Caves & Cliffs



Caves & Cliffs is the name for an upcoming major update that will be released in mid-2021 for most versions of Minecraft, likely as Java Edition 1.17 and Bedrock Edition 1.17.0. It was announced in Minecraft Live 2020. It will include new cave and mountains features, as well as the glow squid, a mob that was voted for during the second Minecraft mob vote.

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

Blocks

 * Azalea Leaves.png Blooming Azalea Leaves.png Azalea Leaves
 * Part of a new exclusive tree, marking the location of the lush caves.


 * Azalea Roots.png Unnamed dirt-like block found under azalea trees
 * Part of the Azalea tree.
 * Resembles a dirt block, but with the roots of the azalea tree intertwined.


 * Amethyst geode block.png Unnamed crystalline block found within Amethyst Geode structures
 * Generates amethyst crystals on top given time.
 * Unobtainable in survival, and probably cannot be moved with pistons.
 * Extremely rare, only generates in amethyst geode structures.


 * Amethyst crystal cross.png Unnamed amethyst crystal block
 * Grows on top of geode blocks over time.
 * Breaks to produce a crystal shard item.
 * These can be crafted into telescopes.


 * Copper Ore.png Copper Ore
 * New ore, found underground.
 * Drops itself when broken, like other metal ores.
 * Spawns in new large ore veins.
 * Can be used to craft a Lightning Rod or a Telescope.


 * Block of Copper.png Block of Copper
 * Block of Copper Age 1.png Block of Copper Age 2.png Block of Copper Age 3.png Develops a patina of pale green copper carbonate over multiple stages, which might be sped up by weather such as rain.
 * The time it takes to age fully is about 16 Minecraft days.


 * Copper Stairs.png Copper Stairs
 * Copper Stairs Age 1.png Copper Stairs Age 2.png Copper Stairs Age 3.png Develops a patina of pale green copper carbonate over multiple stages, which might be sped up by weather such as rain.
 * The time it takes to age fully is about 16 Minecraft days.


 * Copper Slab.png Copper Slab
 * Copper Slab Age 1.png Copper Slab Age 2.png Copper Slab Age 3.png Develops a patina of pale green copper carbonate over multiple stages, which might be sped up by weather such as rain.
 * The time it takes to age fully is about 16 Minecraft days.


 * Restoring clay pots.png Clay Pot
 * 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 Painted Clay Pot
 * Created by firing a Clay Pot.
 * Upon firing, any placed Ceramic Shards become permanently incorporated.


 * New Vine.png New Vine 2.png Unnamed luminous vine blocks
 * Light source.
 * Grows edible glow berries.


 * Spore Blossom.png Spore Blossom
 * Sends particles downward when opened.


 * Dripleaf Plant.png Dripleaf Plant
 * A plant that can be used for platforming.
 * If the player stands on top of the plant for a period of time, the player falls through the plant.


 * Baby dripleaf plants.png Small dripleaf plants
 * Appear highly varied in models.


 * Unidentified foliage object.png Unnamed opaque green foliage block
 * An opaque block that appears grassy on all sides.


 * Foliage carpet.png Unnamed green foliage "carpet"
 * Same texture as the moss block, but one pixel thick.


 * Roots bloody roots.png Azalea Roots Below.png Unnamed root-like blocks
 * 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, possibly just a decorative feature of this 'dirt' block.


 * Baby azalea tree.png Baby blooming azalea tree.png Small block resembling azalea trees


 * Sculk Block.png Sculk block
 * Generates in the mysterious new cave biome, referred to as the "deep dark" temporarily.


 * Sculk Something.png Unnamed Sculk block
 * Generates in the deep dark cave biome.


 * Sculk Growth.png Sculk Growth
 * 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.


 * Sculk Sensor.gif Sculk Sensor
 * Generates in the deep dark cave biome.
 * Can be used for wireless redstone.
 * Senses block placement, footsteps, and projectiles.
 * Wool can occlude its ability to sense.
 * Can be used with a piston to create a wireless redstone clock.


 * Stalagmites.png Stalagmite
 * Can be found on the floor of the new dripstone caves.
 * Deals damage when landed on.


 * Stalactites.png Stalactite
 * Can be found on the ceiling of the new dripstone caves.
 * Can fall, but unlike sand or gravel, breaks apart on impact.
 * Drips water, which can fill cauldrons placed under it.


 * Unknown speleothem block.png Unnamed block associated with dripstones
 * Appears to be made of the same materials as stalactites and stalagmites but as a full cube.


 * Lightning Rod.png Lightning Rod
 * Crafted with copper.
 * Redirects nearby lightning strikes to the top of the rod, which can prevent flammable structures from catching on fire during thunderstorms.


 * Powder snow
 * Similar to snow, but entities fall through it, similar to traps or the "snowier snow" announced when the Mountains won the 2019 biome vote.
 * 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.


 * Unidentified Stalagmite Torches.png White candles.png Unnamed blocks strongly resembling candles
 * A light source
 * Can be up to four in a block, similar to sea pickles
 * Black and white texture variants
 * Emits fire particles
 * Visible in the dee dark biomes as well as the copper roofed house when revealed at minecon


 * Unnamed Stone.png Unknown grey stone block
 * Can be found around the deep dark cave biome walls.
 * Can be found in large groups.


 * UnknownWhiteStoneBlock.png Unknown whitish stone block
 * Similar to diorite, but with a smoother texture.
 * Found underground surrounding the outsides of geode formations.


 * Clay or not.png Unknown white potential stone block
 * Found in lush caves.
 * Might just be clay or sand, although its texture does seem different.

Items

 * Amethyst Shard
 * Drops from Amethyst Crystals.
 * Used to make telescopes.


 * Axolotl Bucket JE1.png Bucket of Axolotl
 * Obtained by using a water bucket on an axolotl, similar to fish.
 * Had no name in the Minecraft Live 2020 demo, showing its translation string "item.minecraft.axolotl_bucket".


 * Brush.png Brush
 * Used to sweep away debris from archaeological items
 * Sweeps debris off archaeological items one layer at a time, but similar to the block breaking animation, does not permanently change the look of the block it is used on
 * Also comes in a blue variant: Brush 2.png


 * Bundle.png Bundle full.png 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 only hold 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.
 * Items are added by dragging bundle to an item.
 * Tooltip shows icons of contained items.
 * Items drop to inventory when right clicked.


 * Blue Ceramic Shard.png Orange Ceramic Shard.png Ceramic Shard 1.png Ceramic Shard 2.png Ceramic Shard 3.png Ceramic Shards
 * Obtained with a brush at archeological sites.
 * Come in different colors and different designs, each depicting a different picture, such as an ender dragon, Alex, a skeleton, a tree and a vindicator.
 * Can be placed/customized on clay pots.
 * Currently using placeholder art, according to Jasper Boerstra.


 * Glow Berries
 * Can be eaten.
 * May be able to use as a light source.


 * Telescope.png Telescope
 * Crafted from amethyst shards and copper.
 * When held, allows the player to see far away through a small ellipse.

Mobs

 * Axolotl.png Axolotl
 * Small, critically-endangered mexican salamanders found in bodies of water within lush caves biomes.
 * Will be the first ever amphibian added to Minecraft.
 * Can be caught in a bucket like with fish.
 * Can be tamed by capturing it in a bucket.
 * Come in different colors (leucistic, yellow, green, brown, and purple/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.
 * Attacks drowned, guardians, elder guardians and fish.
 * Sometimes can give Regeneration to the player who tamed it.


 * Glow Squid.png Glow squid
 * Originates from Minecraft Earth.
 * Glows in the same way that magma cube cores, blazes and the eyes of spiders, drowned, vexes and endermen do.
 * Lives in flooded caves.


 * Goat.png Goat


 * Spawns in mountains biomes.
 * Can jump very high to avoid obstacles, about 5 blocks tall.
 * Attacks nearby animals by charging and knocking them a considerable distance.
 * There is a baby variant, suggesting a way to breed them.


 * Warden.png Warden
 * Spawns in the new deep dark biome.
 * It is the first blind mob.
 * When sensing movement, it moves towards the source of the movement.
 * When attacked, it heads towards the player.
 * Seems to follow the same rules as the sculk sensor when detecting noise.
 * Does not detect players that are sneaking.
 * Incredibly strong (at most damage), bringing full-netherite players to  health points.
 * Has at least health points.
 * At least as fast as the player's walking speed.
 * Seems to move faster when attacked.
 * Seems to have some knockback resistance.
 * Likely spawns in relation to the hut seen in the clip (now called the warden’s dungeon).
 * Throwing a snowball or other projectile can "trick" the Warden, as it moves towards the location of the projectile's impact rather than the player.
 * 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.

World generation

 * Amethyst geode
 * A tiny underground cave-like feature.
 * Contains geode blocks and the amethyst crystals they generate.
 * Twinkle-like sounds can be heard when stepping on amethyst crystals.


 * Archaeological excavation
 * A new structure where archeological items and ceramic shards can be found


 * Deep dark
 * New biome at the "deepest depths of the world".
 * A warden is found inside.
 * Contains the unidentified stalagmite torches, or "candles".
 * Contains sculk blocks, a new block which responds to sound.
 * Contains unknown grey stone blocks.


 * Dripstone caves
 * Contain stalactites and stalagmites.


 * Lush caves
 * Generate below azalea trees.
 * Contain glow berries.
 * Can spawn axolotls.


 * General
 * More extreme and smooth terrain.

Gameplay

 * Archaeology
 * 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 which depict different images.
 * Diamond blocks and Emerald blocks maybe not include in the list, because that was as placeholder.


 * Dark flashing
 * While in the deep dark cave biome, the ambient lighting occasionally dims, limiting the player's visibility. This serves a warning that the warden is nearby.


 * Vibrations
 * An action can cause vibrations in the air, which can be picked up by sculk sensors and wardens
 * Can be caused by walking, block placing, block breaking, doors or trapdoors opening, chests of any kind opening, and projectiles such as snowballs or arrows landing.

World generation

 * Caves
 * Revamped to generate bigger, more adventurous caves.


 * Local water levels
 * A new generation aspect has been introduced, which allows for certain areas of a world to generate with a water level different than another area.
 * Allows for the generation of larger underground lakes and connections to oceans.
 * Allows for the generation of many underground waterfalls.
 * Allows for underwater entrances.


 * Mountains
 * Revamped, featuring some new small spruce trees on the slopes and ice or packed ice above the peaks.
 * Contain powdered snow and goats.


 * Mineral veins
 * Will be revamped, at least for copper.
 * Based on what was said during Minecraft Live 2020, some stone might look slightly different when a group of ores is mined, and when that stone is mined, more of the ore will be found behind it.

Trivia

 * This is the first update to add a new ore to the overworld since Java Edition 12w21a in 2012 for Java Edition 1.3.1 when emerald was added.
 * This is the first update to add a real-world metal into the game since Java Edition Classic 0.0.14a in 2009, which brought both iron and gold.
 * Although the axolotl will be the first amphibian mob implemented into Minecraft, it was not the first announced one, since frogs were announced during the 2019 biome vote.
 * Despite ores being shown to emit light during the reveal of this update, this was later confirmed to be just for demonstration purposes, and not for the final version.

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