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The Badlands biome (known as the Mesa biome before 1.13) is an uncommon warm biome, typically bordered by desert and savanna biomes. It is one of the most diverse biomes in the game, having a total of six variations.

Description
The badlands biome, along with its variants, are comprised of a red sand floor and large mounds of terracotta, coming in layers of various colors. The sand and terracotta give way to red sandstone, stone, and ores a few layers down. Cacti and dead bushes dot the landscape, along with uncommon lakes. Abandoned mineshafts generate at much higher Y-levels in these biomes, oftentimes exposed to the sky, and are made of dark oak wood planks and fences rather than oak. Additionally, gold ore generates at Y-level 79 rather than 32, and at much higher rates as well, making badlands caverns an excellent source of gold.

River biomes cutting through badlands plateaus can give the appearance of a large canyon.

While the badlands biomes are rich in resources and building materials, survival may be difficult, as no passive mobs spawn in this biome. Trees are rare as well, only appearing in a few variants of the biome. Like deserts, lakes generate infrequently, limiting water sources and making farming potentially troublesome. As it is a dry biome, it never rains in the badlands, meaning lightning strikes are impossible (though rain can still fall and lightning can still strike in river biomes cutting through badlands), but the usual darkening of the sky (and hostile mob spawning during thunderstorms) still occurs during inclement weather.

Variants
Along with the regular version of the biome, the badlands features five biome variants, for a total of six different badlands biomes.

Badlands Plateau
Biome ID: 36

This variant features large hills comprised of terracotta, in different-colored layers. The hills rise up about 20-30 blocks above sea level, and flatten at the top, much like real plateaus. The top of the plateau is typically covered in dead bushes. The sides of the plateau can occasionally reveal caverns and abandoned mineshafts.

This biome was known as Mesa Plateau before 1.13.

Modified Badlands Plateau
Biome ID: 164

Compared to the regular Badlands Plateau, this modified variant features smaller plateaus and somewhat harsher terrain, mimicking a larger plateau that has weathered down over time.

This biome was known as Mesa Plateau M before 1.13.

Wooded Badlands Plateau
Biome ID: 38

This variant generates similarly to the regular Badlands Plateau, though the top layer of terrain is replaced by grass and coarse dirt, with oak trees growing. The grass and oak leaves take on a dull greenish-brown color, giving it a dead appearance. This variant is a rare source of wood in the otherwise barren badlands.

This biome was known as Mesa Plateau F before 1.13.

Modified Wooded Badlands Plateau
Biome ID: 166

Similar to the Modified Badlands Plateau, this rare variant has a weathered appearance and features smaller plateaus and more erratic terrain, meaning significantly less oak trees are able to generate at the top layers. Desert biomes cannot generate next to this variant.

This biome was known as Mesa Plateau F M before 1.13.

Eroded Badlands
Biome ID: 165

This rare variant features unique formations of terracotta, coming in tall, narrow spires rising up from the red sand floor. This biome is intended to resemble Utah's famous Bryce Canyon, which features these sorts of spires (known as hoodoos) across its landscape.

This biome was known as Mesa (Bryce) before 1.13.