Java Edition 1.16

1.16, the first release of the Nether Update,^[2] is an upcoming major update to Java Edition, which will overhaul the Nether. This update was announced at MINECON Live 2019.^[1]

Planned additions

Blocks

File:Blue Fire.png Blue fire

Acts the same as regular fire.
Fire lit on soul sand blocks will be blue fire regardless of dimension.
Generates naturally in the soulsand valley biome in the Nether.

File:Nether Fungi.png File:Blue Nether Fungi.png File:Small Blue Nether Fungi.png Nether fungi

The blue fungi appears to look like little mushrooms.
There's a very short grass-like fungus as well which is found in Netherwart Forest Blue.
Generates in both netherwart forest biomes.

File:Target Block.png Target Block

Emits a redstone signal when shot with an arrow.
- Signal is stronger depending on how close the arrow is to the center of the block.

File:Red Nether Mushroom.png File:Blue Nether Mushroom.png Unnamed mushrooms

At least two new types of mushroom will be added to the netherwart forests.
- One is teal with orange spots and the other is pinkish-red.

File:Blue Nether Wart Block.png Unnamed blue nether wart block

A variation of the nether wart block.
Generates in the blue netherwart forest.

File:Red Nether Wart Trunk.png File:Blue Nether Wart Trunk.png Unnamed nether wart stems

Veiny looking blocks that comprise trunks in the netherwart forest
- Red and blue variants

File:Red Nether Grass.png File:Blue Nether Grass.png Unnamed nether grass

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

File:Unnamed soul sand block.png Unnamed soul sand block

In clips of the soulsand valley, blocks with a similar color scheme to soul sand can be seen, alongside conventional soul sand.
- These blocks can be seen with blue fire atop them, confirming their relationship to conventional soul sand.

File:Unnamed light block.png Unnamed light block

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.

File:Unnamed stalactite block.png Unnamed speleothem block

This unidentifiable block makes up speleothems.

Items

Spawn eggs

At least one new spawn egg, implied to be that of the hoglin due to its appearance in the footage.

An unnamed food item

Will be dropped by Hoglins.

Mobs

Piglins

Found in the Nether.
Are naturally hostile towards the player, unless the player is wearing gold armor.
- Even if the player wears gold armor, piglins will become aggravated towards the player if they open a chest containing any item crafted with or related to gold near the piglin.
They can wield gold swords or crossbows.
- Will drop arrows if wielding a crossbow.
Will be able to barter with the player.
Will attack wither skeletons and hoglins.

Hoglins

Found in the Nether.
Are naturally hostile towards the player.
- Appear to have a higher melee range than most mobs.
Can be bred and used as a source of food in the Nether.
- Appear to drop raw beef, though this is likely a placeholder.
Name has been chosen by the community to be "Hoglin" (previously known as "Piglin Beast" as a placeholder name)^[3]

World generation

Biomes

The Nether will get at least three new biomes:
- The Soulsand Valley includes uncovered fossils, soul sands, large speleothems, blue fog, and blue fire.
- The Netherwart Forest Red is a dense forest with trees made of nether wart blocks, with nether fungi found on the ground.
- The Netherwart Forest Blue is a variation of the red netherwart forest.

Bastions

Fortifications built by piglins that are found in the Nether.

Nether Trees

Trees resembling the new mushrooms that generate in netherwart forests.

Speleothems

Floor to ceiling speleothems that generate in soulsand valleys made out of a new block.

Planned changes

Mobs

Zombie pigmen

Will be renamed to zombified piglins.

Gameplay

Respawning

Players will be able to respawn in the Nether.
- How is currently unknown.

Unconfirmed features

These features were mentioned during the development of Java Edition 1.16 or earlier, or during MINECON Live 2019, but have not been confirmed to be added in this update.

Smithing Table and Fletching Table

May get functionality, it was mentioned during the development of Village & Pillage, the theme prior to the Nether Update, that it would be added in "...the next major themed update..."^[4]^[5]