This guide is a simplified overview of all the changes in the World of Color Update (Java Edition 1.12.x releases), which assumes at least some familiarity with the Exploration Update (Java Edition 1.11.x releases).
Mobs [ ]
New [ ]
Name
Image
Habitat
Drops
Note
Parrot
Passive mob, tamable with seeds.
Normally flies around, but sits when tired.
They dance if a jukebox is playing music nearby.
Feeding it a cookie will cause it to die.
Illusioner
Can only spawn by using the /summon Illusioner
command
New Illager type.
Affect players with Blindness for 20 seconds, then summon duplicates of themselves
Changed [ ]
Blocks [ ]
New [ ]
Name
Image
Obtaining
Tool Required
Uses
Concrete
Pickaxe
Can be used as a decorative block.
Concrete powder
Shovel
Can be used as a decorative block.
Can be turned into Concrete if it comes into contact with water.
Glazed terracotta
Pickaxe
Can be used as a decorative block.
Can be useful in redstone mechanisms, as blocks pushed by pistons don't stick to it on the side.
Beds for all colors
Axe
Can be used to set the player's spawn point and to skip the night.
Changed [ ]
Items [ ]
New [ ]
Name
Image
Obtaining
Uses
Parrot Spawn Egg
Available in the creative inventory.
Can be used to spawn parrots.
Knowledge Book
Only available with commands.
Can be used to unlock recipes.
Changed [ ]
Name
Image
Changed
Map
Non-mob entities [ ]
Changed [ ]
Name
Image
Changed
Minecart with TNT
No longer instantly explode when hit with fire charges; instead, they explode as if primed by an activator rail.
Paintings
Will now try to place the largest possible in the available space it has
Sounds [ ]
New [ ]
Changed [ ]
Name
Changed
Fishing Rod
Eye of Ender
Throwing an eye of ender
An eye of ender exploding or popping back into item form
Putting ender eye in end portal frames (dinging sound)
End portal
Completing the end portal and having the portal spawn (evil sound)
Boat
Player
Player drowning
Player burning
Toasts
Completing a challenge advancement
Toast notifications
Gameplay [ ]
New [ ]
Name
Description
Recipe book
Catalogs recipes that are unlocked when the criteria are met.
When a recipe is clicked, it will appear in the crafting grid, and can be crafted if materials are available.
Changed [ ]
Name
Changed
Advancements
Replaces Achievements .
Can be customized via JSON files.
There are currently 5 tabs.
Now, it can be open by keyboard keybinding L .
Other [ ]
Changed [ ]
Name
Changed
Java
Support for Java 6 and 7 was dropped in this version, so Java 8 or later is now required.