Java Edition 12w49a

12w49a is the first snapshot for Java Edition 1.4.6, released on December 7, 2012, which added nether brick slabs, enchanted books and fireworks.

Blocks

 * Nether Brick Slabs
 * New kind of slab.
 * Made by using 3 nether brick blocks in a horizontal line.
 * Came from a suggestion at Minecon 2012.

Items

 * Enchanted Books
 * Used for enchanting items.
 * In this snapshot due to a bug, any item could be given any enchantment in survival mode using an anvil.


 * Firework Rocket
 * New kind of shootable projectible.
 * Sound effects will come soon.
 * Fireworks are customizable by crafting


 * Firework Star
 * Used for crafting firework rockets.

Blocks

 * General
 * When holding, the player can place blocks and items (like redstone, repeaters, and levers) directly onto blocks such as crafting tables, furnaces, and dispensers.


 * Cobwebs
 * Can be harvested utilizing Silk Touch shears.

Items

 * Shears
 * Can now have the Silk Touch enchantment by using the anvil.

Mobs

 * Ghasts
 * The blast radius of fireballs a specific Ghast shoots can be customized with an editor.

General

 * Distance effects
 * Falling Block behavior has changed - they are no longer capable of infinitely producing dropped items at high coordinate values.