Java Edition removed blocks/Metadata variants

Removed in 1.8 (14w26a)
These existed due to the previous handling of block variations through metadata, rather than through block states or as separate IDs. Extreme values of these would produce unintended effects.

Faceless pumpkins and jack o'lanterns
It was possible to place pumpkins and jack o'lantern with no actual face using metadata values 5 and above. Their models became missing in 14w10a and they faced removal in snapshot 14w26a like other unintended blocks.

In 17w47a, the faceless pumpkin made a comeback as the proper, default pumpkin block, with the then-current pumpkin being moved to the role of carved pumpkin. The faceless jack o'lantern will likely not be reimplemented.

Faceless and exceptional furnaces
Furnaces (as well as lit furnaces) with metadata values 0, 1, 6, 7, 12 and 13 would have no faces, using the side texture for all orthogonal faces and the usual top and bottom texture on the top and bottom. Furnaces and lit furnaces with data values 8, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15 would appear normal, but were probably not legitimately obtainable.

Unlike with many blocks, these need to be placed using external editors, as will always place a furnace which is within the normal range.

All of these invalid furnaces and lit furnaces lost their models in 14w10a, with the exception of the unlit furnace with data value 0, which kept the faceless appearance. The lit furnace with no facing direction regained its model sometime between 14w17a and 14w21b.

Six-sided blocks
The following blocks existed in the game at some point before being phased out with the advent of block states. Whether they will return is not known.

While the hay bale lost its texture in 14w10a like many other blocks, it took until 14w17a for the piston blocks to lose their model and use the missing one.

The six-sided pistons could be obtained without commands using special contraptions that caused pistons to be updated by other pistons in a special way.

Interestingly, other six-sided blocks resulting from similar circumstances such as wood and smooth stone were not removed, and were even given unique block IDs and made craftable in later updates.

Green shrub
These blocks had an identical texture to the shrub and dead bush, with the main difference being that it was tinted based on the biome.

Unlike the usual shrub, its inclusion within the game was most likely unintentional, as it became present in the game only after 13w10a (as it crashed the game from 13w02a to 13w09c, and appeared identical to usual grass beforehand), and sported a missing model after 14w10a like many other undefined blocks.

Overgrown cocoa
Cocoa has twelve possible block state combinations, as it has four possible orientations coupled with three distinct stages of growth. Before the introduction of proper block states, this therefore meant that twelve of the possible sixteen metadata variants were actually used, resulting in the uppermost four exhibiting interesting undefined behavior.

From their introduction up until and including 13w01b, they used the dragon egg texture, which makes sense as the dragon egg texture was directly to the left of the cocoa pod texture in terrain.png. From 13w10a up to 14w06, it appeared as a broken cocoa pod, and from then on up to its removal it used missing models.

Overgrown wheat
Because wheat has eight distinct growth stages, the other upper eight values went completely unused. As a result, for a relatively long period of time, wheat crops with such values would see vast unintentional changes, as the textures they would try to pull from would end up overflowing over to the next line of terrain.png.

This included the textures commonly speculated to be for chair and table blocks. Whether Notch was using extreme inaccessible wheat values as a way to test chair models is highly unlikely, although still possible.

Overgrown melon and pumpkin stems
Melon and pumpkin stems also have eight distinct stages of growth. However, instead of having eight individual textures for each of the eight growth stages, each stage reveals two more pixels of the stem texture from the top down, and the tint applied to the stem texture also changes. As a result, since the stems have eight unused upper values in addition to the eight lower used states, the upper states start pulling from the texture below the stem texture on the texture atlas currently in use, and they use extreme tints that cannot normally be applied in normal gameplay. Their wireframe hitboxes would also appear to extend above the bounds of the block when targeted, but attempting to target anything above the height of the block would result in the stem not actually being targeted.

Overeaten cakes
There are six different states cake can legitimately be in: either intact, or in one of five progressively more eaten states, which was kept track of via block metadata like with many other blocks. Like with many blocks previously showcased, only some of these states were truly legitimately accessible. As such, interesting behavior is demonstrated by the inaccessible states.

Cakes with six bites, while obtainable now, were never actually obtainable in the game during the time when these odd overeaten cakes existed. Cakes with seven bites were completely two-dimensional, and cakes with eight through fifteen bites appeared especially glitchy, proceeding to invert themselves, such that their textures would be visible only on the inside rather than the outside, and these textures would be borrowed from adjacent spots of the texture atlas currently in use. Their wireframe hitboxes would also visually extend in this direction, but they would actually be able to be targeted only by aiming at the portion of that hitbox within the block the cake is really situated. Collision boxes for these are similarly odd.

Minor removed block variants
Certain blocks had removed variants with minor, but still notable, quirks.

Invisible stairs
Originally, stair blocks with data values 4 through 15 would be completely invisible and have no collisions; the only indication of their existence was their full block hitbox outline when targeted.

In 12w08a, these data values would go on to be used for the newly implemented upside down stairs. Data values 8 through 15 would appear to just be duplicates of 0 through 15, and were probably unused in themselves until their removal. These last eight were removed in 14w26a, like other invalid blocks. They also never used the missing model.

Wall sign with full block hitbox
Signs used block metadata values 2, 3, 4 and 5 to determine their facing direction. As a result, signs placed with data values 0, 1 or anything 6 and above would always appear facing south, and have the wireframe hitbox (but not physical collision box) of a full block.

These were probably removed in mid 1.8 like many other such blocks.

Invisible random ladders
Ladders also used block metadata values 2, 3, 4 and 5 to determine their facing direction. As a result, ladders placed with data values 0, 1 or anything 6 and above exhibited behavior atypical of normal ladders. Notably, they would appear to readily switch what block face they were attached to (sometimes seemingly randomly, but could be controlled by looking at a valid ladder, in which case they end up switching to whatever its hitbox was), which could be seen through their wireframe hitbox and their collision box. Initially they would be full cubes.

For most of their existence they appeared completely invisible, although in 14w07a they changed to using the missing model, which also changed in 14w10a

These were probably removed in mid 1.8 like many other such blocks.

Vines with data value 0 also appeared with the missing model, which was tinted for a while, however they still exist in 1.17 (as vines with all states set to false).

Incorrectly modeled torches
When block metadata was still in use, torches used state 5 for normal floor attachment and 1, 2, 3 and 4 for wall torches. 0, 6 and 7 appear to be unused, and are visually identical to normal torches. 0 can only be obtained via external editors, and oddly not by setblock.

Torches with data values 8 and up appear to exhibit interesting behavior: 8, 13, 14 and 15 appeared and behaved as normal floor torches. However, 9, 10, 11 and 12 would have the wireframe hitboxes of wall torches, but would appear as floor torches, causing the hitbox to be detached from the torch.

Redstone torches are affected in much the same way.

Loading a chunk with these in 14w06a causes a game crash. These became small missing cubes in 14w06b before graduating to full missing cubes in 14w10a until their removal in what is almost certainly 14w26a.

Strange buttons
Note: due to the inconsistent nature of these blocks, certain details are not fully confirmed.

In 1.7.10, using commands to place a button with data value 0, 13, 14 or 15 will result in very odd behavior. The button will appear as a full oak planks or stone block, until (possibly) another button is observed or an item of said button is obtained, at which point it will use item model of button. They do not appear to change shape when pressed in either case.

Much information regarding these buttons remains unknown as these are very inconsistent in their behavior and also somewhat unstable, breaking frequently, and their behavior probably also changes drastically per version. Despite never actually changing data value, they seem to differently register what block face they are attached to each time.

What exactly the other data values of buttons were that were unused and eventually removed are unknown.

Bottomless and bricking hoppers
Hoppers with a metadata value of 1 or 9 would previously not actually appear to point in any direction. Like many of these removed blocks, they had a missing model from 14w10a up to their removal.

Using /setblock to place a hopper with metadata values 6, 7, 14 or 15 would crash the game and permanently prevent that world from being loaded, although it may be possible to recover using external editors.

Nether portal post
In 1.7.2's development, nether portals placed with data value 3, 7, 11 or 15 resulted in a vertical nether portal beam block.

Boring variants
Prior to the introduction of proper block states, the 0–15 block metadata system applied to all blocks. This had absolutely no effect on the majority of blocks. All interesting cases are mentioned in above sections – those which remain are listed below.

All of these gained a missing model in 14w10a and were removed in 14w26a (with increasingly unstable behavior in 14w25a and 14w25b, usually causing game crashes when approached) unless explicitly stated otherwise.

There were a total of X of these boring blocks prior to their removal, listed in the sections below.

Blocks which did not use block metadata at all

 * Beacon (1–15)
 * Bedrock (1–15)
 * Model became missing in 14w11b, rather than 14w10a like other blocks
 * Block of Coal (1–15)
 * Model became missing in 14w11b, rather than 14w10a like other blocks
 * Block of Diamond (1–15)
 * Block of Emerald (1–15)
 * Block of Gold (1–15)
 * Block of Iron (1–15)
 * Block of Redstone (1–15)
 * Bookshelf (1–15)
 * Bricks (1–15)
 * Model became missing in 14w11b, rather than 14w10a like other blocks
 * Brown Mushroom (1–15)
 * Clay (1–15)
 * Coal Ore (1–15)
 * Cobblestone (1–15)
 * Model became missing in 14w11b, rather than 14w10a like other blocks
 * Cobweb (1–15)
 * Crafting Table (1–15)
 * Dandelion (1–15)
 * Dead Bush (1–15)
 * Diamond Ore (1–15)
 * Dragon Egg (1–15)
 * Emerald Ore (1–15)
 * Enchanting Table (1–15)
 * Model became missing in 14w18a, rather than 14w10a like other blocks
 * End Stone (1–15)
 * Model became missing in 14w11b, rather than 14w10a like other blocks
 * Glass (1–15)
 * Glass Pane (1–15)
 * Model never became missing
 * Glowstone (1–15)
 * Gold Ore (1–15)
 * Grass Block (1–15)
 * Gravel (1–15)
 * Ice (1–15)
 * Iron Bars (1–15)
 * Model never became missing
 * Iron Ore (1–15)
 * Lapis Lazuli Ore (1–15)
 * Lapis Lazuli Block (1–15)
 * Lily Pad (1–15)
 * Model never became missing
 * Lit Redstone Lamp (1–15)
 * Lit Redstone Ore (1–15)
 * Melon (1–15)
 * Mossy Cobblestone (1–15)
 * Model became missing in 14w11b, rather than 14w10a like other blocks
 * Mycelium (1–15)
 * Model became missing in 14w11b, rather than 14w10a like other blocks
 * Nether Brick Fence (1–15)
 * Model never became missing
 * Nether Bricks (1–15)
 * Model became missing in 14w11b, rather than 14w10a like other blocks
 * Nether Quartz Ore (1–15)
 * Netherrack (1–15)
 * Note Block (1–15)
 * Oak Fence (1–15)
 * Model never became missing
 * Obsidian (1–15)
 * Packed Ice (1–15)
 * Red Mushroom (1–15)
 * Redstone Lamp (1–15)
 * Redstone Ore (1–15)
 * Slime Block (1–15)
 * Snow Block (1–15)
 * Soul Sand (1–15)
 * Spawner (1–15)
 * Model became missing in 14w18a, rather than 14w10a like other blocks
 * Sponge (1–15)
 * Terracotta (1–15)

Blocks which used only some of the available block metadata

 * Activator Rail (6–7, 14–15)
 * Must be placed with external editors such as MCEdit
 * Anvil (12–15)
 * Bed (4–7)
 * Block of Quartz (5–15)
 * Brewing Stand (8–15)
 * Models went missing in 14w11a
 * Were visually identical to 1–7
 * Brown Mushroom Block (11–13)
 * Model never became missing
 * Cake (7–15) – see 
 * Carrots (8–15)
 * Cauldron (4–15)
 * Behaves as would be expected with comparators
 * Chest (0–1, 6–15)
 * Must be placed with external editors such as MCEdit
 * Did not appear missing, as they do not use a model in the first place
 * Cobblestone Wall (2–15)
 * Model never became missing
 * Cocoa (12–15) – see 
 * Detector Rail (6–7, 14–15)
 * Must be placed with external editors such as MCEdit
 * Dirt (3–15)
 * Dispenser (6–7, 14–15)
 * Appeared as the up and down facing versions
 * Must be placed with external editors such as MCEdit
 * Dropper (6–7, 14–15)
 * Appeared as the up and down facing versions
 * Must be placed with external editors such as MCEdit
 * Ender Chest (0–1, 6–15)
 * Must be placed with external editors such as MCEdit
 * Did not appear missing, as they do not use a model in the first place
 * End Portal Frame (8–15)
 * Appears as small missing cubes from 14w07a to 14w08a
 * Farmland (8–15)
 * Flower Pot (14–15)
 * Model never became missing
 * Furnace (0–1, 6–15) – see 
 * Grass (3–15) – see 
 * Hay Bale (1–3, 5–7, 9–15) – see 
 * Infested Block (6–15)
 * Jack o'Lantern (4–15) – see 
 * Jukebox (2–15)
 * Leaves2 (2–3, 6–7, 10–11, 14–15)
 * Lit Furnace (0–1, 6–15) – see 
 * Log2 (2–3, 6–7, 10–11, 14–15)
 * Melon Stem (8–15) – see 
 * Nether Wart (4–15)
 * Oak Pressure Plate (2–15)
 * Piston (6–7, 14–15) – see 
 * Piston Head (6–7, 14–15)
 * Planks (6–15)
 * Poppy (9–15)
 * Potatoes (8–15)
 * Powered Rail (6–7, 14–15)
 * Must be placed with external editors such as MCEdit
 * Pumpkin (4–15) – see 
 * Pumpkin Stem (8–15) – see 
 * Rail (10–15)
 * Must be placed with external editors such as MCEdit
 * Red Mushroom Block (11–13)
 * Model never became missing
 * Sapling (6–15)
 * These use the dark oak sapling texture rather than reverting back to oak's
 * Sand (2–15)
 * Sandstone (3–15)
 * Snow (8–15)
 * Was identical to 0–7 visually and physically
 * Sticky Piston (6–7, 14–15) – see 
 * Stone (7–15)
 * Stone Bricks (4–15)
 * Stone Pressure Plate (2–15)
 * TNT (2–15)
 * Trapped Chest (0–1, 6–15)
 * Must be placed with external editors such as MCEdit
 * Did not appear missing, as they do not use a model in the first place
 * Wheat (8–15) – see 

Removed in 1.13 (17w47a)
These were the result of block state handling combined with the old block ID system, resulting in some odd combinations.

Redundant seamless double slabs
In 13w04a, double stone slabs were changed so that those with data values 8 through 15 would use the top texture on all six sides. This resulted in the return of the block which would several years later become smooth stone, and also introduced the smooth sandstone and smooth quartz blocks. However, as the smooth stone double slab block also housed the cobblestone, old (later petrified) oak, bricks, stone bricks and nether bricks slabs, these would also end up having "seamless" double slab variants which were visually no different from their normal double slabs or indeed their normal blocks. These blocks persisted up to 17w47a, where they were removed by the Flattening.

Snowy dirt and snowy coarse dirt
As podzol was a numerical variant of dirt prior to 1.13, the snowy block state it used also ended up applying to dirt and coarse dirt, with no effect. These were removed in 1.13.