Java Edition 20w49a

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

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.

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.

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.
 * The height limit can now be increased in the custom worlds settings.
 * Maximum world size is from Y=-512 to Y=512.


 * Servers
 * Removed the server setting.

Video
Video made by Slicedlime: