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This guide is a simplified overview of all the changes in Update Aquatic (Java Edition 1.13.x releases), which assumes at least some familiarity with the World of Color Update (Java Edition 1.12.x releases).

Mobs[]

New[]

Several new mobs are added to the game. Here is a list of the mobs to look out for:

Name Image Habitat Drops Note
Dolphin
Dolphin
All oceans except for Frozen oceans
Turtle
Turtle
Any beaches except for cold beaches
  • Turtles can be bred with seagrass. After mating, one turtle travels back to its home beach to lay its eggs, regardless of the distance.
  • Baby turtles drop one scute when they grow into an adult.
Cod Cod
  • Cold, warm, and lukewarm oceans, including deep variants.
  • Cod group together with other Cod, forming small schools.
  • Cod can be captured with a bucket of water, becoming a bucket of cod.
Salmon Salmon
  • Cold and frozen oceans, and normal and frozen rivers.
  • Salmon group together with other Salmon, forming small schools.
  • Salmon types can be captured with a bucket of water, becoming a bucket of salmon.
Pufferfish Pufferfish smallPufferfish mediumPufferfish large
  • Lukewarm and warm oceans.
  • Pufferfish group together with other Pufferfish, forming small schools.
  • Pufferfish can be captured with a bucket of water, becoming a bucket of pufferfish.
Tropical Fish Blue DoryButterflyfishCichlidClownfishCotton Candy BettaGoatfishParrotfishQueen AngelfishRed Lipped BlennyTomato ClownTomato ClownfishTriggerfishWhite-Gray DasherWhite-Silver SunStreakYellowtail ParrotAnemoneBlack TangBlue TangDottybackEmperor Red SnapperMoorish IdolOrnate ButterflyRed CichlidRed SnapperThreadfinYellow Tang
  • Lukewarm and warm oceans.
  • Tropical Fish group together with other Tropical Fish, forming small schools.
  • Tropical Fish can be captured with a bucket of water, becoming a bucket of tropical fish. Tropical fish retain their type when captured and placed again.
Drowned
Drowned
Drowned spawn in all ocean, swamp and river biomes. Additionally, groups of drowned spawn in ocean ruins when the structures are first generated.

Spawned Equipment

  • During the day, drowned stay on the ground underwater, ignoring players on land no matter how close they may get.[verify]
Phantom
Phantom
Phantoms spawn at night and during thunderstorms high above players who are above sea level, have no obstructions above them, and have not entered a bed for at least three ingame days.
  • Phantoms are the fastest mob in the Overworld. Players are unable to outrun them. A good strategy versus phantoms is to obstruct their path, since they fly up if they collide with any block during an attack.
  • Cats hiss at phantoms that are currently attacking players, and phantoms try to stay at least 16 blocks away from them.
  • Phantoms do not spawn if the player has a solid block above them, meaning they do not spawn around players underground or within enclosed structures. Additionally, they do not spawn if the player is below sea level.
  • Sleeping through the night is not actually required. The statistic that controls their spawning is reset when the player leaves a bed, so simply entering and then leaving a bed is enough.

Changed[]

Name Image Changed
All undead mobs DrownedZombie JE2 BE1Husk JE1 BE1Zombie NitwitZombified Piglin JE4Skeleton JE5 BE3Stray JE1 BE3Wither Skeleton Revision 3Skeleton Horse Revision 2Zombie Horse Revision 2Wither JE1 BE1
Husk
Husk JE1 BE1

Baby Husk JE1 BE1
  • Husks turn into zombies when underwater for a period of time.
Zombie
Zombie JE2 BE1

Baby Zombie Revision 1
  • Zombies and baby zombies convert into drowned after being underwater for at least 30 seconds.
  • Baby zombies now burn in daylight like other undead mobs.
Squid
Squid JE1 BE1
  • Squid now release ink when injured by the player.
  • Squid now spawn only in rivers, oceans, and beaches.

Blocks[]

New[]

Name Image Obtaining Tool Required Uses
Blue Ice
Blue Ice JE1 BE1
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Packed Ice

  • Additionally blue ice can be found naturally as part of icebergs.
Pickaxe (only drops with Silk Touch)
  • Can be used as a decorative block. Like packed ice, blue ice does not melt.
  • Blue ice has the lowest friction compared to any other block, including packed and regular ice.
Conduit
Conduit
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Nautilus Shell +
Heart of the Sea

Any
  • Conduits give the Conduit Power status effect when powered.
    Click on the link to the Conduit page listed to the left for more information
Coral, Dead Coral,
Coral Fan,
Dead Coral Fan,
Coral Block,
and Dead Coral Block

Tube CoralBrain CoralBubble CoralFire CoralHorn Coral
Dead Tube CoralDead Brain CoralDead Bubble CoralDead Fire CoralDead Horn Coral
Tube Coral FanBrain Coral FanBubble Coral FanFire Coral FanHorn Coral FanTube Coral Wall FanBrain Coral Wall FanBubble Coral Wall FanFire Coral Wall FanHorn Coral Wall Fan
Dead Tube Coral FanDead Brain Coral FanDead Bubble Coral FanDead Fire Coral FanDead Horn Coral FanDead Tube Coral Wall FanDead Brain Coral Wall FanDead Bubble Coral Wall FanDead Fire Coral Wall FanDead Horn Coral Wall Fan
Tube Coral BlockBrain Coral BlockBubble Coral BlockFire Coral BlockHorn Coral Block
Dead Tube Coral BlockDead Brain Coral BlockDead Bubble Coral BlockDead Fire Coral BlockDead Horn Coral Block

  • Coral, coral fans, and coral blocks can be found in coral reefs.
  • Coral and coral fans can be obtained by applying bone meal to dirt, coarse dirt, sand, red sand, or gravel underwater in a warm ocean biome.
  • Dead coral, dead coral fans, and dead coral blocks can be obtained by placing their living variety in any area not directly adjacent to water.
  • Alternatively dead coral blocks can be obtained by being mined with a pickaxe not enchanted with Silk Touch.
  • Coral, dead coral, coral fans, and dead coral fans can be broken with any tool as well as by hand.
  • Coral blocks can be mined with any pickaxe enchanted with Silk Touch.
  • Dead coral blocks can be mined with any pickaxe.
  • Can be used as decorative blocks.
Dried Kelp Block
Dried Kelp Block JE1 BE2
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Dried Kelp

Any
  • Can be crafted into nine dried kelp.
  • Can be used as a fuel in a furnace; can smelt twenty items.
Kelp
Kelp
  • Can be obtained by breaking kelp plants.
Any
  • Can be broken to obtain kelp items.
Seagrass
Seagrass JE1 BE2
Tall Seagrass JE1 BE2
  • Created by using bonemeal underwater.
Shears
  • A decorative block.
Sea Pickles

Sea Pickle 1 JE1 BE1Sea Pickle 2 JE1 BE1Sea Pickle 3 JE1 BE1Sea Pickle 4 JE1 BE1Sea Pickle 1 Dry JE1 BE1Sea Pickle 2 Dry JE1 BE1Sea Pickle 3 Dry JE1 BE1Sea Pickle 4 Dry JE1 BE1

  • Can be found in warm oceans as well as part of coral reefs.
  • Can be grown by placing one sea pickle on a coral block underwater and applying bonemeal to the sea pickle.
Any
  • Can be used for decoration.
  • Emits 3 light levels for every sea pickle in the block while underwater, does not emit light while outside of water.
Turtle Eggs

Turtle Egg 1Turtle Egg 2Turtle Egg 3Turtle Egg 4Turtle Egg 4 (Slightly cracked)Turtle Egg 4 (Very cracked)

  • Can be obtained by breeding two turtles
Any (only drops with Silk Touch)
  • Can be used as a decorative block.
  • Hatches into baby turtles.
Bubble Column
Bubble Column JE1 BE1
  • Created by magma blocks and soul sand placed underwater.
N/A
  • Bubble columns produced by magma blocks pull entities downwards.
  • Bubble columns produced by soul sand push entities upwards.
Prismarine, Prismarine Brick
and Dark Prismarine
Slab and Stairs

Prismarine Slab JE1 BE1Prismarine Brick Slab JE1 BE1Dark Prismarine Slab JE1 BE1

Prismarine Stairs (N) JE1 BE1Prismarine Brick Stairs (N) JE1 BE1Dark Prismarine Stairs (N) JE1 BE1

Ingredients Crafting recipe
Prismarine or
Prismarine Bricks or
Dark Prismarine
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Prismarine or
Prismarine Bricks or
Dark Prismarine
Pickaxe
  • Can be used as decorative blocks.
Wood Oak Wood Axis Y JE3 BE1Spruce Wood Axis Y JE1 BE1Birch Wood Axis Y JE1 BE1Jungle Wood Axis Y JE1 BE1Acacia Wood Axis Y JE2 BE1Dark Oak Wood Axis Y JE2 BE1
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Matching Log
Axe
  • Can be used as a decorative block.
  • Can be crafted into planks of the same wood type.
Stripped Log Stripped Oak Log Axis Y JE1 BE1Stripped Spruce Log Axis Y JE1Stripped Birch Log Axis Y JE1 BE1Stripped Jungle Log Axis Y JE1 BE1Stripped Acacia Log Axis Y JE1 BE1Stripped Dark Oak Log Axis Y JE1
  • Can be obtained by right clicking any log with any tier of axe, this consumes one durability on the axe.
Axe
  • Can be used as a decorative block.
  • Can be crafted into planks of the same wood type.
Stripped Wood Stripped Oak Wood (UD) JE1 BE1Stripped Spruce Wood (UD) JE1 BE1Stripped Birch Wood (UD) JE1 BE1Stripped Jungle Wood (UD) JE1 BE1Stripped Acacia Wood (UD) JE1 BE1Stripped Dark Oak Wood (UD) JE1 BE1
  • Can be obtained by right clicking any wood with any tier of axe, this consumes one durability on the axe.
Axe
  • Can be used as a decorative block.
  • Can be crafted into planks of the same wood type.
Trapdoors for all wood types Spruce Trapdoor JE1 BE1Birch Trapdoor JE1 BE1Jungle Trapdoor JE1 BE1Acacia Trapdoor JE1 BE1Dark Oak Trapdoor JE1 BE1
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Spruce Planks or
Birch Planks or
Jungle Planks or
Acacia Planks or
Dark Oak Planks
Axe
  • Can be opened and closed.
Pressure Plates for all wood types Spruce Pressure Plate JE1 BE1Birch Pressure Plate JE1 BE1Jungle Pressure Plate JE1 BE1Acacia Pressure Plate JE1 BE1Dark Oak Pressure Plate JE1 BE1
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Spruce Planks or
Birch Planks or
Jungle Planks or
Acacia Planks or
Dark Oak Planks

Axe
  • Produce a redstone signal when stepped on.
Buttons for all wood types Spruce Button JE1 BE1Birch Button JE1 BE1Jungle Button JE1 BE1Acacia Button JE1 BE1Dark Oak Button JE1 BE1
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Spruce Planks or
Birch Planks or
Jungle Planks or
Acacia Planks or
Dark Oak Planks

Axe
  • Produce a redstone signal when pressed.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin JE1 BE1
  • Now generates throughout the world without carved faces on any sides.
  • Can be grown using pumpkin seeds.
Axe
  • Can be used for everything the pumpkin could be used for previously, except for being worn.
Purple Shulker Box
Purple Shulker Box
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Shulker Box +
Purple Dye

Any
  • Used in the same way as all other Shulker boxes.
  • Has a darker purple color than the non-dyed variant.

Changed[]

Name Image Changed
Most of the semi-transparent blocks Most of the semi-transparent blocks can now have water placed within them by right clicking them with a water bucket
Carved pumpkin
Carved Pumpkin (S) JE2
  • Name changed from pumpkin to carved pumpkin.
  • Now obtained by using shears on a pumpkin to carve the face into a side.
  • Can no longer be used to craft pumpkin pie.
Shulker Box Shulker Box
  • Purple shulker box is now a regular shulker box.
  • Purple shulker box can be crafted with a shulker box and purple dye.
  • Shulker boxes can now be undyed with cauldrons, similar to leather armor.
Packed Ice
Packed Ice JE1 BE2
  • Packed ice can now be crafted with nine ice.

Items[]

New[]

Name Image Obtaining Uses
Buried Treasure Map Map (item) JE1 BE1
Bucket of Fish Bucket of Cod JE1 BE1Bucket of Salmon JE1 BE1Bucket of Pufferfish JE1Bucket of Tropical Fish JE2
  • Obtained by using a bucket on a fish.
  • Can be used to spawn the respective fish type.
Heart of the Sea
Heart of the Sea JE1 BE2
  • Can be found in all buried treasure chests in stacks of one.
  • One of the ingredients for crafting the conduit.
Nautilus Shell
Nautilus Shell JE1 BE2
  • Drowned occasionally spawn holding a nautilus shell in their off-hand, which they drop when killed.
  • Can be caught as a treasure item from fishing.
  • One of the ingredients for crafting the conduit.
Kelp
Kelp (item) JE1 BE2
  • Kelp can be found growing underwater in all ocean biomes.
  • Kelp can be smelted in a furnace to obtain dried kelp.
Dried Kelp
Dried Kelp
Ingredients Smelting recipe
Kelp +
Any fuel


0.1
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Dried Kelp Block
  • Dried kelp can be eaten to regain one hunger point. It can be eaten faster than any other food.
  • Dried kelp can also be crafted into a dried kelp block.
Scute
Scute JE1 BE1
  • Dropped by baby turtles when growing into an adult.
Turtle Shell
Turtle Shell
Ingredients Crafting recipe
Scute

Trident
Trident (item)
Trident
  • Can be dropped by drowned as part of their naturally spawned equipment.
  • Used as a melee or ranged weapon.
  • Most effective weapon underwater.
  • When enchanted with Channeling, it can be used to turn creepers into charged creepers, pigs into zombie pigmen, and villagers into witches during thunderstorms.
  • When enchanted with Impaling, it does more damage to aquatic mobs (excluding drowned).
  • When enchanted with Loyalty, it returns to the player when thrown.
  • When enchanted with Riptide, it takes the player with it when thrown underwater or in rain.
Phantom Membrane
Phantom Membrane JE1 BE1
Cod, Salmon, Pufferfish,
Tropical Fish,
Dolphin, Turtle,
Drowned and
Phantom
Spawn Eggs
Cod Spawn Egg JE1 BE2Salmon Spawn Egg JE1 BE2Pufferfish Spawn Egg JE1 BE2Tropical Fish Spawn Egg JE1 BE2Dolphin Spawn Egg JE1 BE1Turtle Spawn Egg JE1 BE1Drowned Spawn Egg JE1 BE1Phantom Spawn Egg JE2 BE1
  • Obtained from the creative inventory.
  • Can be used to spawn the respective mob.
Debug Stick Debug Stick
  • Only available with commands.
  • Can be used to change block states.

Changed[]

Name Image Changed
Elytra
Elytra JE1 BE1

Broken Elytra (item) JE1 BE1
Elytra now requires the phantom membrane to be repaired.

Potions[]

New[]

Name Obtaining Effects
Potion of Slow Falling
Ingredients Brewing recipe
Phantom Membrane +
Awkward Potion



Potion of the Turtle Master
Ingredients Brewing recipe
Turtle Shell +
Awkward Potion



Effects[]

New[]

Name Image Causes Description
Slow Falling Slow Falling JE1 BE1 Slow Falling potions Reduces falling speed and fall damage
Conduit Power Conduit Power JE1 BE1 Conduits Provides water breathing, night vision and haste while underwater.
Dolphin's Grace Dolphin's Grace JE1 Dolphins Increases swimming speed

Enchantments[]

New[]

Enchantment Max Level Applicable Items Notes
Impaling V
  • Increases damage against aquatic/wet mobs.
Channeling I
  • Causes a lightning strike where the trident hits.
Loyalty III
  • Causes the trident to return to the owner once thrown.
Riptide III
  • Allows the player to propel themselves through water and precipitation.

Structures[]

New[]

Name Image Generates Chests Mobs Description
Shipwreck Shipwreck Jungle (With Mast) JE1 BE1 Underwater Yes Drowned An underwater structure resembling a sunken ship.
Ocean Ruins Underwater ruin cold JE1 BE1Underwater ruin warm JE1 BE1 Underwater Yes Drowned An underwater structure resembling a ruined building.
Coral Reef Coral Reef Warm Oceans No Tropical Fish, Pufferfish A large growth of coral on the ocean floor.
Iceberg Iceberg Frozen Oceans No Polar Bears A large chunk of ice and snow floating in the ocean.

Biomes[]

New[]

Name Image Description Structures
Cold Ocean
Cold Ocean
Like the frozen ocean, this ocean variant has a gravel seabed, with the occasional patch of sand or dirt. Additionally this ocean biome has dark indigo water. It is home to kelp, seagrass, cod, salmon, and dolphins.
Cold Deep Ocean
Deep Cold Ocean
Cold deep oceans are the same as cold oceans, with the exception that they are twice as deep, as well having the potential to generate ocean monuments.
Frozen Ocean
Frozen Ocean
A partially frozen area of ocean, with large, broken up sheets of ice covering the water. This variant of ocean has a gravel seabed and is home to kelp, seagrass, squid, salmon, strays, and polar bears.
  • Cold underwater ruins
  • Shipwrecks
  • Icebergs
Frozen Deep Ocean
Deep Frozen Ocean
Essentially the same as the frozen ocean biome, but is deeper and able to generate ocean monuments.
  • Cold underwater ruins
  • Shipwrecks
  • Icebergs
  • Ocean monuments
Lukewarm Ocean
Lukewarm Ocean
This ocean variant can be recognized by its light teal water and sandy seabed. It is home to kelp, seagrass, pufferfish, dolphins, tropical fish, and cod.
  • Warm underwater ruins
  • Shipwrecks
Deep Lukewarm Ocean
Deep Lukewarm Ocean
Similar to the lukewarm ocean, but twice as deep and can generate ocean monuments.
  • Warm underwater ruins
  • Shipwrecks
  • Ocean monuments
Warm Ocean
Warm Ocean
An ocean variant with bright teal water at the surface. It can contain coral reefs, sea pickles, seagrass, dolphins, tropical fish and pufferfish.
Deep Warm Ocean
Deep Warm Ocean
Similar to the warm ocean, but twice as deep and can generate ocean monuments.
  • Warm underwater ruins
  • Shipwrecks
  • Ocean monuments
Small End Islands
Small End Islands
This biome is part of the outer End islands. They're between the bigger islands, which can be accessed easily by End gateway portals.

Music tracks[]

Note: these track previews have been shortened to 30 seconds on the wiki due to an agreement with the author to allow them on the wiki

New[]

Filename Gameplay Soundtrack Title Track Preview
Axolotl Underwater "Axolotl"
Dragon Fish Underwater "Dragon Fish"
Shuniji Underwater "Shuniji"

Water[]

The physics for water have also been changed, and the way the player interacts with water has also changed.

Swimming[]

There is now an actual swimming animation used by the player while underwater, which can be activated by sprinting underwater. This also allows the player to move in any direction they are looking including down. Players who cannot sprint, i.e. are too hungry to sprint, cannot swim. Crouching underwater also allows the player to descend at a faster rate.

While swimming, players can go through one block gaps similar to when using an elytra.

Item and Experience[]

Items and experience orbs now float to the surface of water rather than sink, this makes dying underwater easier to deal with because all of the player's items now wait at the surface. This also allows for easy vertical item transportation.

Bubble Columns[]

For more detailed information see Bubble Columns.

Magma and soul sand now make bubble columns when placed underwater. Magma naturally generates in underwater ruins and where underwater ravines meet lava, while soul sand does not currently generate naturally in oceans. Players are able to breathe while in bubble columns.

Magma bubble columns pull things down to the bottom; this includes items, players, mobs, and boats. Soul sand bubble columns rapidly push all entities, including players, to the surface.

Breath[]

The breath meter no longer instantly refills when entering air from underwater; this means it is no longer possible to instantly refill the air meter with a torch while underwater.

Vision[]

Water has been given unique colors depending on the biome they are in.

Water is also now clearer, and the longer the player is underwater the clearer it becomes.

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