Caves & Cliffs



Caves & Cliffs is an upcoming major themed update set to release in mid-2021 as Java Edition 1.17 and Bedrock Edition 1.17.0. It was announced in Minecraft Live 2020. It includes new cave and mountains features.

Planned additions
Please note that the names of many features are currently placeholders.

Blocks

 * Azalea Leaves.png Blooming Azalea Leaves.png
 * Part of a new tree, marking the location of the lush cave.
 * Has variants with either no blossoms, pink blossoms, or purple blossoms.


 * Azalea Roots.png
 * Part of the Azalea tree.
 * Resembles a dirt block, but with the roots of the Azalea tree intertwined.
 * Probably is the source of all the life in lush caves.
 * May be a new variant of the dirt block.


 * Amethyst geode block.png
 * Generates amethyst crystals on any of its sides, in a given time.
 * Unobtainable in survival.
 * Extremely rare, generates only in amethyst geode structures.


 * Amethyst Buds age 1.pngAmethyst Buds age 2.pngAmethyst crystal cross.png
 * Grows on any side of amethyst geode blocks over time.
 * Is a light source.
 * Fully grown crystals break to produce a crystal shard item.
 * These can be crafted into telescopes.


 * Copper Ore.png
 * New ore that could be found underground.
 * Drops itself when broken, like other metal ores.
 * Spawns in new large ore veins.
 * Can be used to craft a lightning rod or functions as an item part for the telescope.


 * Block of Copper.png Copper Stairs.png Copper Slab.png, ,
 * Block of Copper Age 1.pngBlock of Copper Age 2.pngBlock of Copper Age 3.png Copper Stairs Age 1.pngCopper Stairs Age 2.pngCopper Stairs Age 3.png Copper Slab Age 1.pngCopper Slab Age 2.pngCopper Slab Age 3.png Develops a patina of pale green copper carbonate over multiple stages, which might be sped up by weather such as rain.
 * Based on a [ demo clip] from Minecraft Live 2020, the time it takes to age fully is about 16 Minecraft days, although the time span is planned to take much longer.
 * Can be made to stay in a certain state.


 * Restoring clay pots.png
 * Seems to use the texture of clay block.
 * Ceramic Shards can be incorporated into an unfired pot.
 * Can be fired by lighting fire under the pot.
 * Pot can fit up to 8 Ceramic Shards.


 * painted clay pot.png
 * Seems to use the texture of terracotta.
 * Created by firing a clay pot.
 * Upon firing, any placed Ceramic Shards become permanently incorporated on to the clay pot.
 * Also upon firing, the color of the clay pot changes from whitish-blue to brown.


 * New Vine.png New Vine 2.png
 * Light source.
 * Grows edible glow berries.


 * Spore Blossom.png
 * Can be placed on ceilings.
 * Sends particles downward when opened.
 * This item can be found in the lush caves.


 * Dripleaf Plant.png
 * A plant that can be used for platforming.
 * If the player stands on top of the plant for 2 seconds (40 ticks), the player falls through the plant.
 * Can be placed on a grass block.


 * Baby dripleaf plants.png Dripleaf Sapling
 * Appear highly varied in models.


 * Unidentified foliage object.png Moss Block
 * An opaque block that appears grassy on all sides.
 * Can be found in lush caves.
 * Foliage carpet.png Moss Blanket
 * Same texture as the moss block, but one pixel thick.


 * Roots bloody roots.png
 * Seen in the distance of a lush caves biome behind a spore blossom.
 * Can also be seen hanging beneath the dirt variant that spawns below the Azalea tree and on the ceiling in the axolotl clip, possibly just a decorative feature of this block.


 * Baby azalea tree.png Baby blooming azalea tree.png Azalea Sapling
 * Has variants with either no blossoms, pink blossoms, or purple blossoms


 * Sculk Block.png
 * Generates in the mysterious new cave biome, referred to as the "deep dark" temporarily.
 * Has an animated texture.


 * Unidentified Sculk Block.png
 * Generates in the deep dark biome
 * Has a different top texture than the Sculk Block and Sculk Chute.


 * Sculk Something.png
 * Generates in the deep dark caves.


 * Sculk Growth.png
 * Generates in the deep dark cave biome.
 * Generates in a layer on top of blocks, similar to snow.
 * Some have parts that are transparent, allowing the player to see the block it is on top of.


 * Sculk Sensor.gif
 * Generates in the deep dark cave biome.
 * Can be used for wireless redstone.
 * Senses block placement, footsteps, and projectiles.
 * Wool can occlude its ability to sense. This can be placed between or completely around the source of the input.
 * Can be used with a piston to create a wireless redstone clock.
 * Particle of the Vibration.gif Emits particles when it hears a sound nearby.
 * Are not affected by ambient weather such as rain, as well as other Sculk Sensors and the Warden.


 * Stalagmites.png
 * Can be found on the floor of the new dripstone caves.
 * Deals damage when landed on.


 * Stalactites.png
 * Can be found on the ceiling of the new dripstone caves.
 * Can fall, but unlike sand or gravel, breaks apart on impact.
 * Drips water, which can fill cauldrons placed under it.


 * Unknown speleothem block.png
 * Appears to be made of the same materials as stalactites and stalagmites but as a full cube.
 * Found in dripstone caves.


 * Lightning Rod.png


 * Crafted with copper.
 * Redirects nearby lightning strikes to the top of the rod, which can prevent flammable structures from catching on fire during thunderstorms.
 * Emits a redstone signal when struck by lightning.
 * Can be oriented in different directions.


 * Similar to snow, but entities fall through it, similar to traps or the "snowier snow" announced when the Mountains won the 2019 biome vote.
 * This is how regular snow layer blocks worked in old versions of Minecraft, but it was changed because it created accidental booby traps when lava ponds generated at the right height to cut out the ground but not the snow.
 * This is how regular snow layer blocks worked in old versions of Minecraft, but it was changed because it created accidental booby traps when lava ponds generated at the right height to cut out the ground but not the snow.


 * Unidentified Stalagmite Torches.png White candles.png
 * A light source.
 * Can have up to four in a single block, similar to sea pickles.
 * Black and white texture variants.
 * Emits fire particles.
 * Visible in the deep dark biomes, though it may spawn in other areas of the game as well.


 * Unnamed Stone.png Dark stone
 * Can be found around the deep dark cave biome walls.
 * Can be found in large groups.


 * UnknownWhiteStoneBlock.png Geode Quartz
 * Similar to diorite, but with a smoother texture.
 * Found underground surrounding the outsides of geode formations.


 * Amethyst geode casing.png Geode Casing
 * Seen during Minecraft Live during showcasing of geodes and in a Twitter post highlighting underwater geodes.
 * Might spawn surrounding geodes, much like real-life geodes.


 * Unspecified underground light sources
 * A video by Henrik Kniberg explicitly states that the temporary showcased feature of ore blocks emitting light was intended as a placeholder for underground light sources, potentially hinting at further new cave light sources.

Items

 * Drops from Amethyst Crystals.
 * Used to make telescopes.
 * Used to make telescopes.


 * Axolotl Bucket JE1.png
 * Obtained by using a water bucket on an axolotl, similar to fish.
 * Had no name in the Minecraft Live 2020 demo, showing its translation string.


 * Brush.png
 * Used to sweep away debris from archaeological items.
 * Sweeps debris off archaeological items one layer at a time. If interrupted, the block it was being used on simply disappears, and does not yield custom block heights.
 * Also comes in a blue-green variant: Brush 2.png
 * This may imply a connection to copper, as both the variant and normal brushes have corresponding colors to the blocks shown.


 * Bundle.png Bundle full.png
 * Can contain one cumulative stack of any variety of item types.
 * Stack sizes are sustained. For example, a bundle containing 32 blocks with a stack size of 64 could hold only an additional 8 ender pearls, as the stack size of an ender pearl is 16; the half stack of ender pearls added to the half stack of blocks is calculated as one full stack. Unstackable items like minecarts remain unstackable.
 * Displays a blue bar below the bundle that shows how full it is.
 * This disappears when the bundle is full.
 * Items are added by dragging the bundle to an item or by dragging items onto the bundle.
 * Tooltip shows icons of contained items.
 * Items drop to inventory when right clicked.


 * Blue Ceramic Shard.png Orange Ceramic Shard.png Ceramic Shard 1.png Ceramic Shard 2.png Ceramic Shard 3.png Ceramic Shard 4.png
 * Obtained with a brush at archeological sites.
 * Come in different colors and different designs, each depicting a different picture, such as an ender dragon, a cow, Alex, a skeleton, a tree and a vindicator.
 * Can be placed/customized on clay pots.
 * Currently using placeholder art, according to Jasper Boerstra.


 * Can be eaten.
 * Used as a light source.
 * Used as a light source.


 * Telescope.png
 * Crafted from amethyst shards and copper.
 * When held, allows the player to see far away through a small ellipse.


 * Spawn eggs for the new mobs are added.
 * Warden Spawn Egg.png The Warden is the only known mob with a spawn egg visually confirmed.
 * Warden Spawn Egg.png The Warden is the only known mob with a spawn egg visually confirmed.

Mobs

 * Axolotl (albino).png Axolotl (brown).png Axolotl (green).png


 * Based on the Mexican salamander with the same name in real life.
 * Found in bodies of water within lush caves biomes.
 * The first amphibian added to Minecraft.
 * Can be caught in a bucket like fish.
 * Can be tamed by capturing it in a bucket.
 * Come in different colors (leucistic, yellow, green, brown, and purple/pink).
 * Plays dead when damaged, receiving Regeneration. Appears to turn invisible or teleport after this, although the latter may be just a bug or a glitch.
 * This regeneration ability is likely based on how real axolotls can regrow lost limbs.
 * Attacks drowned, guardians, elder guardians and fish.
 * Sometimes can give Regeneration to the player who tamed it.


 * Glow Squid.png
 * Originates from Minecraft Earth.
 * Glows in the same way that magma cube cores, vexes, blazes and the eyes of spiders, drowned, and endermen do.
 * Will spawn in deep ocean biome.
 * Will most likely spawn in flooded caves as well.
 * Was decided on based on a mob vote between it, the Moobloom from Minecraft Earth, and the Iceologer from the Minecraft Dungeons DLC Creeping Winter. Failing mobs are less likely to be added but still have a chance to be implemented in the future.


 * Goat.png
 * Spawns in mountain biomes.
 * Can jump high to avoid obstacles, about 5 blocks tall.
 * Attacks nearby animals by charging and knocking them a considerable distance.
 * There is a baby variant, suggesting a way to breed them.


 * Warden.png
 * Spawns in the new deep dark biome.
 * It is the first blind mob.
 * When sensing movement, it moves toward the source of the movement.
 * When attacked, it path finds toward the player.
 * Seems to follow the same rules as the sculk sensor when detecting noise.
 * When it detects a vibration, the growths on its head rattle and light up, similar to the sculk sensor.
 * If any projectile, like a snowball or an arrow, lands near the Warden, it causes the mob to head to the location of where the projectile landed, due to the projectile itself creating movement and noise, therefore distracting the warden.
 * Does not detect players that are sneaking.
 * When aggravated for long enough, the warden follows the player continuously regardless of any other distractions.
 * Incredibly strong, doing damage (at most  damage), bringing players wearing full netherite armor to  health points.
 * Has at least health points, although it is estimated to have up to, putting it on par with the iron golem and ravager.
 * A mob designed to be extremely difficult, and fled from.
 * At least as fast as the player's walking speed.
 * Seems to use the energy of vibrations to move faster.
 * Seems to have knockback resistance.
 * The warden's chest has a glowing core that appears to brighten and dim in tandem with the ambient lighting of the deep dark cave biome.
 * The core creates a low throbbing sound as it pulses. The sound and animation seem to speed up rapidly when the warden notices a player.
 * Possibly attacks other mobs.
 * Is about 3.2 blocks tall, making it one of the tallest mobs in the game, exceeding the iron golem and enderman in height and width (the same).

World generation

 * A tiny underground cave-like feature.
 * Contains geode blocks and the amethyst crystals they generate.
 * Twinkle-like sounds can be heard near amethyst crystals, which is currently a placeholder when it was showcased, and not the final version.
 * It is currently unknown as to what causes the sounds.


 * Archaeological excavation
 * A new underground structure where archeological items and ceramic shards can be found.


 * biome
 * New biome at the "deepest depths of the world".
 * Wardens can spawn here.
 * May contains candles.
 * Contains sculk blocks, and the new Skulk Sensor Blocks, a new block that responds to vibrations.
 * Contains a new Unnamed Block.


 * A massive cave biome containing vast quantities of stalactites and stalagmites.
 * A massive cave biome containing vast quantities of stalactites and stalagmites.


 * Generate below azalea trees.
 * Contains tall grass, glow berries, dripleaf plants, spore blossoms, moss blocks, moss blankets, clay blocks, azalea roots, and azalea saplings.
 * Can spawn axolotls.
 * Can spawn axolotls.


 * Seems to be possibly a large tunnel-like cave.
 * Not much is known about this biome yet, but it was confirmed on Twitter by Henrik Kniberg.
 * Not much is known about this biome yet, but it was confirmed on Twitter by Henrik Kniberg.


 * Possibly contain "catacomb" style branching cave sections.


 * More extreme and smooth terrain.
 * Likely change to stone generation. Possibly seen in a screenshot tweeted by Henrik Kniberg, in which Diorite appears to generate in a long and flat horizontal strip, rather than a small unevenly shaped patch.
 * Likely change to stone generation. Possibly seen in a screenshot tweeted by Henrik Kniberg, in which Diorite appears to generate in a long and flat horizontal strip, rather than a small unevenly shaped patch.

Gameplay

 * The player can find items and blocks in gravel and dirt inside the dig site structure by using the brush.
 * Possible items shown in the preview footage include:
 * Ceramic shards of varying color that depict different images.
 * Diamond blocks and Emerald blocks are probably not a part of this list and serve as a placeholder.
 * Diamond blocks and Emerald blocks are probably not a part of this list and serve as a placeholder.


 * While in the deep dark cave biome, the ambient lighting occasionally dims temporarily, limiting the player's visibility. This serves as a warning that the warden is nearby.
 * While in the deep dark cave biome, the ambient lighting occasionally dims temporarily, limiting the player's visibility. This serves as a warning that the warden is nearby.


 * An action can cause vibrations in the air, which can be picked up by sculk sensors and wardens
 * Can be caused by walking (but bats?), block placing, block breaking, doors or trapdoors opening, chests of any kind opening, pistons activating, and projectiles such as snowballs, eggs, or arrows landing. This does not include ambient weather such as rain or snow
 * Can be caused by walking (but bats?), block placing, block breaking, doors or trapdoors opening, chests of any kind opening, pistons activating, and projectiles such as snowballs, eggs, or arrows landing. This does not include ambient weather such as rain or snow

World generation

 * Caves
 * Revamped to generate bigger and more adventurous caves.


 * A new underground water level generation aspect has been introduced, which allows for certain areas of a world to generate with a specified water level different from that of another area (such as sea level).
 * Allows for the generation of larger underground lakes and connections to oceans.
 * Allows for the generation of many underground waterfalls.
 * Allows for underwater entrances.
 * Allows for underwater entrances.


 * Height dependent generation.
 * Revamped, featuring some new small spruce trees on the slopes and ice or packed ice above the peaks.
 * Contain snow blocks, goats, and a new form of snow called powder snow, which is said to be "snowier than snow".
 * Contain snow blocks, goats, and a new form of snow called powder snow, which is said to be "snowier than snow".


 * Ore veins
 * To be revamped, possibly to balance the generation of copper.
 * Some stone appears a little different and when that stone is mined, more of the ore should be found behind it.


 * Other Stones
 * Granite, Diorite, and Andesite spawn in strips of ore veins.

Blocks

 * Waterlogged Rails
 * Parity likely coming to Java Edition.
 * Appears in the title of a screenshot posted by Thommy Siverman in a bug report.

Trivia

 * Swedish painter was one of the main inspirations behind the design and idea of the lush caves biome, specifically Bauer's 'Oskuldens Vandring' (Innocent's Journey) painting.
 * This is the first update to add a new ore to the overworld since emerald ore was added in  for  and  for, in 2012 and 2014 respectively.
 * This is the first update to add a real-world metal into the game since Classic 0.0.14a in 2009 for which brought both iron and gold, and  in 2012 for  which brought iron.
 * Although the axolotl is the first amphibian mob implemented into Minecraft, it was not the first announced one, since frogs were announced during the MINECON Live 2019 biome vote.
 * Despite ores being shown to emit light during the reveal of this update, this was later confirmed to be just for demonstration purposes, to give a much clearer vision for viewers, and not for the final version.
 * It was confirmed to be a placeholder for new, biome-specific light sources.
 * The name "Sculk sensor" is derived from the word "skulk", meaning "keep out of sight, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive".
 * Mojang employees explored real caves to research for the update. This helped give inspiration and ideas for the update, including for the mesh caves.
 * Henrik Kniberg also recalled memories of past visits to caves around the world.

Gallery
Screenshots of the Caves and Cliffs Update from Minecraft Live 2020 and other sources: