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 and includes new features for caves and mountains.

This update's development on started with snapshot 20w45a, which was released on November 4, 2020.

This update's development on started with beta 1.16.200.52, which was released on October 28, 2020, although most of the features are behind experimental gameplay toggle until 1.17.0 and wasn't included in the full 1.16.200 release.

Blocks

 * Block of Amethyst


 * Can be crafted with 4 amethyst shards.
 * Generates only in amethyst geode structures.
 * Makes a sparkling sound when placed or walked on.


 * Budding Amethyst


 * When it receives a random tick, it has a 20% chance to generate or grow an amethyst bud on one of of its sides.
 * Can only be obtained in Creative inventory.
 * Relatively rare, generates only in amethyst geode structures.


 * Amethyst Buds and Amethyst Cluster


 * Grow on any side of budding amethyst blocks over time.
 * Is a light source.
 * Fully grown crystals break to produce an amethyst shard item.
 * These can be crafted into spyglasses and tinted glass.


 * Calcite


 * Spawns between tuff and blocks of amethyst, much like real-life geodes.
 * Visually similar to diorite, but with a smoother texture.
 * Found underground surrounding the outsides of amethyst geode formations.


 * Tuff


 * Spawns as an outer- covering of amethyst geodes on the outer side of calcite, similar to real-life geodes.


 * Tinted Glass


 * A type of glass that does not allow light to pass through.
 * Crafted with a glass block in the middle and 4 amethyst shards around it.
 * Drops itself when broken, even without Silk Touch, unlike glass.


 * Copper Ore


 * New ore that is found underground.
 * Drops itself when broken, like other ores.
 * Spawns in ore veins similar to iron (current generation is not the final version).
 * Can be smelted into a copper ingot, which can be used to craft copper blocks, lightning rods, and spyglasses.


 * Copper Block and variants


 * Copper blocks are used for storage.
 * Made with 4 copper ingots.
 * Only cut copper can be used to make stairs and slabs.
 * Made with 4 copper blocks.
 * Develops a patina of pale green copper carbonate over multiple stages, which might be sped up by weather such as rain.
 * Honeycombs can be used to make waxed copper, which does not progress beyond the patina stage it has at the time.


 * Lightning Rod


 * Crafted with 3 copper ingots.
 * Redirects nearby lightning strikes to the top of the rod, which can prevent flammable structures from catching fire during thunderstorms.
 * Emits a redstone signal when struck by lightning.
 * Can be oriented in different directions.
 * Can create lightning when struck by a channeling trident in a thunder storm, but does not output a redstone signal.


 * Candles, Dyed Candles, Lit Candles, and Candle Cakes


 * A light source, has light level of 3.
 * Can have up to four in a single block, similar to sea pickles. If 1 more candle is placed in a block, it increases the light level by 3, making a max light level of 12.
 * Variants for uncolored and all 16 colors.
 * Emits fire particles.
 * Can be lit with a flint and steel or fire charge or an arrow fired from a flame-enchanted bow or a fire charge shot by a dispenser if it hits the candle.
 * When lit, the player can left click it to snuff it.
 * Can only be placed if there is a solid surface below.
 * Can still float if the block below them is broken.
 * Right-clicking a candle on an uneaten cake makes a "birthday cake", which can have 1 candle placed on it.
 * If the cake is eaten, the candle will pop off.
 * Uncolored candle crafted with 1 string and 1 honeycomb
 * Colored candle crafted using one of the 16 dyes and one uncolored candle


 * Cauldron


 * Can now be filled with lava in Bedrock Edition and Java Edition
 * Striders are not affected by lava cauldrons
 * Can now be filled from the snowfall in mountains creating powder snow. Can be collected from buckets.


 * Powder Snow


 * Similar to snow, but entities fall through it, the fall is similar to cobwebs, but faster.
 * 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.
 * "Snowier snow" was announced to be part of the Mountains biome in the biome vote at MINECON Live 2019, which is related to powder snow.
 * When wearing leather boots, it acts like scaffolding.
 * If the player does not have leather boots equipped and they walk or fall in, they will start to freeze.
 * Freezing lowers the player's FOV and puts a frosty vignette on their screen.
 * After a while, the player will start taking damage slowly.
 * Leather armor is supposed to slow freezing, but it is currently not working.
 * In the Bedrock Edition Beta powder snow can be used like a ladder.
 * In the Bedrock Edition Beta jumping is the only way to stay on top of powder snow.


 * Dripstone Block


 * Purely decorative and currently only available in the creative inventory.


 * Pointed Dripstone


 * Comes in two forms, stalactites and stalagmites.
 * Stalactites hang from the ceiling and will drip water or lava, based on what was above them. The stalactites will still drip water naturally without a source block above but it does not fill cauldron.
 * Placing a cauldron under a stalactite will slowly fill the cauldron with water or lava depending on the source block above them (enables renewable lava).
 * If the block in which a stalactite hangs on is broken, the stalactite will fall, and this will damage player and mobs.
 * Stalagmites are found on the floor of the cave and deal damage if landed on.
 * Falling from a greater height deals more damage than from a shorter height.


 * Rails


 * Java edition players can now place rails underwater changing the normal rails into a waterlogged form.


 * Sculk Sensor


 * Generates in the deep dark cave biome.
 * Can be used for wireless redstone.
 * Senses vibrations created by things such as block placement, footsteps, and projectiles, including fishing rods.
 * 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 senses a vibration nearby except when waterlogged.
 * Are not affected by ambient weather such as rain, as well as other sculk sensors and the warden.

Items

 * Amethyst Shard


 * Drops 4 (without the fortune enchantment) from Amethyst Crystals.
 * Used to make spyglasses.
 * Used to make tinted glass.


 * Bucket of Axolotl
 * Obtained by using a water bucket on an axolotl, similar to fish.


 * Bundle


 * 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, similar to a durability bar, that shows how full it is, and it changes texture.
 * When full, the blue bar disappears. In Java edition, it is replaced by an X.
 * When empty, it shows 2 empty slots.
 * 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.
 * Are crafted with rabbit hide and string.


 * Copper Ingot
 * Created by smelting copper ore.
 * Can be used to craft copper blocks, lightning rods, and spyglasses.


 * Goat Horn


 * This feature is currently available in beta development versions of Bedrock Edition 1.16.210.
 * Goats have a chance to drop this item when they ram into a block.
 * Holding while holding this item plays the raid horn sound effect.


 * Powder Snow Bucket
 * Using a bucket on powder snow creates a powder snow bucket.
 * Powder snow buckets can be used to place powder snow.
 * Powder snow buckets can also be filled from cauldrons filled with powder snow.


 * Spawn Eggs


 * Spawn eggs for the new mobs are added.
 * Goat Spawn Egg BE2.png The goat spawn egg, currently present in the Bedrock Edition beta.
 * Axolotl Spawn Egg JE1.png The axolotl spawn egg, currently available in Java Edition as of Java Edition 20w51a.


 * Spyglass


 * Crafted from amethyst shards and copper.
 * When d while held, it allows the player to see far away objects through a small square.
 * Switching to third person view while using the spyglass shows the player holding up the spyglass to where the eyes would be.

Mobs

 * Axolotl


 * Based on the Mexican salamander with the same name in real life.
 * Planned to be found in bodies of water within lush caves biomes.
 * The first amphibian added to Minecraft.
 * Can be caught in a bucket like fish.
 * Come in different colors (cyan, yellow, blue, brown, and 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. Gives damage.


 * Goat


 * This feature is currently available in beta development versions of Bedrock Edition 1.16.210.
 * Currently 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.
 * Takes reduced fall damage.
 * Avoids powder snow by jumping over it.
 * Can be bred with wheat, produces a baby goat.
 * Has a chance to drop one goat horn when ramming into a block. Goat horns do not regrow.

World generation

 * Amethyst geodes


 * A tiny underground cave-like feature.
 * Contains tuff, calcite, blocks of amethyst, budding amethyst, and the amethyst clusters they generate.
 * Twinkle-like sounds can be heard near amethyst crystals, which used placeholder sounds when it was showcased, and not the final version.
 * The sounds are caused by the amethyst blocks in the geode.

Biomes

 * Dripstone Caves
 * Contains Pointed Dripstone and Dripstone Blocks.

Gameplay



 * An action can cause vibrations in the air, which can be picked up by sculk sensors and wardens
 * Can be caused by player and mob movements, blocks being placed or broken, containers opening, projectiles being fired and landing, blocks like pistons moving, buttons, levers and pressure plates activating, and blocks activating. Vibrations are not caused by ambient weather such as rain or snow

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

Blocks

 * Restoring clay pots.png


 * Seems to use the texture of clay.
 * 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.


 * 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.


 * Baby azalea tree.png Baby blooming azalea tree.png Azalea Shrub


 * Has variants with either no blossoms, pink blossoms, or purple blossoms.


 * Azalea Roots.png


 * Part of the Azalea plant.
 * 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.


 * 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.


 * 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 Small Dripleaf Plant


 * Appears 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 Carpet


 * Same texture as the moss block, but one pixel thick. Similar to a carpet.
 * Name confirmed by a tweet from Lady Agnes.


 * Sculk Block.png


 * Generates in the mysterious new cave biome, referred to as the "deep dark" temporarily.
 * Has an animated texture
 * May be used in redstone as seen in this video when they talk about the sculk sensor.


 * Unidentified Sculk Block.png




 * Generates in the deep dark biome
 * Has a different top texture than the Sculk Block and Sculk Chute.
 * May be used in redstone as seen in this video when they talk about the sculk sensor.


 * Sculk Something.png


 * Generates in the deep dark caves.
 * Made of sculk and a bone-like material.
 * May be used in redstone as seen in this video when they talk about the sculk sensor.


 * 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.
 * May be used in redstone as seen in this video when they talk about the sculk sensor.


 * Unnamed Stone.png Darkstone


 * Can be found around the deep dark cave biome walls.
 * Can be found in large chunks.


 * 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

 * 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.


 * 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.




 * Warden Spawn Egg.png The Warden spawn egg is visually confirmed but not yet implemented.

Mobs

 * 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.
 * Spawns in the deep ocean biome.
 * Likely to 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.


 * Warden.png




 * Spawns in the new deep dark biome.
 * The first blind mob (bats, despite relying almost exclusively on echolocation, still have basic eyesight).
 * 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, is thrown and lands near the Warden, it causes the mob to head to the location of where the projectile landed, due to the projectile creating movement and noise. This tactic can be used in order to cause a distraction.
 * Does not detect players that are sneaking.
 * Can detect players that are invisible.
 * Can detect players using elytra.
 * When aggravated for long enough, the warden follows the player continuously, regardless of any other distractions.
 * Attacks any mob that makes vibrations, not just players.
 * Can detect ringing bells.
 * Can detect players eating.
 * Incredibly strong, doing damage, bringing players wearing full netherite armor from full health 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.
 * Has a way to counter the strategy of building up 3 blocks to avoid attacks.
 * 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.
 * The core appears to contain small designs similar to those released when walking on soul sand or soul soil with the soul speed enchantment, provoking speculation into the possible origins of the Warden.
 * 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

 * Archaeological excavation


 * A new semi-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 contain candles.
 * Contains sculk blocks, and the new Sculk Sensor Blocks, a new block that responds to vibrations.
 * Contains a new Darkstone.




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




 * Seems to be possibly a large tunnel-like cave generation.
 * Not much is known about this cave variation 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 the generation of alternate stone types, to make them appear in larger but less numerous deposits.
 * 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 for something else.




 * 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.

World generation

 * Caves


 * Complete generation overhaul.
 * Many variations on cave types and cave design.
 * Biomes within caves introduced.




 * 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.


 * Height dependent generation.
 * Revamped, featuring some new small spruce trees on the slopes and ice or packed ice above the peaks.
 * Contain goats, snow blocks, and powder snow.


 * Mineral 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


 * Diorite and what appears to be tuff spawn in layers of rock in straight lines instead of splotches.

Structures

 * Underground Cabin


 * Seen in the Deep Dark biome during the Minecraft Live 2020 stream.
 * Consists of a chamber with a cobblestone floor and stripped log support beams, containing 3 barrels, a blast furnace, and a large chest, with cobwebs and candles in and around it.
 * May possibly not be a generated structure, but instead a construction built for the purpose of the Warden showcase.

General
Height Limit


 * May be increased, though this is yet to be decided.

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.Inverted Lucy Axolotl.pngInverted Warden.png
 * If a lucy axolotl’s colors are inverted, it will look like a warden. Similarly, if a warden’s colors are inverted, it will look like a lucy axolotl. This also applies to sculk-related items, buckets of axolotls and both of the mobs’ spawn eggs.
 * 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" is derived from the word "skulk", meaning "keep out of sight, typically with a sinister or cowardly motive".
 * Mojang Studios 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.
 * Tinted Glass is the name of Stained glass in the April fool's joke Minecraft 2.
 * As of , Waxed Lightly Weathered Cut Copper Stairs is the longest item name in the game, with 41 characters.
 * Lava can be placed in a cauldron even if the cauldron is underwater.
 * The art style of the concept art for Caves & Cliffs was inspired by the concept art of Diamonds and Lemons, the Adventure Time episode featuring a Minecraft crossover.

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