Java Edition 20w49a

20w49a is the fourth snapshot for Java Edition 1.17, released on December 2, 2020, which adds sculk sensors, the dripstone caves biome, and the ability to expand the world height limit.

Blocks

 * Sculk sensor
 * A new redstone component.
 * Detects vibrations, and emits a redstone signal.
 * Will emit a different strength if connected to a comparator, and the signal strength is based on the vibration's frequency.
 * Vibrations can be occluded using wool blocks.
 * Can only be obtained via the Creative inventory or commands such as.

World generation

 * Dripstone caves
 * A new underground biome.
 * Made up of primarily dripstone blocks and stone, with large clusters of dripstone blocks hanging from the ceiling, pointed dripstone on the floor and ceiling and many pools of water.
 * Does not generate naturally in normal worlds, and can only be generated using buffet worlds with "Dripstone Caves" selected as the source biome or using custom world.

Gameplay

 * Death messages
 * Added death messages for being skewered by a falling stalactite:
 * " was skewered by a falling stalactite"
 * " was skewered by a falling stalactite whilst fighting "


 * Particles
 * New particle types: and

General

 * Tags
 * Added the block tag.
 * Contains the block tag and dirt.
 * Used in dripstone generation to determine what dripstone can replace and what pointed dripstone can generate on.
 * Added the block tag.
 * Contains the block tag.
 * Blocks in this tag will prevent sculk sensors from hearing vibrations if the block is between the sculk sensor and the vibration.
 * Added new tag type.
 * Added the game event tag.
 * Contains the step, falling, and shooting projectile events.
 * Game events in this tag will be ignored by sculk sensors if the source entity is sneaking.
 * Added the game event tag.
 * Contains every game event.
 * Game events in this tag will trigger sculk sensors.

Blocks

 * Pointed Dripstone
 * When in a dimension with ultrawarm set to true, such as the Nether, downwards facing dripstone will create lava particles instead of water particles.

Items

 * Bundle
 * Bundle fullness is now always shown even if advanced tooltips are disabled.

Gameplay

 * Absorption effect
 * The yellow absorption hearts will now stay yellow if the player has the Poison or Wither effects, instead of appearing empty.


 * Freezing
 * Frozen hearts now appear in hardcore mode.
 * However, they appear the same as normal frozen hearts.

General

 * Custom dimensions
 * Added height and min_y variables to dimension types, allowing for the height limit to be increased in custom world settings.
 * The void now starts 64 blocks below.


 * Servers
 * Removed the server setting.

Video
Video made by Slicedlime:

Trivia

 * This is the first 1.17 snapshot to not change the textures of amethyst blocks.