Minecraft:Java Edition guides/Redstone Update

Template:Infobox guide This guide is a simplified overview of all the changes in the Minecraft:Redstone Update (Template:JE 1.5.x releases), which assumes at least some familiarity with the Minecraft:Pretty Scary Update (Java Edition 1.4.x releases).

Mobs

Changed

All mobs		No longer walk over rails unless they are pursuing the player.
Minecraft:Skeletons	File:Skeleton JE4 BE2.png	Now shoot from 15 blocks away, instead of 10. Now shoot faster when their target is close, depending on difficulty.
Minecraft:Slimes	File:Slime JE2 BE1.png	Spawn rates in swamps now depend on the current moon phase.
Minecraft:Zombies	File:Zombie JE2 BE1.png	Now group up on targets. They can now set players on fire when on fire themselves. Increased zombies attack damage. Increased player detection range.

Blocks

New

Minecraft:Activator rail	Template:Animate		Pickaxe	Minecarts eject their passengers, if on an activated rail. Can be used to explode Minecraft:TNT minecart.
Minecraft:Block of redstone	File:Block of Redstone.png		Pickaxe	Acts as a redstone power source.
Minecraft:Daylight sensor	Template:Animate		Any	Produces redstone power only during the day.
Minecraft:Dropper	File:Dropper (S) JE1 BE1.png		Pickaxe	Ejects item entities out of its inventory, can be used for item transport.
Minecraft:Hopper	File:Hopper (D) JE1.png		Pickaxe	Picks up item entities into its inventory, can be used for item transport.
Minecraft:Redstone comparator	File:Redstone Comparator (S) JE2 BE1.png		Any	Compares redstone signals.
Minecraft:Trapped chest	File:Trapped Chest.gif		Axe	Can be used for traps.
Minecraft:Weighted pressure plates	File:Heavy Weighted Pressure Plate JE1 BE1.png File:Light Weighted Pressure Plate JE1 BE1.png		Pickaxe	More items on Minecraft:pressure plate increases the redstone signal. Full signal strength on light weighted plate is reached at 60 items. Full signal strength on heavy weighted plate is reached at 600 items.
Minecraft:Nether quartz ore	File:Nether Quartz Ore JE1 BE1.png	Generates in any Nether biome.	Pickaxe (drops Minecraft:Nether quartz unless Minecraft:Silk Touch is used)	Source of Nether quartz.
Minecraft:Block of quartz	File:Block of Quartz JE1 BE1.png		Pickaxe	Can be used as a decorative block.
Minecraft:Quartz pillar	File:Quartz Pillar (UD) JE1 BE1.png		Pickaxe	Can be used as a decorative block.
Minecraft:Chiseled quartz block	File:Chiseled Quartz Block (UD) JE1 BE1.png		Pickaxe	Can be used as a decorative block.
Quartz Minecraft:slabs and Minecraft:stairs	File:Quartz Slab JE1 BE2.png File:Quartz Stairs JE2 BE1.png		Pickaxe	Can be used as decorative blocks.

Changed

Minecraft:Beacon	File:Beacon JE4 BE1.png	Increased effect radius from 16/24/32/40 blocks to 20/30/40/50 blocks.
Minecraft:Brewing stand, Minecraft:chest, Minecraft:detector rail and Minecraft:jukebox	Template:Animate	Now emit a redstone signal into an adjacent comparator. Signal strength depends on the fullness of the block.
Minecraft:Dispenser	File:Dispenser (S) JE2 BE1.png	Now equip armor to players that are up to 1 block away. Can place and activate TNT. Now use bone meal on a crop or sapling in front of them. Can create fire in front of them with flint and steel, which consumes durability. They can now face all 6 directions and use a different texture when facing up or down. No longer fire while updated, instead they fire when their input becomes powered. Now emits a redstone signal into an adjacent comparator. Signal strength depends on the fullness of the dispenser.
Minecraft:Lava	File:Lava.png	Flows faster in the Nether. Updated texture.
Nether brick block	File:Nether Bricks JE1 BE1.png	Now has a crafting recipe of 4 Minecraft:Nether brick items.

Items

New

Minecraft:Nether brick (item)	File:Nether Brick JE1 BE1.png		Can be used to make Nether brick blocks.
Minecraft:Nether quartz	File:Nether Quartz JE1 BE1.png	Is now dropped from Minecraft:Nether quartz ore.	Is a crafting ingredient for Minecraft:daylight sensors and Minecraft:redstone comparators. Can be crafted into building blocks.

Changed

Minecraft:Bone meal

File:Bone Meal JE2 BE2.png

Now picks a random stage of growth each time, as opposed to automatically pushing them to the final growth stage. Saplings take 2–4 bone meal to sprout into a tree. Gives off green particles when used.

Non-mob entities

New

Minecraft:Minecart with hopper	File:Minecart with Hopper JE1 BE1.png		Template:Drop	Can only be emptied by passing over a hopper. Can pick up items from containers when it passes under them.
Minecraft:Minecart with TNT	File:Minecart with TNT JE1 BE1.png		Template:Drop	Gets triggered by activator rails. Explodes more violently the faster it goes. Doesn't destroy rails, supporting blocks or redstone materials.
Minecraft:Minecart with spawner	File:Minecart with Spawner JE1.png	Can only be spawned in through commands.	Template:Drop	Functions the same as a spawner, but can move like a minecart.

Structures

Changed

Minecraft:Mineshaft

File:Old Mineshaft.png

Now generates loot in Minecraft:minecarts with chests, instead of Minecraft:chests.

Enchantments

Changed

Minecraft:Fortune	Now affects apples and potatoes.
Minecraft:Efficiency	Tools enchanted with Efficiency now only speed up the mining of blocks that the tool is intended for.