Minecraft:Biome
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A biome is a region in a world with distinct geographical features, Minecraft:plants, Minecraft:mobs, temperatures, humidity levels, colors, and more. Biomes separate every generated world into different environments, such as forests, deserts, and oceans.
The biome of a location is determined during Minecraft:world generation rather than by the current environment, even if all blocks in a large area are altered to imitate the terrain of other biomes.
Existing biomes can be located with the Template:Cmd command. Template:IN, the Template:Cmd command can be used to change the biome in a selected area.
List of biomes
Biome types
Template:IN, there are 65 different biome types: 54 for the Minecraft:Overworld, 5 for Minecraft:the Nether, and 5 for Minecraft:the End, plus one used only for a Minecraft:superflat preset. Template:IN, there are 87 biome types: 54 for the Overworld, 5 for the Nether, 1 for the End, and 27 unused.
On this page, for convenience of description and reading, the biomes in Overworld are divided into 8 categories, which are not official.
Overworld
Template:Anchor Offshore biomes
These biomes are used for the generation of oceans and mushroom fields. They are large, open biomes made almost entirely of Minecraft:water going up to Y=63, with underwater relief on the sea floor, such as small mountains and plains, usually including gravel, dirt, and sand. Minecraft:Squid and Minecraft:fish spawn frequently in the water, and Minecraft:dolphins spawn in non-frozen oceans. Regular hostile mobs can spawn at rare dry grounds, while Minecraft:drowned and sometimes zombie nautilus jockeys spawn underwater. Minecraft:Shipwrecks and underwater Minecraft:ruined portals are found in all ocean biomes, and ocean ruins may spawn with stone bricks in regular and colder oceans, or sandstone in lukewarm oceans.
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Ocean | Template:Anchor
The basic ocean biome, a vast body of water with occasional grassy islands. Like its colder variants, its floor is largely made up of gravel, covered with Minecraft:kelp and Minecraft:seagrass. However, small patches of dirt, sand and Minecraft:clay can also appear. Minecraft:Cod and Minecraft:salmonTemplate:Only can spawn here alongside Minecraft:dolphins, Minecraft:squid, and Minecraft:nautiluses. |
File:Ocean.png |
| Minecraft:Deep ocean | Template:Anchor
In deep ocean biomes, the ocean can exceed 30 blocks in depth, making it twice as deep as the normal ocean. The ground is mainly covered with gravel and kelp can grow much higher. Minecraft:Ocean monuments generate in deep oceans, where Minecraft:guardians, Minecraft:elder guardians, Minecraft:prismarine, and Minecraft:sponges can be found. |
File:Deep Ocean.png |
| Minecraft:Warm ocean | Template:Anchor
A variant of the ocean biome with light teal water at the surface. Like the lukewarm ocean, it has a floor made of Minecraft:sand and like all oceans, it is populated with seagrass, but without kelp. Minecraft:Pufferfish and Minecraft:tropical fish spawn here alongside dolphins, squid, and nautiluses, while cod and salmon do not spawn. Unlike other ocean biomes, warm oceans allow for the generation of Minecraft:coral reefs and Minecraft:sea pickles. It is the only ocean biome that does not have a deep equivalent, but the terrain in this biome can reach the same depth as deep oceans. |
File:Warm Ocean.png |
| Minecraft:Lukewarm ocean | Template:Anchor
A variant of the ocean biome, with light blue water at the surface. Its floor is made of sand with an occasional patch of dirt or clay. Kelp and seagrass generates here. Unlike the warm ocean biome, cod and salmonTemplate:Only can spawn here, together with pufferfishTemplate:Only and tropical fish. Dolphins, squid, and nautiluses may also spawn. |
File:Lukewarm Ocean.png |
| Minecraft:Deep lukewarm ocean | Template:Anchor
Similar to the lukewarm ocean biome, but twice as deep. Because they are a deep ocean variant, they can generate Minecraft:ocean monuments. |
File:Deep Lukewarm Ocean.png |
| Minecraft:Cold ocean | Template:Anchor
A variant of the ocean biome, with dark blue water at the surface. Like regular oceans and frozen oceans, its floor is made up of gravel, though occasional patches of dirt can be found. Kelp and seagrass generates here. Salmon, cod and nautiluses can spawn in cold ocean biomes alongside squid and dolphins.Template:Only |
File:Cold Ocean.png |
| Minecraft:Deep cold ocean | Template:Anchor
Similar to the cold ocean biome, but twice as deep. Like other deep oceans, Minecraft:ocean monuments can generate here. |
File:Deep Cold Ocean.png |
| Minecraft:Frozen ocean | Template:Anchor
A variant of the ocean biome with dark indigo water at the surface. Like the cold ocean, it has a gravel seabed and squid swimming about. However, the water's surface is frequently broken up by patches of Minecraft:ice and large icebergs, consisting of Minecraft:packed ice and Minecraft:blue ice, and occasionally topped with Minecraft:snow blocks and Minecraft:snow.Template:Only Minecraft:Strays, Minecraft:polar bears, Minecraft:rabbits,Template:Only and nautiluses can spawn here, but dolphins can't. Salmon and codTemplate:Only may also spawn here. |
File:Frozen Ocean.png |
| Minecraft:Deep frozen ocean | Template:Anchor
Like the frozen ocean biome, but twice as deep. There are no patches of ice on the surface or low enough temperatures for Minecraft:snowfall, instead icebergs are floating standalone in the dark indigo water. Minecraft:Ocean monuments can generate here. |
File:Deep Frozen Ocean.png |
| Minecraft:Mushroom fields | Template:Anchor
This rare biome consists of a mostly flat island and has Minecraft:mycelium as its surface. Mushroom fields are always adjacent to a deep ocean and isolated from other biomes, ranging in size from only tens of blocks to thousands. It is one of the few biomes where Minecraft:huge mushrooms can generate naturally, and where Minecraft:mushrooms can grow in full sunlight. No mobs other than Minecraft:mooshrooms, Minecraft:bats,Template:Only and Minecraft:glow squid spawn naturally in this biome, including the usual night-time hostile mobs. This also applies to caves, mineshafts and other dark structures, meaning exploring underground is safe. However, mobs can still spawn through other means than the regular spawn cycle, such as Minecraft:monster spawners and Minecraft:wandering traders. Phantoms cannot spawn Template:In. |
File:Mushroom Fields.png |
Highland biomes
Template:See also Highland biomes are biomes with a higher Y-level. Rugged terrain and snow-covered peaks appear above the snow line.
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Jagged peaks | Template:Anchor
One of the three biomes that only generate in the peaks of a mountain. This biome is found in taller and more jagged and pointy peaks that often pass the Minecraft:clouds and can peak at Y=256. It is covered by a single layer of Minecraft:snow blocks with stone underneath often exposing ores such as coal, iron and emerald. Just like the snowy slopes, stone cliffs can generate in some sides of the mountain. Minecraft:Goats spawn in this biome. Minecraft:Polar bears and Minecraft:rabbits may also spawn here and Minecraft:strays appear at night or during thunderstorms.Template:Only Minecraft:Pillager outposts can generate here with tall foundations. |
File:Jagged Peaks.png |
| Minecraft:Frozen peaks | Template:Anchor
Similar to the jagged peaks, but the snow block cover is varied with packed ice and occasional small blobs of Minecraft:ice. Like jagged peaks, mobs that aspawn here include goats, polar bears, rabbits, and strays.Template:Only This biome usually generates in smoother and less jagged mountains compared to the jagged peaks biome. Pillager outposts can generate here. |
File:Frozen Peaks.png |
| Minecraft:Stony peaks | Template:Anchor
The stony peaks are a warmer variation of peak biomes that generate in warmer regions, without Minecraft:snowfall. It is mainly covered by stone with large Minecraft:strips of Minecraft:calcite and exposed ores. No passive mobs spawn here, and pillager outposts can generate. |
File:Stony Peaks.png |
| Minecraft:Meadow | Template:Anchor
The meadow is an elevated grassy biome found in plateaus near mountain ranges. It is filled with patches of almost every type of Minecraft:flower and turquoise-green Minecraft:short grass and Minecraft:tall grass. Rarely, a lone Minecraft:oak or Minecraft:birch tree can generate and always has a Minecraft:bee nest. Minecraft:Sheep, Minecraft:donkeys and Minecraft:rabbits are the only passive mobs that spawn in this biome. Pillager outposts and Minecraft:plains villages commonly generate here. |
File:Mountain Meadows.png |
| Minecraft:Cherry grove | Template:Anchor
Cherry groves are grassland plateaus with a lot of short grass, tall grass and, instead of the traditional dandelion and poppy flowers, the ground is covered with Minecraft:pink petals. The main environmental feature of the cherry grove are Minecraft:cherry trees identified by their striking pink color and leaf particles filling the atmosphere. The cherry trees may generate densely enough to create a cover of leaves. Sheep, Minecraft:pigs and rabbits are the only passive mobs that spawn in this biome. |
File:Cherry Grove.png |
| Minecraft:Grove | Template:Anchor
The grove creates a forest of Minecraft:spruce trees beneath the colder mountain peaks when near a forested biome. It is quite reminiscent of the snowy taiga, but the surface is covered with Minecraft:snow blocks and patches of Minecraft:powder snow instead of grass blocks. Rabbits, Minecraft:wolves and Minecraft:foxes can spawn in this biome. |
File:Grove.png |
| Minecraft:Snowy slopes | Template:Anchor
The snowy slopes generate beneath the colder mountain peaks and are covered with multiple layers of Minecraft:snow blocks and Minecraft:powder snow, with some sides also having stone cliffs. Minecraft:Goats spawn in this biome alongside rabbits and Minecraft:polar bears.Template:Only Minecraft:Strays may also spawn here at night and during thunderstorms.Template:Only This is the only mountain biome where Minecraft:igloos can generate. |
File:Snowy Slopes 1.18.png |
| Minecraft:Windswept hills | Template:Anchor
A highland biome with some steep hilltops and an occasional Minecraft:oak or Minecraft:spruce tree Template:In. The terrain is usually flat, but sometimes hilly and shattered. This is one of the few biomes where Minecraft:llamas can spawn naturally. Snowfall also occurs above certain heights, rarely creating snow layers on the top of the hills. Windswept hills are one of six biomes where Minecraft:emerald ore and Minecraft:infested stone can be found naturally. Cold Minecraft:animal variants may also spawn here. |
File:Windswept Hills.png |
| Minecraft:Windswept gravelly hills | A variant of the windswept hills mostlyTemplate:Only or almost entirelyTemplate:Only covered in Minecraft:gravel with occasional patches of grass and stone blocks. In Java Edition, spruce and oak trees can generate here but due to the low amount of grass, the population is sparse. Cold animal variants and llamas may spawn on the rare grass blocks. | File:Gravelly Mountains.png |
| Minecraft:Windswept forest | Template:Anchor
This variant is found when windswept hills are located next to forested biomes. It does not generate stone patches, so the floor is entirely covered by grass blocks, and there are more spruce and oak trees, forming small forests with a lower tree density than other forest biomes. Cold animal variants and llamas may spawn here. |
File:Wooded Mountains.png |
Woodland biomes
Woodland biomes are rich in plants with a variety of Minecraft:trees, Minecraft:flowers and Minecraft:grasses.
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Forest | Template:Anchor
A common biome with many Minecraft:oak and Minecraft:birch trees and a fair amount of Minecraft:short grass, Minecraft:mushrooms and Minecraft:flowers. The ground beneath the trees is covered with Minecraft:leaf litter. Minecraft:Wolves can spawn in this biome. |
File:Forest.png |
| Minecraft:Flower forest | Template:Anchor
This forest variant has fewer trees but contains nearly every type of flower and tall plant in the game. Wolves do not spawn in the flower forest, although Minecraft:rabbits spawn occasionally. Minecraft:Bee nests have a higher chance to generate in this biome. |
File:Flower Forest.png |
| Minecraft:Taiga | Template:Anchor
A biome covered by a forest of Minecraft:spruce trees. Minecraft:Ferns, large ferns and Minecraft:sweet berry bushes grow commonly on the forest floor. One can find packs of wolves here, along with small groups of Minecraft:foxes, rabbits or cold Minecraft:animal variants. Minecraft:Pillager outposts, Minecraft:taiga villages, and Minecraft:trail ruins can generate here. |
File:Taiga.png |
| Minecraft:Old growth pine taiga | Template:Anchor
A biome composed of Minecraft:spruce trees, much like the standard taiga biome. However, many trees are 2×2 thick and taller than normal, with few leaves at the top resembling pines. Mossy cobblestone boulders appear frequently, Minecraft:mushrooms are common, and Minecraft:podzol can be found on the forest floor. There are also patches of Minecraft:coarse dirt that do not grow grass, with some Minecraft:dead bushes. Wolves, foxes and cold animal variants can spawn here, as they do in normal taiga biomes. Rabbits may also spawn here.Template:Only |
File:Giant Tree Taiga.png |
| Minecraft:Old growth spruce taiga | Template:Anchor
At first glance, this biome may look almost exactly the same as its pine tree counterpart. However, the most striking feature of this biome is its giant spruce trees, which are almost entirely covered with leaves unlike the trees in the old growth pine taiga which only have leaves at the top. Like the old growth pine taiga, wolves, foxes, cold animal variants, and rabbitsTemplate:Only spawn here. Minecraft:Trail ruins can generate here. |
File:Giant Spruce Taiga.png |
| Minecraft:Snowy taiga | Template:Anchor
A hybrid of the normal taiga and the snowy plains. Ferns and large ferns generate commonly, however sweet berry bushes generate more rarely than in the normal taiga. Template:IN, Minecraft:taiga villages with snowy villagers and Minecraft:pillager outposts can generate here. Wolves, foxes, rabbits and cold animal variants can spawn here. One may also find an Minecraft:igloo nestled between the trees. |
File:Snowy Taiga.png |
| Minecraft:Birch forest | Template:Anchor
A forest that is solely made of Minecraft:birch trees. The grass has an aqua color, and unlike the regular forest, no wolves spawn in this biome. Minecraft:Wildflowers cover the ground and give the biome a slight yellow tint. |
File:Birch Forest.png |
| Minecraft:Old growth birch forest | Template:Anchor
Birch trees grow much taller than usual in this variant of the birch forest biome. Whereas normal birch trees grow up to 7 blocks tall, these trees can grow up to 13 blocks in height. It is one of the few biomes where Minecraft:trail ruins can generate. |
File:Tall Birch Forest.png |
| Minecraft:Dark forest | Template:Anchor
This biome is mainly composed of Minecraft:dark oak trees, which create a mostly closed roof of leaves. Oak trees, birch trees, and Minecraft:huge mushrooms can also be found occasionally, and the ground is covered with Minecraft:leaf litter. Trees in this forest are so densely packed that areas are dark enough for hostile mobs to spawn, even during the day. Minecraft:Woodland mansions can generate here. |
File:Dark Forest.png |
| Minecraft:Pale garden | Template:Anchor
A rarer variation of the dark forest biome found on higher grounds, where the dark oak trees are replaced with Minecraft:pale oak trees, with lots of Minecraft:pale hanging moss. Patches of Minecraft:pale moss blocks and Minecraft:pale moss carpets cover much of the ground, and Minecraft:eyeblossoms dot the landscape. The sky, foliage, and water in this biome are gray and desaturated, and no Minecraft:music plays inside the biome. Gray Minecraft:fog with Minecraft:Vibrant Visuals is extremely dense and obstructs almost all view. Some of the pale oak trees may have a Minecraft:creaking heart hidden within them, which spawns a Minecraft:creaking at night. Like dark forests, hostile mobs can spawn even at day under the dark trees and woodland mansions generate here. |
File:Pale Garden.png |
| Minecraft:Jungle | Template:Anchor
A dense forested biome that includes many different plants and features. Minecraft:Jungle trees and mega jungle trees are common, with the mega trees having 2x2 thick trunks and possibly growing up to 31 blocks in height. Fancy oak trees are also common, and Minecraft:jungle bushes often cover much of the forest floor. Ferns and large ferns are found commonly, and Minecraft:vines are found growing and hanging on most types of blocks. Additionally, Minecraft:cocoa can also grow on the sides of jungle trees. Minecraft:Melons can generate here in patches, similar to pumpkins, although they are much more common. Single shoots of Minecraft:bamboo can be found scattered throughout the biome. The foliage in the jungle is a bright, lush green color. Minecraft:Ocelots, Minecraft:parrots, Minecraft:pandas, and warm Minecraft:animal variants can spawn in this biome. Minecraft:Jungle pyramids and Minecraft:trail ruins generate here. |
File:Jungle.png |
| Minecraft:Sparse jungle | Template:Anchor
In contrast to the wild and overgrown vegetation of the jungle biome, the sparse jungle consists of small jungle and oak trees, and jungle bushes that are spaced out and isolated, creating a much more open environment. Parrots, ocelots, and pandas can still spawn in the sparse jungle.Template:Only Minecraft:Wolves can also spawn in this biome along with warm animal variants. |
File:Jungle Edge.png |
| Minecraft:Bamboo jungle | Template:Anchor
In this jungle biome, large areas of the landscape are covered with massive amounts of Minecraft:bamboo. The ground consist of Minecraft:podzol underneath the densely packed bamboo. Additionally, mega jungle trees, fancy oak trees, and jungle bushes can also generate here. Pandas have a much higher chance to spawn here than the other jungle biomes, making this the best place to find them. Ocelots,Template:Only parrots, and warm animal variants are also able to spawn. Minecraft:Jungle pyramids can generate here.Template:Only |
File:Bamboo Jungle.png |
Wetland biomes
Wetland biomes are rivers, swamps and beaches. They have a large amount of water resources. Rivers separate other biomes; beaches generate as a transition between the ocean and land.
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:River | Template:Anchor
A biome that consists of water blocks that form an elongated, curving shape. Rivers cut through terrain or separate the main biomes. They attempt to join up with ocean biomes, but sometimes loop around to the same area of ocean. Rarely, they can have no connection to an ocean, instead forming a loop, or ending in a swamp or far inland. On the landside, or rare occasions where rivers generate entirely dry, the grass has a dull aqua tone, and trace amounts of Minecraft:oak trees and Minecraft:firefly bushes tend to generate there. Rivers are also a reliable source of Minecraft:clay and sand. Minecraft:Drowned, Minecraft:squid, Minecraft:cod, and Minecraft:salmon spawn underwater. Template:IN, no other mobs can spawn through the spawn cycle, even common hostile mobs. |
File:River.png |
| Minecraft:Frozen river | Template:Anchor
A river with a layer of Minecraft:ice covering its surface, generating when a river goes through snowy biomes. Salmon spawn underwater while Minecraft:rabbitsTemplate:Only and Minecraft:polar bearsTemplate:Only spawn on the surface. At night and during thunderstorms, drowned can spawn below the ice with Minecraft:straysTemplate:Only and Minecraft:skeletons on the surface. Template:IN, no other hostile mobs can spawn here. |
File:Frozen River.png |
| Minecraft:Swamp | Template:Anchor
A biome characterized by a mix of flat areas around sea level, and shallow pools of green water with floating Minecraft:lily pads. Clay, sand, and dirt are commonly found at the bottom of these pools. Oak trees are covered with Minecraft:vines and can be found growing out from the water, and Template:In, Minecraft:huge mushrooms also generate. Minecraft:Mushrooms, Minecraft:firefly bushes, Minecraft:dead bushes, and Minecraft:sugar canes are abundant, and Minecraft:blue orchids grow exclusively here. Minecraft:Frogs of the temperate variant can spawn here as well. Minecraft:Swamp huts with a black Minecraft:cat and a Minecraft:witch generate exclusively in swamps, and Minecraft:fossils are rarely found underground. Minecraft:Slimes also spawn naturally at night and during thunderstorms, most commonly on full moons, and some skeletons are replaced by Minecraft:bogged. Green Minecraft:volumetric fog and underwater Minecraft:fog is much denser than in other biomes. |
File:Swamp.png |
| Minecraft:Mangrove swamp | Template:Anchor
A warmer variant of the swamp, characterized by a dense foliage, featuring plenty of Minecraft:mangrove trees of varying heights. The floor is mainly composed of Minecraft:mud blocks with occasional grass patches. The grass has the same color as in the normal swamp but leaves and vines have a unique light green tint and the water is teal rather than gray. Warm frogs often spawn in this biome. Slimes also spawn naturally at night and during thunderstorms, most commonly on full moons, and some skeletons are replaced by bogged. Fossils generate underground, but swamp huts do not. |
File:Mangrove Swamp.png |
| Minecraft:Beach | Template:Anchor
Generated where oceans meet land biomes, beaches are primarily composed of Minecraft:sand. Buried treasures can be found under few blocks of sand, and an occasional Minecraft:shipwreck can also generate here. Passive mobs other than Minecraft:turtles do not spawn on beaches. |
File:Beach.png |
| Minecraft:Snowy beach | Template:Anchor
Like a regular beach, one can find plenty of sand in this biome and buried treasures can be found underground in this snowy beach. However, sand is covered in a layer of Minecraft:snow. Snowy beaches are found when a snowy biome borders a frozen ocean biome. No passive mobs other than Minecraft:rabbitsTemplate:Only spawn in this biome, and shipwrecks occasionally generate on land. |
File:Snowy Beach.png |
| Minecraft:Stony shore | Template:Anchor
This stone-covered biome generates at shores with low erosion values, usually close to Minecraft:mountains. Depending on the height of the nearby land, stony shores may generate as medium slopes or huge cliffs, its tops tall enough to be covered by snow even when near warmer biomes.<ref name="MC-240697" /> No passive mobs spawn here. Buried treasures can generate here.Template:Only Minecraft:Strips of Minecraft:gravel can sometimes be found here. |
File:Stone Shore.png |
Flatland biomes
These biomes have a wide view because less Minecraft:trees spawn here and the terrain usually does not contain mountains or cliffs, although hills and plateaus are common. They also have a higher number of passive mob spawns.
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Plains | Template:Anchor
A grassy biome with rolling hills and few Minecraft:oak trees, as well as many Minecraft:flowers and grasses. Minecraft:Villages and Minecraft:pillager outposts are common. Cave openings, lava lakes and waterfalls are easily identifiable due to the unobstructed terrain. Passive mobs are easily found in plains biomes; this biome is also one of the few biomes where Minecraft:horses and Minecraft:donkeys spawn naturally. Hostile zombie horses spawn rarely at night as zombie horsemen. |
File:Plains.png |
| Minecraft:Sunflower plains | Template:Anchor
A fairly uncommon variation of the plains, this biome is the only place where Minecraft:sunflowers naturally generate. Template:IN, plains villages and pillager outposts can generate here. |
File:Sunflower Plains.png |
| Minecraft:Snowy plains | Template:Anchor
A variant of plains entirely covered with Minecraft:snow, and freezing water. There are few Minecraft:spruce trees in this biome, and less grass and flowers generate compared to regular plains. No animal mobs other than Minecraft:rabbits and Minecraft:polar bears can spawn; however, it is one of the few biomes where Minecraft:strays and Minecraft:zombie horsemen spawn at night. Template:IN, this biome does not spawn any other monsters except Minecraft:skeletons. Snowy villages, pillager outposts, and Minecraft:igloos can generate here. |
File:Snowy Plains.png |
| Minecraft:Ice spikes | Template:Anchor
A rare variation of the snowy plains biome that features large spikes and glaciers of Minecraft:packed ice. Usually, the spikes are 10 to 20 blocks tall, but some long, thin spikes can reach over 50 blocks in height. The floor in this biome is entirely covered in Minecraft:snow blocks instead of grass, and Minecraft:ice patches made of packed ice can generate on it. Like the regular snowy plains, no animal mobs other than Minecraft:rabbits and Minecraft:polar bears can spawn and Minecraft:strays appear at night or during thunderstorms. |
File:Ice Spikes.png |
Arid-land biomes
In these biomes, it neither rains nor snows. The surface is covered with sparse vegetation.
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Desert | Template:Anchor
A barren biome consisting mostly of Minecraft:sand dunes, Minecraft:dead bushes, Minecraft:dry grass, and Minecraft:cacti. Minecraft:Sandstone and sometimes Minecraft:fossils are found underneath the sand. The only passive mobs that spawn naturally in deserts are gold/creamy Minecraft:rabbits and Minecraft:camels. At night and during dry thunderstorms, Minecraft:husks, Minecraft:parched, and camel husk jockeys usually spawn in the place of normal zombies and skeletons. The biome is rich in structures, including Minecraft:desert villages, Minecraft:desert wells, Minecraft:desert pyramids, and Minecraft:pillager outposts. |
File:Desert.png |
| Minecraft:Savanna | Template:Anchor
A relatively flat and dry biome with a dull-brown grass color and Minecraft:acacia trees scattered around the biome, though Minecraft:oak trees may generate occasionally. Tall grass covers the landscape. Savanna villages can generate in this biome, constructed of acacia wood, and Minecraft:pillager outposts also generate. Minecraft:Horses, Minecraft:armadillos and warm Minecraft:animal variants can naturally spawn here, and it is one of the only biomes with rare Minecraft:zombie horsemen. Minecraft:Llamas may also spawn here.Template:Only |
File:Savanna.png |
| Minecraft:Savanna plateau | Template:Anchor
This biome generates when a normal savanna biome spawns at high altitudes and near mountains. It is mostly indistinguishable from the standard savanna, with the main differences being the fact that Minecraft:llamas and Minecraft:wolves can spawn. Villages and pillager outpost do not generate. |
File:Savanna Plateau.png |
| Minecraft:Windswept Savanna | Template:Anchor
In contrast to the mostly flat and calm terrain of the savanna biome, this uncommon variant generates chaotic terrain, with gigantic mountains covered in Minecraft:coarse dirt and some patches of stone. The mountains in the windswept savanna are extremely steep, sometimes jutting out at 90-degree angles and there are floating islands and overhangs. On top of that, they can reach heights comparable to the mountain peak biomes, sometimes rising above the clouds. Massive waterfalls and lavafalls are quite common, and lakes can also generate. Horses, armadillos and warm animal variants can still spawn in the windswept savanna, as well as Minecraft:zombie horsemen and Minecraft:llamas.Template:Only |
File:Windswept Savanna.png |
| Minecraft:Badlands | Template:Anchor
An uncommon mountainous and desertic biome composed of layers of Minecraft:terracotta and stained terracotta on higher grounds. Minecraft:Red sand covers this in valleys, with occasional Minecraft:cacti, Minecraft:dead bushes, and Minecraft:dry grass. Armadillos are the only mobs that can be found here. Minecraft:Mineshafts generate at a higher altitude than normal, allowing them to be exposed to the surface, and have Minecraft:dark oak planks instead of Minecraft:oak planks. Minecraft:Gold ore also generates more frequently. |
File:Badlands.png |
| Minecraft:Wooded badlands | Template:Anchor
On higher altitudes, the wooded badlands have layers of Minecraft:coarse dirt and Minecraft:grass blocks, and forests of small Minecraft:oak trees with Minecraft:leaf litter. The lower parts don't generate the oak forests, exposing terracotta and red sand to the sky. The color of the grass and leaves is a dull green-brown hue, giving it a dried and dead appearance. Armadillos can spawn here during the day, and Minecraft:wolves and warm Minecraft:animal variants can spawn on the wooded plateaus. |
File:Wooded Badlands Plateau.png |
| Minecraft:Eroded badlands | Template:Anchor
This rare variant generates unique terrain features that are similar to the structures in Utah's Bryce Canyon. Tall and narrow spires of colorful Minecraft:terracotta rise out of the floor of the canyon, which like all other badlands variants, is covered in red sand. Armadillos are the only passive mobs that can be found here. |
File:Eroded Badlands.png |
Cave biomes
These biomes generate inside Minecraft:caves in the Overworld. They are mostly found underground but can sometimes leak out of cave entrances.
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Deep dark | Template:Anchor
A dimly lit cave biome that generates deep underground mostly within the Minecraft:deepslate layer under Minecraft:mountains. It is largely Minecraft:sculk blocks 1 block thick upon all surfaces, with frequent Minecraft:sculk sensors and occasional Minecraft:sculk shriekers, the latter of which can directly summon a Minecraft:warden. Large structures known as Minecraft:ancient cities can generate here, containing chests with unique loot. No mobs spawn here from the natural spawn cycle. |
File:Deep Dark.png |
| Minecraft:Dripstone caves | Template:Anchor
These are caves filled with Minecraft:dripstone blocks and Minecraft:pointed dripstone both hanging as stalactites and growing from the ground as stalagmites and small Minecraft:water wells of 1×1 in the ground. Large Minecraft:dripstone clusters structures generate occasionally inside these caves. Minecraft:Copper ore blobs found in this biome are much bigger compared to other biomes. Minecraft:Drowned and rarely Minecraft:zombie nautiluses can spawn in aquifers. |
File:Dripstone Caves.png |
| Minecraft:Lush caves | Template:Anchor
Lush caves are often found underground below Minecraft:azalea trees. These caves are covered by Minecraft:moss blocks, Minecraft:moss carpets, Minecraft:short grass and Minecraft:azalea bushes on the floors. On the ceiling, Minecraft:vines and cave vines with Minecraft:glow berries grow down and light up the caves, and Minecraft:spore blossoms grow and spore Minecraft:particles. There are also shallow lakes with Minecraft:clay where Minecraft:dripleaf plants grow out of them and Minecraft:axolotls spawn, making this the only biome where they can spawn. Minecraft:Tropical fish can also spawn inside the aquifers in a lush cave. |
File:Lush Caves.png |
| Minecraft:Sulfur cavesTemplate:Upcoming | Template:Anchor
A biome composed of Minecraft:sulfur and Minecraft:cinnabar blocks, as well as Minecraft:potent sulfur in water pools that inflicts the Minecraft:Nausea effect. Sulfur cubes can spawn here. Minecraft:Sulfur springs generate at the surface, indicating there are sulfur caves below. |
File:Sulfur Caves.png |
The Void
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:The VoidTemplate:Only | Template:Anchor
Can be accessed only through Minecraft:Single Biome world selection or The Void superflat preset. In a single biome world, the landscape consists of stone, as well as water and bedrock depending on the generator type. In the superflat preset, the world is completely empty except for a stone start platform. No mobs from the regular spawn cycle spawn here, and it does not rain. |
File:The Void.png |
The Nether
Minecraft:The Nether is considered a different Minecraft:dimension. All biomes in this dimension are hot and dry, and it is not possible to place Minecraft:water; Minecraft:ice can still be placed, though it does not turn into water upon melting. Lava oceans are generated as a Minecraft:feature and are therefore not considered a separate biome.
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Nether wastes | Template:Anchor
The Nether wastes is the most common biome in the Nether. The terrain mainly consists of Minecraft:netherrack, with Minecraft:glowstone clusters growing and lava leaking from the ceiling and Minecraft:gravel and Minecraft:soul sand lining its shores. Most of the Nether’s mobs can spawn here, including Minecraft:ghasts, Minecraft:zombified piglins, Minecraft:magma cubes, Minecraft:striders, Minecraft:piglins, and the occasional Minecraft:enderman. |
File:Nether.png |
| Minecraft:Soul sand valley | Template:Anchor
The soul sand valley mainly consists of Minecraft:soul sand, basalt and Minecraft:soul soil. Notable features of the biome are exposed Minecraft:Nether fossils in various shapes and sizes, large amounts of Minecraft:lava, blue fog, large spires made of Minecraft:basalt, Minecraft:soul fire, and the occasional Minecraft:Nether fortress or Minecraft:bastion remnant. Minecraft:Ghasts and Minecraft:skeletons are common in this biome while endermen are rare. Minecraft:Striders can spawn here as well. This is the only place to find Minecraft:dried ghasts naturally. |
File:Soul Sand Valley.png |
| Minecraft:Crimson forest | Template:Anchor
The crimson forest consists of many huge crimson fungi, which act as the "trees" of this biome. The huge fungi often generate with Minecraft:weeping vines hanging from them, and Minecraft:shroomlights which light up the landscape. The floor is mostly covered with crimson Minecraft:nylium, with occasional patches of bare Minecraft:netherrack or Minecraft:Nether wart blocks. Minecraft:Crimson roots, Minecraft:crimson fungus, and occasionally warped fungus grow on the ground. Small patches of Nether wart blocks and weeping vines can also be found growing on the ceiling. Minecraft:Hoglins, Minecraft:piglins, Minecraft:zombified piglins, and Minecraft:striders can spawn in this biome. |
File:Crimson Forest.png |
| Minecraft:Warped forest | Template:Anchor
The warped forest consists of many huge warped fungi, which act as the "trees" of this biome. The huge fungi often generate with Minecraft:shroomlights, which light up the landscape. Minecraft:Twisting vines grow throughout the biome in patches. The floor is mostly covered with warped Minecraft:nylium, with occasional patches of bare Minecraft:netherrack or Minecraft:warped wart blocks. Minecraft:Warped roots, Minecraft:warped fungus, Minecraft:Nether sprouts, and occasionally crimson fungus grow on the ground. Minecraft:Endermen and Minecraft:striders are the only mobs that spawn in this biome. The biome emits out a magenta-purple fog upon entry. |
File:Warped Forest.png |
| Minecraft:Basalt deltas | Template:Anchor
A gray biome, the basalt deltas are said to be the remnant of ancient volcanic eruptions.Template:Citation needed The ground consists of Minecraft:basalt and Minecraft:blackstone blocks, with small patches of Minecraft:netherrack and pools of Minecraft:lava. The shape of the terrain is chaotic and uneven, making it somewhat difficult to traverse and build on. Unlike the other biomes in the Nether, Minecraft:bastion remnants do not generate in basalt deltas. When this biome borders a lava ocean, clusters of basalt form near the coast. Fog is colored light-gray and particles of dust can be seen falling from the ceiling upon entry. Magma cubes have a high spawn rate in this biome, making the basalt deltas the best place to farm magma cream. This biome also contains a much higher abundance of blackstone compared to other Nether biomes. Minecraft:Ghasts and Minecraft:striders can spawn in this biome as well. |
File:Basalt Deltas.png |
The End
Minecraft:The End is considered a different dimension. The terrain consists of end stone islands of varying sizes, floating in the Minecraft:void. They use five different biomes Template:In, or all use the End Template:In, with no terrain differences.
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| The End | Template:Anchor
This biome is used to generate the circle of radius 1000 centered at the 0,0 coordinates in Minecraft:the End. The End central island is generated at the center of this circle, and it's surrounded by a complete vacuum all the way to the edge of the biome. Most of the End features are exclusive to that island, including the Minecraft:ender dragon, the obsidian pillars, the Minecraft:End crystals, the 5×5 spawn platform, the exit portal and the 20 central Minecraft:End gateways. Large amounts of Minecraft:endermen spawn in this biome. It does not rain or snow in this biome unlike the other low-temperature biomes. The outer islands in the End can be accessed using Minecraft:End gateways after the ender dragon has been defeated. Template:IN, this biome is instead the biggest, as it is used to generate the whole dimension. If the biome is used for a Minecraft:superflat world, the sky appears nearly black and an ender dragon spawns at the 0,0 coordinates in the Overworld. Only endermen spawn at night. |
File:The End.png |
| Minecraft:Small End islandsTemplate:Only | Template:Anchor
Generates as part of the outer islands of the End. This biome represents the empty expanse between the larger islands, populated by the smaller, circular islands. Large amounts of endermen spawn in this biome. |
File:Small End Islands.png |
| Minecraft:End midlandsTemplate:Only | Template:Anchor
Generates as part of the outer islands of the End. This biome represents the gradual slope from the hilltops of each island down to the cliffs around the edge. Minecraft:End cities generate here, but chorus trees do not. Large amounts of endermen spawn in this biome. |
File:End Midlands.png |
| Minecraft:End highlandsTemplate:Only | Template:Anchor
Generates as part of the outer islands of the End. This biome represents the hilltops of each island, and is the only biome in the End where both Minecraft:chorus trees and Minecraft:End cities generate. Large amounts of endermen spawn in this biome. |
File:End Highlands.png |
| Minecraft:End barrensTemplate:Only | Template:Anchor
Generates as part of the outer islands of the End. This biome represents the outer rims of each island, with steep cliffs below the edge. Neither End cities nor chorus trees generate in this biome. Large amounts of endermen spawn in this biome. |
File:End Barrens.png |
Unused biomes
Template:Removed featureTemplate:UnobtainableTemplate:Main Template:See also
These biomes have been completely removed from the game Template:In. Template:IN, they still exist in the code, but do not generate and can only be found in old worlds. Most biomes were removed from the generator because the terrain was the only difference with their regular biome variant.
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Legacy frozen ocean | Similar to the Minecraft:frozen ocean biome, but without icebergs, it was completely flat. Because they were a frozen ocean variant, they could spawn Minecraft:polar bears and Minecraft:strays, but not Minecraft:dolphins. Unlike the regular frozen ocean, polar bears, Minecraft:drowned, Minecraft:squid, Minecraft:salmon, Minecraft:cod, Minecraft:rabbits, skeletons and Minecraft:strays were the only mobs that spawn here. Kelp also generated here.
This biome doesn't generate naturally from Minecraft:Pocket Edition Alpha 0.9.0 onward. When Minecraft:Bedrock Edition 1.4.0 introduced the new frozen ocean, this biome was not removed or replaced by the new frozen ocean, although the id name changed from |
File:Legacy Frozen Ocean.png |
| Minecraft:Desert lakes | In this biome, patches of water were more common, and the terrain was slightly more rough. Although desert wells could be found, desert pyramids, villages and outposts did not generate in this biome. | File:Desert Lakes.png |
| Minecraft:Mountain edge | Similar to the Minecraft:sparse jungle biome, the mountain edge used to generate exclusively at the edge of windswept hills biomes in order to smooth the transition between biomes. This biome had lots of trees, similar to windswept forests. While the terrain was lower and gentler in nature, some areas might reach high enough to be covered by snow.
This biome doesn't generate naturally from Minecraft:Pocket Edition v0.9.0 alpha and Minecraft:Java Edition 1.7.2 onward. |
File:Mountain Edge.png |
| Minecraft:Deep warm ocean | Similar to the Minecraft:warm ocean biome, but without coral reefs or sea pickles, and twice as deep. Because they were a deep ocean variant, they could generate ocean monuments.
The deep warm ocean did not naturally generate in any non-snapshot or non-beta version. |
File:Deep Warm Ocean.png |
| Hills | Hills biomes were generated as small spots scattered throughout certain biomes. This included:
Most hills were gentle rolling slopes on which the usual biome terrain generated, with some sharper cliffs here and there. Snowy mountains had a lower chance of spawning passive mobs during world generation than other biomes (7% versus 10%). Minecraft:Swamp hills and Minecraft:dark forest hills generated as 'modified' biomes instead of hills biomes, making them slightly rarer but also bigger in size. Minecraft:Tall birch hills generated as 'modified hills' biomes, which made them even rarer than modified biomes. Tall birch hills had much more mountainous terrain than most hills biomes. |
File:Giant Tree Taiga Hills.png File:Desert Hills.png File:Jungle Hills.png File:Snowy Mountains.png File:Tall Birch Hills.png |
| Minecraft:Giant spruce taiga hills | Giant spruce taiga hills were a special case. Template:IN, the game code sets the values setBaseHeight and setHeightVariation to define a "hilly" biome, but used the same values as for its non-hill variant (Template:Abbr), meaning there was absolutely no terrain difference between the two biomes.
Template:IN, this biome did generate as a much hillier version of the giant spruce taiga, even more mountainous than regular hills biomes. However, the giant spruce taiga hills used the same trees as the giant tree taiga hills (with leaves only at the top), making this biome very similar to the giant tree taiga hills. |
File:Giant Spruce Taiga Hills.png |
| Minecraft:Badlands plateau | Badlands plateaus generated as actual biomes in badlands biomes, and were flattened at the top, much like real-life plateaus. They came to rest at an elevation of about 20 to 30 blocks above sea level. One may discover the entrance to a mineshaft within the tall slopes of a badlands plateau.
With the new terrain generation in Minecraft:Caves & Cliffs: Part II, the regular Minecraft:badlands biome also featured these plateaus and this biome became redundant. |
File:Badlands Plateau.png |
| Minecraft:Shattered savanna plateau | The terrain of the shattered savanna plateau biome was much less tame than its normal counterpart. It featured incredibly large and steep mountains that jut out of the terrain, similar to the Template:Abbr biome, albeit slightly smaller and gentler in comparison.
Template:IN, the grass and foliage color was lush green (the same color as in mushroom fields), making it easily distinguishable from the regular shattered savanna. |
File:Shattered Savanna Plateau.png |
| Minecraft:Modified wooded badlands plateau | This biome featured grass and oak trees on top of plateaus, much like its counterpart. However, the plateaus that generated here were generally smaller, allowing far less foliage to be generated. The terrain was more erratic, and could be compared to that of the similar modified badlands plateau biome, having an old and eroded appearance. Eroded badlands generated instead of desert alongside this biome. | File:Modified Wooded Badlands Plateau.png |
| Modified badlands plateau | Compared to the average badlands plateau, the modified badlands plateau featured more variable terrain and smaller plateaus, as if a larger plateau was weathered down over time. It was the second-rarest biome in the game, after the modified jungle edge. | File:Modified Badlands Plateau.png |
| Minecraft:Mushroom field shore | Mushroom field shores represented the transition between Minecraft:mushroom fields and the ocean, forming long strips between the biomes as a "beach", hence the name. However, it did not generate if the ocean biome was a deep ocean. This biome also generated when a river met a mushroom fields biome, similar to what frozen rivers did in snowy plains. The terrain of this biome was much more flat and shallow than the main mushroom fields biome, though it contained many of the same features, such as a mycelium surface layer, huge mushrooms and lack of hostile mobs, but shipwrecks and buried treasures could generate hereTemplate:Only.
Because the terrain was the only difference with the regular mushroom fields biome, this biome became redundant after Minecraft:Caves & Cliffs: Part II. |
File:Mushroom Field Shore.png |
| Gravelly mountains+ | The gravelly mountains+ had exactly the same terrain and features as the regular Template:Abbr.
Template:IN, the regular gravelly mountains did not have any trees, but this biome did, making it slightly different. Because almost no grass blocks were generated between the gravel, trees did rarely generate. |
File:Gravelly Mountains Plus.png |
| Modified jungle | The modified jungle featured very mountainuous terrain, with many cliffs and overhangs. | File:Modified Jungle.png |
| Modified jungle edge | The very rare modified jungle edge only generated when a rare swamp hills biome bordered a jungle. Like the regular modified jungle, this biome had much more mountainous terrain, but it was very small in size. | File:Modified Jungle Edge.png |
| Taiga mountains | Like the snowy taiga mountains, this biome featured very mountainous terrain, sometimes passing snowfall height. The taiga mountains were very similar to the windswept forest, but with a higher density of trees and slightly lower elevation. | File:Taiga Mountains.png |
| Snowy taiga mountains | The very rare snowy taiga mountains featured even more mountainous terrain than the snowy taiga hills, although not as much as the windswept hills. | File:Snowy Taiga Mountains.png |
Removed biomes
Template:Main These biomes no longer exist in current versions of the game.
| Biome name | Features | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Tundra | Template:Anchor | Snowy, barren terrain with few trees. The occasional trees do exist, although rarely. Ice can be found over water. Snow is common weather in tundras. It generates when the temperature is below 50% and the downfall is less than 20%. | File:Tundra.jpg |
| Minecraft:Rainforest | Template:Anchor
Minecraft:Grass block, Minecraft:short grass, Minecraft:ferns, Minecraft:oak trees, Minecraft:birch trees |
Rainforests are wet biomes with many trees, which have a 1 in 3 chance of being big, instead of 1 in 10 like all other biomes. They generate only oak trees and have a large amount of short grass and ferns. A biome is classified as a rainforest if the temperature is greater than 97% and the downfall is more than 90%. This could be the biome with some of the most cliffs and hills, because the world generator reduces height variation at lower downfalls. | File:Rainforest.jpg |
| Minecraft:Seasonal forest | Template:Anchor
Minecraft:Grass block, Minecraft:short grass, Minecraft:oak trees |
Seasonal forests spawn with a temperature of 97% or greater, and a downfall value between 45% and 90%. They are commonly found between forest and rainforests, and near plains biomes. They are identical to forests, except they have fewer trees and can spawn only oak trees. They have a little bit of short grass. | File:SeasonalForest.jpg |
| Minecraft:Ice desert | Template:Anchor | An unused biome before Beta 1.8 that was in the code but never implemented into the temperature/downfall table and thus did not actually generate. It was a biome of sand with snow on top of it and had snowfall and ice (the player can create something similar using the buffet world option and choosing the snowy beach biome). | File:Ice desert.png |
| Minecraft:Shrubland | Template:Anchor
Minecraft:Grass block, Minecraft:oak trees, Minecraft:birch trees |
A biome with few trees and no short grass. It is identical to the savanna biome. It is one of the smallest biomes in the game. It can generate if the temperature is between 50% and 97%, and the downfall value is below 35%. It is too small to generate a forest. | File:Shrubland.jpg |
Joke biomes
These biomes can appear only in April Fools snapshots of the game.
Minecraft:Java Edition 20w14∞ (2020)
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
_generated:id
|
_generated:id is the resource location of the generated biome. Its namespace is _generated and its name is the biome's numeric ID.
This "biome" includes all the other non-custom dimensions biomes. All mobs, blocks, particles and structures in Minecraft:20w13b (vanilla) can generate in this biome. A dimension can have multiple of these randomly generated biomes. |
File:Dimension.png |
| Minecraft:Between | Grid of End ships. Generates in the fleet dimension as well as some other random ones. There is no elytra as loot, but dragon heads still generate. Chests generate, but contain only a book titled "orders" written by a mess of changing letters. The contents have at least one word, usually an order (eg: build), a mess of constantly changing letters with varying lengths and another word(s) (eg: Lost Floppy).
|
File:Between.jpg |
| Minecraft:Biome For Player With No Time For Nonsense | Generates as a normal snowy taiga, but all ores are mineral blocks or redstone components. | File:Biome For Player With No Time For Nonsense.jpg |
| Minecraft:Shapes | Generates spheres, cubes, octahedra etc. of various colors of Minecraft:terracotta, Minecraft:glazed terracotta, Minecraft:concrete, Minecraft:concrete powder, Minecraft:wool, Minecraft:carpets, Minecraft:stained glass and Minecraft:stained glass panes. | File:Shapes biome.png |
Minecraft:Java Edition 23w13a_or_b (2023)
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| The Moon | Generates flat terrain with craters made of blocks of Minecraft:cheese, which can be "eaten" to change their shape. The only mob that spawns here is the Minecraft:moon cow. There is also the Minecraft:Lunar Base that can be expanded by stepping on the pressure plate, the only Minecraft:feature in the moon. | File:Moon 1.png |
Minecraft:Java Edition 24w14potato (2024)
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Arboretum | A forested biome, with every type of tree that exists in Minecraft:24w12a, along with Minecraft:huge mushrooms and Minecraft:potato trees. Non-uniform foliage color distinguishes this biome from other forest-type biomes. | File:Arboretum.png |
| Minecraft:Corruption | A forested biome, covered in potato trees of various sizes, as well as potato buds, that grow upward like stalagmites. Phantoms here spawn naturally during the day and they don't burn. | File:Corruption.png |
| Minecraft:Fields | A flat and open biome. Much of the surface is covered with Minecraft:poison farmland, and potatoes grow on top of it. | File:Fields.png |
| Minecraft:Hash | A dry biome, with almost no vegetation. Only biome where Minecraft:gravtater and Minecraft:vicious potatoes occur naturally. Minecraft:Hash wells and Minecraft:fossils generate here. | File:Hash.png |
| Minecraft:Wasteland | A desolate and dangerous biome. Water and rain applies the Minecraft:Poison effect to players and mobs. Minecraft:Toxifin slabs spawn in large numbers, causing more Poison and Wither. Minecraft:Ancient debris is common in this biome. | File:Wasteland (24w14potato).png |
Minecraft:Java Edition 25w14craftmine (2025)
| Biome name | Description | Screenshot |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft:Hub | A biome consisting of a "+"-shaped room with a Minecraft:mine crafter in the center, with Minecraft:shimmering doors on opposite sides, which lead to additional rooms once unlocked. On the third side lies the entrance to the memory lane, a long corridor lined with Minecraft:mine revisitors. All the rooms are surrounded in sky blocks. | File:Hub.png |
Tint
All biomes use a set of Minecraft:colors for various environmental aspects such as the Minecraft:sky, Minecraft:water, Minecraft:fog, and some Minecraft:blocks. Template:IN, biomes specify their colors in the client_biome JSON files in the vanilla resource packs. Some biomes specify their colors directly, while others use colormaps or separate JSON files which can also control other environmental effects.
Template:IN, all biome colors for blocks are also visible on Minecraft:maps.<ref>Template:Bug</ref>
Plants
Biome grass and foliage colors are selected from three 256×256 colormap images: grass.png, foliage.png, and dry_foliage under Template:CdTemplate:Only or Template:CdTemplate:Only in the vanilla resource pack. The grass.png colormap sets the colors for Minecraft:grass block, Minecraft:short grass, Minecraft:tall grass, Minecraft:ferns, Minecraft:large ferns, ferns in Minecraft:flower pots, Minecraft:sugar canes, Minecraft:bushes and stems of Minecraft:pink petals and Minecraft:wildflowers. Meanwhile, the Template:Cd colormap sets the colors for Minecraft:vines and tree Minecraft:leaves of oak, jungle, acacia, dark oak and mangrove. The Template:Cd colormap sets the colors for Minecraft:leaf litter. Only the colors in the lower-left halfs of the images are used, even though the upper-right side of Template:Cd and Template:Cd is colored.
-
grass.png
-
foliage.png
-
dry_foliage.png
The adjusted temperature and adjusted downfall values (recognized as AdjTemp and AdjDownfall in the following, respectively) are used when determining the biome color to select from the colormap. They are computed as follows:
AdjTemp = clamp( Temperature, 0.0, 1.0 )
AdjDownfall = clamp( Downfall, 0.0, 1.0 ) * AdjTemp.
"clamp" limits the range of the temperature and downfall to 0.0—1.0. The clamped downfall value is then multiplied by the adjusted temperature value, bringing its value to be inside the lower left triangle. Treating the bottom-right corner of the colormap as AdjTemp = 0.0 and AdjDownfall = 0.0, the adjusted temperature increases to 1.0 along the X-axis, and the adjusted downfall increases to 1.0 along the Y-axis.
Special plant tints
In the following cases, the plants are not tinted exactly according to the colormap. Template:IN, several of them are specified in biome Jsons in vanilla data pack.
Swamps
In swamps and mangrove swamps, the grass color is based on a noise on XZ plane. When the value of this noise is less than -0.1, it uses the color Template:Color. Otherwise using Template:Color. The foliage color is Template:Color in swamps and Template:Color in mangrove swamps, which are not affected by the colormap. The dry foliage color in swamps and mangrove swamps is Template:Color, which also ignores the colormap.
Template:IN, all swamp biomes use colormaps to determine these colors, similar to regular colormaps described above.
-
swamp_grass.png
-
swamp_foliage.png
-
mangrove_swamp_foliage.png
Dark forest
In Minecraft:dark forests, the grass color is the result of the bitwise AND between the color in the colormap and Template:Color, and then averaging with Template:Color. In vanilla, that is Template:Color.
Badlands
In Minecraft:badlands, Minecraft:wooded badlands and Minecraft:eroded badlands, the grass color is Template:Color and the foliage color and dry foliage color is Template:Color. They are not affected by the colormap.
Cherry grove
The color for grass and foliage in Minecraft:cherry groves is always Template:Color, which is not affected by the colormap.
Pale garden
In the Minecraft:pale garden, the grass color is Template:Color, the foliage color is Template:Color, and the dry foliage color is Template:Color They are not affected by the colormap.
Other leaves
The color for spruce Minecraft:leaves is Template:Color and the color for birch leaves is Template:Color. Both are not affected by the biome, but determined by colormaps Template:In.
-
birch.png
-
evergreen.png
Environment
The color of the daytime Minecraft:sky in Overworld changes according to the basic temperature value of the biome. The basic temperature is first modified as T = clamp( Temperature / 3 , -1.0, 1.0 ). Then the triple (0.62222224-0.05T, 0.5+0.1T, 1) is the sky color.
The color of the sky in the pale garden biome is Template:Color, which is unaffected by the above formula. See Template:Slink below for all sky colors.
The colors and surface opacity of Minecraft:water are defined in the vanilla data packTemplate:Only or client biome JSON files in vanilla resource packs.Template:Only Some biomes Template:In, or most biomes Template:In have unique water colors. Minecraft:Swamps and warm oceans in Bedrock Edition have unique water surface opacities, 65% and 55% respectively.
The color and density of water and sky Minecraft:fog is different for most biomes, defined by separate JSON files for each biome in Bedrock Edition. The underwater fog color is Template:Color with a few exceptions in Java Edition, or the same as the water surface color with some exceptions in Bedrock Edition. The sky fog color is Template:ColorTemplate:Only or Template:ColorTemplate:Only in all Overworld biomes, except pale gardens which use Template:Color. Nether biomes and the End have unique fog colors.
Vibrant Visuals
Minecraft:Vibrant Visuals ignores default colors for the sky, water, and fog, and adds new effects for each biome or a set of biome. Which environmental settings are used is determined by the biome JSON file, and all environmental settings are stored in separate directories in resource packs. In vanilla, the following effects are affected by the biome:
- Atmospherics, which includes the sky colors. The sky color of a biome is defined at zenith and at the horizon, with specified heights where the colors are blended. Minecraft:Cloud colors change with the sky colors. The color, strength, and scattering effects of directional light sources (sun and moon) are also dependent on the biome. Furthermore, all these settings are constantly changing with the Minecraft:daylight cycle, which also differs per biome. There are 17 different atmospherics and 15 different lighting settings defined for all biomes.
- Ambient lighting, which is always applied to any surface, has different strengths depending on the Minecraft:dimension. This is 0.02 in the Overworld, 0.5 in the Nether, and 0.125 in the End.
- Volumetric fog is an additional layer of Minecraft:fog with large differences between biomes. There are 9 different fog effects, mainly depending on the biome's humidity, but some biomes like swamps and pale gardens have unique dense fog effects with different colors.
- Color grading is applied to the final image rendering. This rebalances saturation levels for RGB colors at different illumination levels, and changes the image's color temperature. There are 14 color grading settings defined for all biomes.
Water colors are not visible with Vibrant Visuals, but all regular fog colors still apply asides from the volumetric fog.
Transition
When plants or water are at the borders between or among biomes, the color is affected by the biome of the surrounding blocks at the same Y-level. The range of the block involved in the calculation is determined by the biome blend radius in Minecraft:options. Takes the plant color or water color of the biomes within a square centered on this block and with the side length being the biome blend radius, and calculates their average value to get the final color for this block.
The sky colorTemplate:Only and the fog color use the color processed by Template:W from colors of the biomes at each block in the range of 5×5×5 centered on the block the camera is in.
Climate
Template:For A biome has three climate attributes: temperature, downfall and precipitation.
Temperature
Each biome has a base temperature value (see Template:Slink), but the actual temperature value at each location in the biome is also affected by the height of the location. Locations with Y≤80 use the base temperature as actual temperature. At Y=81, the actual temperature value randomly fluctuates up and down by -0.00875 — +0.01125 from the base temperature based on a noise on the XZ plane, and at Y≥81 the actual temperature decreases by 0.00125 (Template:Frac) every block up.
In Minecraft:frozen oceans and Minecraft:deep frozen oceans, it is also affected by a noise value on the XZ plane. In some regions according to the noise, the base temperature value is always regarded as 0.2. The actual temperature values for these regions are also calculated on this basis. This is detectable in Minecraft:frozen oceans, as its base temperature is low enough to freeze or snow, so that only these regions do not freeze or snow at sea level.
The temperature affects at which height Minecraft:snowfall can occur, the sky and block colors, and whether Minecraft:sponges dry in the air.Template:Only
Downfall
The downfall value is a number between 0.0 and 1.0 (see Template:Slink). When the downfall value is greater than 0.85, the biome is marked as humid, which is related only to the random extinction of Minecraft:fire and block colors. This value doesn't affect the Minecraft:weather.
Precipitation
The precipitation value can be "true" or "false". If the precipitation of the biome is false, no Minecraft:rain or snow occurs. Otherwise, a location is rainable when its temperature value is equal or greater than 0.15, and snowable otherwise.
So, if the base temperature is less than 0.15, it's snowable at any Y level. Even if equal or greater than 0.15, it will still snow above a certain Y level, which are listed below:
| Biomes | Minimum height for snowfall |
|---|---|
| Template:BiomeLink Template:BiomeLink |
Any |
| Template:BiomeLink Template:BiomeLink Template:BiomeLink Template:BiomeLink<ref name="MC-240697">Template:Bug</ref> Template:BiomeLinkTemplate:Only<ref>Template:Bug</ref> Some regions of Template:BiomeLink and Template:BiomeLink |
120±8 |
| Template:BiomeLink Template:BiomeLink |
160±8 |
| Template:BiomeLink Template:BiomeLinkTemplate:Only Template:BiomeLinkTemplate:Only |
200±8 |
| Others | 356±8 (out of world) |
The exact minimum height for snowfall is randomized per block, with a margin of 8 blocks. Template:IN, this is a transition layer where both snow and rain particles are visible at the same time. This transition also appears when moving horizontally between snowy and rainy biomes, and the particle density decreases when moving to a dry biome.
Snow accumulation
Template:IN, the amount of Minecraft:snow layers generated on the surface is based on the snow accumulation value of the biome. The snow height is randomly selected per block between a minimum and maximum value, with 0.0 being no snow and 1.0 being the full height of one block.
During snowfall, snow can stack infinitely on top of generated snow, unlike Template:In where this is controlled by a snow accumulation Minecraft:game rule.
List of biome climates
Overworld
The Nether
| Biome | Base temperature | Downfall | Precipitation | Grass color | Foliage color | Dry foliage color | Sky color | Water color | Water fog color | Fog color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:BiomeLink | 2.0 | 0.0 | FALSE | Template:Color | Template:Color | Template:Color | Template:Color | Template:ColorTemplate:Only Template:ColorTemplate:Only |
Template:ColorTemplate:Only Template:Color 15 blocks distanceTemplate:Only |
Template:Color |
| Template:BiomeLink | Template:Color | |||||||||
| Template:BiomeLink | Template:Color | |||||||||
| Template:BiomeLink | Template:Color | |||||||||
| Template:BiomeLink | Template:Color | Template:ColorTemplate:Only Template:Color 15 blocks distanceTemplate:Only |
Template:Color |
The End
| Biome | Base temperature | Downfall | Precipitation | Grass color | Foliage color | Dry foliage color | Sky color | Water color | Water fog color | Fog color |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:BiomeLink Template:BiomeLinkTemplate:Only Template:BiomeLinkTemplate:Only Template:BiomeLinkTemplate:Only Template:BiomeLinkTemplate:Only |
0.5 | 0.5 | FALSE | Template:Color | Template:Color | Template:Color | Template:Color | Template:ColorTemplate:Only Template:ColorTemplate:Only |
Template:ColorTemplate:Only Template:Color 15 blocks distanceTemplate:Only |
Template:ColorTemplate:Only Template:ColorTemplate:Only |
Generation
Biome distribution
This is as of Minecraft:Java Edition 1.21.4. Minecraft:Pale gardens currently take up more space from dark forests in the Overworld and sulfur caves will replace parts of other biomes in Minecraft:Chaos Cubed.Template:Upcoming
Minecraft:Overworld
| Biome | Area cover by altitude | Volume cover | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y = -55 | Y = -32 | Y = 0 | Y = 32 | Y = 64 | Y < 64 | Y < 320 | |
| Surface biomes | 88.16% | 86.42% | 76.38% | 87.95% | 96.29% | 85.74% | 95.00% |
| Template:BiomeLink | 0.914% | 4.41% | 12.66% | 8.75% | 3.03% | 6.78% | 2.48% |
| Template:BiomeLink | 0.886% | 5.23% | 10.18% | 3.20% | 0.668% | 4.74% | 1.62% |
| Template:BiomeLink | 10.04% | 3.94% | 0.776% | 0.108% | 0.013% | 2.74% | 0.915% |
Minecraft:The Nether
| Biome | Volume cover |
|---|---|
| Template:BiomeLink | 36.30% |
| Template:BiomeLink | 22.22% |
| Template:BiomeLink | 17.08% |
| Template:BiomeLink | 15.86% |
| Template:BiomeLink | 8.54% |
Minecraft:The End
| Biome | Area cover |
|---|---|
| Template:BiomeLink | 45.81% |
| Template:BiomeLink | 25.70% |
| Template:BiomeLink | 17.66% |
| Template:BiomeLink | 10.82%<ref group="note" name="barrens">This ignores the regions of End terrain that fail to generate due to Template:Bug, which entirely consist of End barrens.</ref> |
| Template:BiomeLink | Template:Tooltip |
Biome IDs
Achievements
Advancements
History
Java Edition
Bedrock Edition
Legacy Console Edition
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
April Fools biomes
Issues
Trivia
- The term biome is slightly similar to its scientific usage: in the real world, a biome is climatically and geographically defined by distinctive communities of plants, animals and soil organisms supported by similar climatic conditions. They are often referred to as Template:Ws.<ref>"Biome" on Wikipedia</ref><ref>"biome" on Dictionary.com</ref> Minecraft biomes are defined by all of the blocks that compose them, not just the plants and animals found in them.
- A biome can sometimes generate with an area of only one block.<ref>Template:Bug</ref>
Gallery
Screenshots
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Examples of different colors for grass and leaves in different biomes.
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A dark forest bordering onto a Minecraft:lake.
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A relatively large island.
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A Minecraft:river runs through a flower forest, a Minecraft:sunflower plains, a jungle and a sparse jungle biome.
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A Minecraft:carver cave in a badlands biome.
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Jungle and badlands biome generated next to each other.
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When savanna meets the snow.
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With varying terrain, Minecraft:basalt deltas biomes can be hard to navigate.
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Showcase of 1.19 world generation.
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A forest next to a lukewarm ocean.
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A picture of a Minecraft:jungle taken at dawn.
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A jungle sunset.
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The sun setting in a old growth pine taiga.
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Many different biomes in one place.
Historical screenshots
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A Minecraft:dark forest biome. The stone variants Minecraft:granite, Minecraft:diorite and Minecraft:andesite can also be seen in the cliff.
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A large snowy Minecraft:taiga biome before 1.18, with a beach off to the side.
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A mountainous Minecraft:mushroom island. Since Minecraft:Caves & Cliffs, mushroom fields are mostly flat.
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An old view of a Minecraft:gravelly mountains biome, then covered by snow.
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An old view of a completely flat frozen ocean biome.
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A river before 1.18 separating a Minecraft:desert and Minecraft:plains.
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Before 1.18, badlands and badlands plateaus were separate biomes with sharper cliffs on the edges.
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A Minecraft:jungle edge before 1.18, which was an actual thin edge of the jungle.
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A desert with a jungle right beside it, which is no longer possible.
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An old Minecraft:swamp generated in the middle of an ocean, causing miscolored Minecraft:water and Minecraft:lily pads without any actual swampland.
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A rare occurrence of a mushroom fields biome touching the mainland, which is not possible since Minecraft:Caves & Cliffs.
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A rare biome transition of a colder biome touching a warmer biome, which is no longer possible.
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A badlands and jungle biome generated together. Rivers used to separate most biomes before 1.18.
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A river that splits off into two rivers.
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Two old mountain variants covered with snow.
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Comparison of giant tree taiga and giant spruce taiga biomes, which are now always separated by rivers.
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A river biome in Minecraft:Java Edition 1.16, with visible Minecraft:seagrass in it.
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A swamp and dark forest connecting with a river in between. Rivers can no longer generate in swamps.A swamp and dark forest connecting with a river in between. Rivers can no longer generate in swamps.
-
When 1.7 update was released, old worlds were completely rewritten.
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Village reaching into 3 biomes (jungle, desert and plains).
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Two large lakes in a plains biome, near a forest biome and a dark forest biome.
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A badlands biome and an ice spikes biome generated next to each other.
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Mushroom fields and giant tree taiga biomes connected together.
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A mushroom biome connected to a forest biome.
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A jungle between an ice spikes biome and a taiga.
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A Minecraft:desert sunrise with a mushroom island in the background.
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A village in a flower forest before 1.18, when flower forests usually had rough terrain.
Templates
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The biome graph used in Beta 1.7.3.
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Biome colors template for Java Edition 1.7 and 1.8.
Mojang images
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An old image of biomes work-in-progress. Biome grass colors have not been implemented at this point.An old image of biomes work-in-progress. Biome grass colors have not been implemented at this point.
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Early draft of the biomes graph, drawn by Minecraft:Notch.
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A map showcasing biome generation in Minecraft:Java Edition Alpha 1.2.
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Notch took this screenshot while testing the Minecraft:river biome.
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A biome map tweeted by Notch, showcasing work-in-progress biome generation for Minecraft:Beta 1.8.
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Minecraft:Jeb's first image of the Minecraft:jungle biome.
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Jeb's second jungle teaser screenshot.
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Biomes in 1.6.
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Biomes in 1.7.
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A biome map shown by Jeb on instagram.
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A biome map tweeted by Jeb, showcasing work-in-progress biome generation for Minecraft:Java Edition 1.7.2.
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A biome map tweeted by Jeb, showcasing slightly larger oceans for the WIP biome system in 1.7.2.
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This is the first picture provided of the Minecraft:badlands biome (then called mesa).
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The first image of a giant tree taiga, as tweeted by Jeb.
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The first image of a Minecraft:stony shore (then called cliff) biome, provided by Jeb.
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A view of the snowy taiga.
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A jungle, swamp and forest.
See also
References
External links
Template:Navbox biomes Template:Navbox environment
Minecraft:cs:Biom Minecraft:de:Biom Minecraft:es:Bioma Minecraft:fr:Biome Minecraft:hu:Biom Minecraft:it:Bioma Minecraft:ja:バイオーム Minecraft:ko:생물 군계 Minecraft:lzh:生態域 Minecraft:nl:Klimaat Minecraft:pl:Biom Minecraft:pt:Bioma Minecraft:ru:Биом Minecraft:th:ไบโอม Minecraft:uk:Біом Minecraft:zh:生物群系