Java Edition 15w37a

15w37a is the twenty-third snapshot released for Java Edition 1.9.

World generation

 * Biomes
 * "The Void" is now a biome with id 127.
 * No mobs randomly spawn in the biome.
 * Generates a single structure: a stone platform with a cobblestone center block at spawn.


 * Superflat
 * New superflat preset: The Void.
 * Spawns the player on a stone platform with a cobblestone center block, with the rest being air blocks and the void biome present everywhere.

Command format

 * NBT tags
 * entity.
 * (byte): Determines whether or not the minecart hopper will pick up items into its inventory.
 * Example:.


 * Gamerules
 * Boolean to control whether or not spectators generate chunks on their own.
 * Defaults to true.
 * Defaults to true.

Blocks

 * Farmland
 * Now has an inventory icon.

Items

 * Chorus fruit
 * Teleportation range reduced from ±32 to ±8.


 * Golden apples
 * Enchanted golden apple regeneration level has been reduced from V to II.
 * Enchanted Golden Apple regeneration time has been reduced from 30 seconds to 20 seconds.
 * Its absorption level has been increased from I to IV to balance this.
 * Golden Apple regeneration level has been reduced from II to I.


 * Shields
 * Now have a new crafting recipe, requiring 6 planks and an iron ingot (this removes the need for wool).
 * As a result, they now lack a base color by default: The new texture shows a wooden face.
 * Crafting a shield with a banner still yields a patterned shield.
 * Arrows can now ricochet off a shield to hit other entities.

Gameplay

 * Combat
 * Bows can now be used when in the offhand, in the absence of a usable item in the main hand.
 * Sword attack speed increased from 1.45 to 1.6.
 * Axe attack speed is now based on the type, rather than 0.8 for all (similar to the hoe).
 * Wooden and stone axes have as speed of 0.8.
 * Iron axes have a speed of 0.9.
 * Gold and diamond axes have a speed of 1.
 * Certain attack damage values were changed.
 * Stone and diamond axes now deal 9 damage, instead of 8 and 10 respectively.


 * Hardcore
 * Upon death, the player now has the choice to respawn in spectator mode, rather than the world being deleted immediately.

General

 * Performance
 * Improved chunk generation, loading and sending.
 * Improved rendering "by building a chunk only once where it was rebuilt up to 5 times in worst case".

Video
Video made by slicedlime:

Trivia

 * Unlike most of the first-of-the-week snapshots, this was released on a Thursday instead of Wednesday, similar to the snapshots before 14w26a.
 * This version was previously removed from the launcher for some time, but was added back in September 2018.