Minecraft:Fourth Drop 2026

The fourth drop of 2026 is an upcoming Minecraft:game drop that will release as Minecraft:Java Edition 26.4 and Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 26.70 in the fourth quarter of 2026. It introduces Minecraft:ice caves, a cave Minecraft:biome featuring Minecraft:icicles and Minecraft:ice crystals, as well as the Minecraft:frostbite, Minecraft:ice balls, and the Minecraft:Freezing effect. It was announced at Minecraft:Minecraft LIVE – September 2026.

Experimental features for the update are released prior to the finalized release as part of Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 26.60.

Additions

Blocks

File:Ice Crystals.png Minecraft:Ice crystal

• A crystal block which generates on the ground in Minecraft:ice caves.
• Emits a Minecraft:light level of 4.
• Can be placed on all axes.

Template:AnimateTemplate:Animate
Template:AnimateTemplate:Animate Minecraft:Icicle

• A spike block that generates as stalactites on the ceiling in ice caves.
• Can also be placed on the ground as stalagmites.
• The column part of the icicles melt and break when a strong enough light source is nearby, or in Minecraft:the Nether.
• Icicle stalactites will grow longer if Minecraft:packed ice is above them, unless they are in the Nether.
• Falling icicles deal damage to Minecraft:entities.
• Falling on an icicle stalagmite multiplies the Minecraft:fall damage.
• This is a confirmed feature but has not been added to the game yet: Minecraft:Player placed icicles will not be affected by Minecraft:light.

Items

Template:InvSprite Minecraft:Frostbite spawn egg

• Used to spawn a Minecraft:frostbite.

Template:InvSprite Minecraft:Ice ball

• A throwable Minecraft:projectile that deals damage.
  • It does more damage based on its projectile speed.
• Can be used to brew Minecraft:potions of Freezing.
• Obtained by Minecraft:frostbites, which have a chance to drop them when killed.

Template:AnimateSpriteMinecraft:Potion of Freezing

• Obtained by Minecraft:brewing an Minecraft:awkward potion with an Minecraft:ice ball.
• Causes the Minecraft:Freezing effect.

Template:InvSprite Minecraft:Arrow of Freezing

• A Minecraft:tipped arrow which causes the Minecraft:Freezing effect.

Effects

File:Freezing BE1.png Minecraft:Freezing

• An effect that causes an entity to Minecraft:freeze, dealing Minecraft:damage over time and slowing their Minecraft:movement.
• Equipping a piece of Minecraft:leather armor prevents freezing damage but not the slowness.

Mobs

width=55x55 File:Baby Frostbite.png Minecraft:Frostbite

• A Minecraft:zombie variant that can be found in snowy biomes.
  • Minecraft:Zombies and Minecraft:husks convert into frostbites when they freeze.
• Immune to Minecraft:Freezing.
  • Does not sink in Minecraft:powder snow.
• Burns in sunlight.
• It has two modes of attacking: a melee attack and a ranged attack.
  • Most frostbites use a standard melee attack, which gives the Minecraft:Freezing effect.
  • Some frostbites spawn holding Minecraft:ice balls, which they throw as a ranged attack.
• Drops ice balls and Minecraft:rotten flesh when killed.
• Converts into a Minecraft:zombie when underwater for too long.

World generation

Biomes

Template:BiomeLink

• A Minecraft:cave biome that generates underneath frozen biomes.
• Minecraft:Calcite, Minecraft:packed ice, Minecraft:icicles, Minecraft:ice crystals and sometimes patches of Minecraft:snow can generate here.
• Does not generate Minecraft:glow lichen, unlike other cave biomes.
• Higher chance of Minecraft:ores generating inside blobs of Minecraft:stone and Minecraft:deepslate.
• Common cave monsters along with Minecraft:strays and Minecraft:frostbites can spawn here.

Features

Icicle

• Generates as clusters of Minecraft:icicles on the ceiling of ice caves.

Sounds

Minecraft:Ice

• Added unique sounds for ice. This was not done for packed, blue, nor Minecraft:frosted ice blocks.<ref>Template:Bug</ref>

Changes

Minecraft:Zombie and Minecraft:husk

• Now converts into a Minecraft:frostbite when in Minecraft:powder snow for 30 seconds.

Debug screen

• Format of the Debug screen has been changed.

Gallery

Mojang images

• A view of some ice pillars and icicles from the ground in an ice cave
  A view of some ice pillars and icicles from the ground in an ice cave
• A view of the ice caves with a Minecraft:stray and Minecraft:frostbites
  A view of the ice caves with a Minecraft:stray and Minecraft:frostbites
• A frostbite in an ice cave
  A frostbite in an ice cave
• File:Frozen Zombie.jpeg
• Lava flowing to an ice cave
  Lava flowing to an ice cave
• Ice crystals
  Ice crystals
• A cluster of icicles
  A cluster of icicles

In other media

• Minecraft:Steve freezing in some ice. Above him, content from the game drop can be seen
  Minecraft:Steve freezing in some ice. Above him, content from the game drop can be seen