Java Edition 20w06a

20w06a is the first snapshot for Java Edition 1.16, released on February 5, 2020, which adds most of the announced content for the Nether Update.

Blocks

 * Ancient Debris
 * Can be found at low y-coordinate positions in the Nether
 * Can be refined into a Netherite Scrap by smelting in a furnace or blast furnace
 * Isn't affected by explosions


 * Basalt
 * Makes up basalt pillars.
 * Generates in Soul Sand Valleys.
 * Can be placed directionally, similarly to logs.


 * Soul Fire
 * Blue variant of fire.
 * Fire lit on soul soil is blue fire regardless of dimension.
 * Burns forever, similar to regular fire on netherrack.
 * Generates naturally in the soulsand valley biome in the Nether.
 * Deals damage at a rate of per second as opposed to the  per second of regular fire.


 * Crimson Roots, Warped Roots, Nether Sprouts
 * Generates in both netherwart forest biomes.


 * Soul Soil
 * Generates in the soulsand valley, alongside conventional soul sand.
 * Fire lit on soul soil is soul fire.
 * The player does not sink and is not slowed when walking in soul soil.


 * Warped Wart Block


 * A variation of the nether wart block.
 * Generates in the blue netherwart forest as part of the Nether trees.


 * Shroomlight


 * A light-emitting block which closely resembles glowstone can also be seen.
 * Appears to correspond to the spots seen on new mushrooms, due to how it appears as part of large fungal structures in the netherwart forest.


 * Weeping Vines


 * Generates in the crimson forest.
 * Is placed on the bottom of a block and grows downward.


 * Crimson / Warped Nylium


 * Resembles grass blocks.
 * Grows on top of netherrack.
 * Comes in red and blue.


 * Crimson / Warped Fungi


 * Generate in nether wart forests.
 * Can be bonemealed to be grown into the respective huge mushroom.


 * Crimson / Warped Stem


 * Blocks that comprise the trunks of huge fungi.
 * Have animated textures.
 * Has a top texture similar to regular log blocks.
 * Can be placed directionally, similarly to logs.
 * Doesn't burn.


 * Crimson / Warped Planks
 * Red and blue variants.
 * Doesn't burn.


 * Netherite Block
 * Can be crafted with 9 Netherite Ingots
 * Decorative


 * Soul Fire Torch
 * Gives off a light level of 10.


 * Soul Fire Lantern
 * Gives off a light level of 10.

Items

 * Spawn eggs
 * Hoglin Spawn Egg


 * Netherite Scrap
 * Created by smelting Ancient Debris in a furnace
 * Used to create Netherite Ingots


 * Netherite Ingot
 * Created with 4 Gold Ingots and 4 Netherite Scraps
 * Can be used to upgrade diamond tools and armor


 * Netherite Armor
 * Is created with a piece of diamond armor and a Netherite Ingot
 * Doesn't burn in lava


 * Netherite Sword
 * Created with a Diamond Sword and a Netherite Ingot
 * Has an attack damage of 8 - the highest of any non-enchanted sword in the game
 * Doesn't burn in lava

Mobs

 * Hoglins
 * Found in the Nether.
 * Drop rotten flesh.

Particles

 * New particles:.

World Generation

 * Biomes
 * The Nether will get at least three new biomes:
 * The Soulsand Valley is a vast grotto composed of uncovered fossils, soul sand, soul soil, large speleothems made of basalt, blue fog and blue fire.
 * The Crimson Forest is a dense forest with trees made of nether wart blocks. These blocks and fungi are found in patches on the ground and weeping vines are found under the trees.
 * The Warped Forest is a color variation of the Crimson Forest, but with somewhat different vegetation and particle, fog effects.


 * Basalt Pillar
 * Floor to ceiling pillars that generate in soulsand valleys made out of basalt.


 * Huge Crimson Fungi and Huge Warped Fungi
 * New structure resembling trees found in nether wart forests.
 * Made of crimson and warped stem blocks as well as red nether wart blocks and warped wart blocks.
 * Can be grown from their respective fungi.

General

 * Tags
 * Added block tags.
 * Added item tags.

Blocks

 * Using bone meal on netherrack will convert it into into nylium.
 * According to the Nylium type of their adjacent block.
 * Walls do not have gaps anymore when stacked vertically.
 * Blockdata now uses "none" "low" and "tall" for east/west/north/south directional values.


 * Bone blocks
 * Will generate in Soulsand Valley biomes making fossils a more common sight.


 * Nether wart blocks
 * Will generate in Netherwart Forest biomes.
 * Texture changed.


 * Soul sand
 * Will generate in Soulsand Valley biomes.

Mobs

 * Ghasts sounds are now heard at a shorter range.
 * Skeletons are commonly found in the Soulsand Valley biome.

World Generation

 * Biomes
 * The old Nether biome is now called Nether Wastes.


 * Structures
 * Shipwrecks and Ocean Ruins are now less common.

Gameplay

 * Patrols
 * Patrols no longer spawn when the player is close to any village.


 * Recipe Book
 * The cartography table recipe now unlocks with paper instead of string.

General

 * Materials
 * Added new nether wood material.
 * Uses the wood material color
 * Uses default properties


 * Rendering
 * Improved entity shadows to the ground.


 * Sounds
 * Updated block sounds for Bone Blocks, Netherrack, Soul Sand, Netherwart, Nether Bricks and Quartz Ore.


 * Tags
 * Added crimson and warped wooden items to the block tags.
 * Added crimson and warped wooden items to the item tags.
 * The block and item tags now use the respective  tag.