Java Edition 16w02a

16w02a is the forty-ninth snapshot released for Java Edition 1.9, and the first snapshot released in 2016.

General

 * Options
 * Volume slider labeled "Voice/Speech" under "Music & Sounds".
 * Intended to be used for voice acting in custom maps.

Blocks

 * Air
 * Now translatable into other languages, for the purposes of superflat customization.


 * Beacons
 * Now immediately activate when placed on valid pyramids.


 * Bedrock
 * Can no longer drop itself as an item.


 * Stone buttons
 * Now break faster with pickaxes.


 * Wooden buttons
 * Now break faster with axes.

Items

 * Armor
 * Changed damage/armor values again to protect armored players against "backstabbing" creepers.
 * Reduction in effective defense points due to attack strength will no longer take the effective defense below 25% of the armor points.
 * Max (20) armor points damage reduction increased back to 80% (was 66% since 15w36a).

Mobs

 * General
 * Mobs are now knocked back from non-entity damage sources such as cacti (reverted in 16w03a).


 * Ender dragons
 * When summoned using will now stay in the same position no matter what.
 * Unlike summoning a dragon with, it will still flap its wings.
 * These dragons do not show their boss health bar, nor do they take damage from any attack other than.

Non-mob entities

 * Armor stands
 * Marker s will now only outline their equipment when glowing.

Command format

 * Now outputs various messages prefixed by "Searge says:" when run in a command block.
 * Now outputs various messages prefixed by "Searge says:" when run in a command block.


 * Now accepts a sound  as its second parameter.
 * Now accepts a sound  as its second parameter.


 * Selector
 * Now supports both negation and literal gamemode values.
 * Example:,  , and.
 * Example:,  , and.

Gameplay

 * Combat
 * Attack cooldown does not have as great an effect on damage: reduction is linear 50%–100% rather than quadratic 0%–100%.

Video
Video made by slicedlime:

Trivia

 * 16w02a was previously removed from the launcher for some time, but was added back in September 2018.