift that keeps on giving. After all these years it is still getting substantial updates, such as the recently released Caves and Cliffs part two: Minecraft 1.18. The update got to be such a huge change that it was split into two releases, so as not to overwhelm the Minecraft teams, and players.
That's not even all — some previously announced features have unfortunately been pushed back. Additions like the Deep Dark biome, and new hostile mobs, have been delayed and added to the 1.19 update titled The Wild. There is no confirmed release date, yet. But while fans wait, there are plenty of changes that have come to the game in the first half of the Caves and Cliffs update. Here are the most notable.
8 Lighting Choices
Lighting is a very important aspect of Minecraft. There are not many light sources in the game: torches, campfires, sea pickles, and lanterns are some of the available lighting items, though the brightest is by far the torch.
Finally, there are some more additions, including a naturally occurring light source. Glow berries are a new addition to cave systems. They grow on vines, and will actually radiate light out into the caves. Players also now have the ability to make candles in the game. These decorative items also give a soft light and look much better inside buildings.
7 Cave Formation
Obviously, in the Caves and Cliffs update, caves have received a revamp. But it isn't just the aesthetic side of them that has had a re-do. Caves can now be bigger, deeper, and different shapes, leading to a new and changing experience for even the oldest of players.
The most interesting thing is the addition of Dripstone blocks. These Dripstone Caves can be dangerous, as the pointed blocks do cause damage to players. Dripstone can grow up from the floor or down from the ceiling, giving a realistic edge to the cubic cave systems. This revamp, as well as the new Lush caves, make the game a more interesting place to explore.
6 Cave Discoveries
Even that isn't all that has been added and updated to Minecraft's underground structures. A whole host of items and animals have come to the twisting caves.
Sometimes, players will stumble across the new Amethyst geodes, large room-sized formations made of shiny, purple quartz blocks, surrounded by smooth Basalt and Calcite. Another change is that aquifers can be found that lead to flooded caves or lakes, which can house the adorable Axolotls.
5 Decorative Foliage
For a game set in the great outdoors, there haven't been too many usable foliage block types — until now. 1.18 has brought even more bushy blocks for players to use their green thumb on. For starters, there are Dripleaves: stackable, big leaf shapes that can be used for decoration, or as platforms to walk on. New Azalea bushes and trees add a flowery feel, as do the big Spore Blossom flowers (which can be placed on ceilings).
In addition, Moss Blocks can make Moss Carpet, which adds a natural feel and a new layer to flooring. There's also a new "source" block for plant life: Rooted Dirt blocks. By using bone meal on this, players can get hanging Roots.
4 Underwater Fauna
The vast, blue oceans and winding rivers can be a little sparse due to their size, but Minecraft has added in some aquatic critters to the mix in Caves and Cliffs, too.
By far one of the best things about the whole update is the axolotls. Adorable, angry little swimmers, they spawn in underground ponds found in Lush Caves. They come in a range of colors, but beware, they will eat other fish they are put in the same space as. A slightly less combative addition is the Glow Squids. These spawn in underground lakes or deep oceans, but are easy to spot due to their luminescence.
3 Height & Depth Limits
The infinite world was starting to feel a bit cramped with all of these new biomes, mobs, and animals, so Mojang decided to make it bigger. The increase in size is a whopping 50% of the original build limit, now ranging from Y 320 to Y -64.
This update nicely accommodates the huge new peak biomes and allows players to properly flex their build skills. Other world generation changes were involved with this update, too, like better biomes and biome placement, and new cave layouts.
2 Overworld Safety
Villages are often left quite open to any threats that may be passing by, and Caves and Cliffs has taken this into account. There are a couple of new items that can assist players and their villages, and bases, in being better equipped to fend for themselves.
The first is the lightning rod, which will attract lightning strikes away from vulnerable targets and reduce the damage caused by storms. Another added item is a Spyglass. Equipping this will allow players to zoom into the horizon and survey the land for any foes or dangers coming close.
1 Ore Distribution
As the world builds limits and cave systems have changed, so has the distribution of materials found underground. Ores, especially diamonds, have been tweaked a little bit in terms of where they spawn.
To put it simply, ores spawn in vague triangle shapes across the different layers of blocks. For instance, coal is most common around the usual outdoor ground heights, whereas Redstone, gold, and other precious materials become more frequent nearer bedrock. The new best place for diamonds is around the Y -58 coordinate.
Minecraft is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, mobile, Xbox and PlayStation platforms.