Java Edition 15w51a

15w51a is the forty-seventh snapshot released for 1.9, released to fix bugs and crashes.

Command format

 * Gamerules
 * Controls how far from the world spawn point players can spawn.
 * Defaults to 10.
 * Defaults to 10.

Blocks

 * Ice
 * Water produced by melting ice now flows.

Mobs

 * General
 * AI and pathfinding have been improved.


 * Creepers
 * No longer drop music discs when is set.

Non-mob entities

 * Boats
 * Will now drop their corresponding wood planks when broken.


 * End crystals
 * End crystals can no longer be placed in Adventure mode.

World generation

 * Terrain
 * When riding a minecart, boat, pig or horse, terrain will now normally generate.

Command format

 * Using the command to set a game rule will now report the change: "Game rule &lt;gamerule&gt; has been updated to &lt;value&gt;."
 * Using the command to set a game rule will now report the change: "Game rule &lt;gamerule&gt; has been updated to &lt;value&gt;."

Gameplay

 * Frost walker
 * No longer frost blocks that do not have an air block above.


 * Spectator mode
 * A spectator is no longer able to open a chest where the loot has not been generated yet.
 * They are given the message: "Unable to open. Loot not generated yet."


 * Status effects
 * Glowing status effect now outlines players and mobs more exactly, arrows stuck in them or items held and transparencies will now be obeyed.

Video
Video made by slicedlime:

Trivia

 * Unlike most of the first-of-the-week snapshots, this was released on a Thursday instead of a Wednesday, similar to the snapshots before 14w26a.
 * 15w51a was previously removed from the launcher for some time but was added back in September 2018.
 * As with 15w51b, 15w51a was released on the latest calendar date out of all snapshots, on December 17.
 * Until this point, the snapshot released on the latest calendar date out of all snapshots was 11w50a on December 15.