Minecraft:Java Edition guides/Caves & Cliffs: Part II

This guide is a simplified overview of all changes in the Minecraft:Caves & Cliffs: Part II update (Template:JE 1.18.x releases), which assumes at least some familiarity with the Caves & Cliffs: Part I update (Java Edition 1.17.x releases).

Mobs

Changed

Minecraft:Axolotl	Template:Animate	Now spawn only in water above clay blocks in Minecraft:lush caves.
Minecraft:Glow squid	File:Glow Squid JE1.gif	Now spawn only in water blocks under Y=30.
Minecraft:Goat	File:Goat BE1.png	Now spawn only in Minecraft:snowy slopes, Minecraft:jagged peaks, and Minecraft:frozen peaks biomes.

Blocks

Changed

Minecraft:Dirt path	File:Dirt Path JE4 BE3.png	Changed texture.
Minecraft:Calcite	File:Calcite JE2.png	Generates in strips in Minecraft:stony peaks biomes.
Minecraft:Granite	File:Granite JE2 BE2.png	Generates as filler rock in copper ore veins.
Minecraft:Tuff	File:Tuff JE1.png	Generates in patches below Y=0. Generates as filler rock in iron ore veins.
Minecraft:Copper ore	File:Copper Ore JE2.png	Now drop 2-5 raw copper when mining instead of 2-3.
Minecraft:Powder snow	File:Powder Snow JE1 BE1.png	Generates in Minecraft:groves and snowy slopes.
Minecraft:Dripstone block	File:Dripstone Block JE1.png	Generates in Minecraft:dripstone caves.
Minecraft:Pointed dripstone	Template:Animate	Generates in dripstone caves.
Minecraft:Azalea	Template:Animate	Generates in lush caves.
Minecraft:Cave vines	Template:Animate	Generates in lush caves.
Minecraft:Big dripleaf	File:Big Dripleaf JE2.png	Generates in lush caves.
Minecraft:Small dripleaf	File:Small Dripleaf (two blocks tall) (E) JE3.png	Generates in lush caves.
Minecraft:Moss block	File:Moss Block JE1.png	Generates in lush caves.
Minecraft:Moss carpet	File:Moss Carpet JE1.png	Generates in lush caves.
Minecraft:Spore blossom	File:Spore Blossom JE1.png	Generates in lush caves.
Minecraft:Deepslate	Template:Animate	Generates below Y=8.

Items

New

Minecraft:Music disc ("otherside")

File:Music Disc Otherside JE1 BE1.png

"otherside" music disc can be found in chests in Minecraft:strongholds and Minecraft:monster rooms.

Plays the track otherside from the Caves & Cliffs soundtrack. File:Otherside.ogg

Changed

Minecraft:Doors (excluding crimson and warped)	Template:Animate	Have been given new item textures.
Minecraft:Glow berries	File:Glow Berries (item) JE1.png	Now grows on cave vines.
Minecraft:Signs	Template:Animate	Have been given new item textures.

Structures

New

Minecraft:Dripstone cluster	File:Large dripstone.png	Minecraft:Dripstone caves	No	No	A large vertical cluster of dripstone blocks.
Minecraft:Ore vein	File:Ore veins.jpg	Underground	No	No	A large cluster of long strips of stones and ores. Granite and copper ore veins generate above Y=0. Tuff and iron ore veins generate below Y=0.

Changed

All Minecraft:structures		Now hardcoded into world generation.
General		The Overworld now uses the multi-noise biome source type. Terrain generation is now independent from biomes, with biomes adapting to whatever terrain they happen to generate throughout. This allows for natural variation in the terrain of any individual biome, both in terms of shape and elevation. For example, Minecraft:forests and Minecraft:deserts could form up on a hill without needing a special biome just for that purpose. This additionally allows for smoother transitions between biomes. Terrain is now smoother and more extreme. Bedrock layers generate dependent on the world seed now. New random number generator is used for Overworld generation.
Minecraft:Amethyst geode	File:Amethyst geode.png	Now generate only up to Y=30.
Minecraft:Azalea tree	File:Azalea Tree.png	Now generate above lush caves.
Minecraft:Fossil	Template:Animate	Generates with deepslate Minecraft:diamond ore instead of Minecraft:coal ore when below Y=0.
Minecraft:Lakes	Template:Animate	Water lakes were removed, because Minecraft:aquifers could provide local water levels. Lava lakes now generate above Y=0.
Minecraft:Stony shore	File:Stone Shore.png	Now generates with strips of gravel. Can generate alongside any biome instead of just windswept hills.
Minecraft:Desert pyramid	File:Desert pyramid JE3 BE3.png	No longer generate on water. Now spawn on the surface rather than at a fixed Y-level, but tend to be partially buried.
Minecraft:Monster room	File:Monster Room (Dungeon).png	Increased the amount of dungeons, especially below Y=0.
Minecraft:Buried treasure	File:Chest (S) JE2.png	Can now contain Water Breathing Minecraft:potions.
Minecraft:Mineshaft	Template:Animate	The starting room no longer generates with a dirt floor. Now generate higher up in badlands.
Minecraft:Pillager outpost	File:Pillager Outpost.png	Now generate in all the new mountain biomes.
Minecraft:Village	Template:Animate	Now slightly more spread out. Now generate in Minecraft:meadows.

Biomes

New

Minecraft:Dripstone caves	File:Dripstone Caves.png	Contains lots of Minecraft:dripstone blocks and Minecraft:pointed dripstone on the floor and ceiling. There are large columns made of dripstone blocks extending from the ceiling to the floor of the cave. Contains many small pools of Minecraft:water. Contains larger deposits of copper ore.	Minecraft:Amethyst geodes Minecraft:Dungeons Minecraft:Mineshafts Minecraft:Strongholds
Minecraft:Lush caves	File:Lush Caves.png	An azalea tree generates on the surface to indicate the biome's location. Terrain is covered with lots of moss and Minecraft:clay. Many kinds of plants grow in this biome, including grass, vines, dripleaves, azalea, cave vines, and spore blossoms. Contains many pools and terraces made of clay and water.	Minecraft:Amethyst geodes Minecraft:Dungeons Minecraft:Mineshafts Minecraft:Strongholds
Minecraft:Meadow	File:Mountain Meadows.png	Generates at the base of mountains. Resembles a plains biome with blueish grass and numerous flowers.	Minecraft:Birch trees Minecraft:Villages
Minecraft:Grove	File:Mountain Grove.png	Generates on the slopes of mountains. Resembles a snowy taiga biome with a surface made of snow blocks and powder snow.	Minecraft:Spruce trees
Minecraft:Snowy slopes	File:Snowy Slopes.png	Generates on the slopes of mountains. Consists of several layers of snow and powder snow blocks on top of stone.
Minecraft:Stony peaks	File:Stony Peaks.png	Generates on the peaks of mountains. Usually generates when the surrounding base biomes are too hot for jagged or frozen peaks. Has a surface made of stone and strips of calcite.
Minecraft:Jagged peaks	File:Lofty Peaks.png	Generates on the peaks of mountains. More likely to generate as sharp peaks compared to the other peak biomes. Has a surface made of stone and snow.
Minecraft:Frozen peaks	File:Snow Capped Peaks.png	Generates on the peaks of mountains. Tends to generate rounded peaks. Has a surface made of snow and packed ice.

Changed

All Minecraft:biomes

File:1.18 experimental snapshot 5 reddit.png File:1.18 experimental snapshot 6 reddit.png File:1.18 experimental snapshot 7 reddit.png

Terrain, cave, and biome generation has been completely overhauled. The height limit and depth limit have both been increased by 64 blocks. There is now natural variation in terrain shape and elevation independently from biomes. New mountain biomes and cave biomes have been added. Cave biomes generate naturally underground and inside mountains. Cave generation has been overhauled to include new types of caves, such as cheese, spaghetti, and noodle caves. Local water levels and lava levels in caves can create underground water and lava lakes at different elevations. Ore distribution has been overhauled, with each ore now peaking in frequency at a different elevation. Large underground ore veins have been added. Clouds have been raised to Y=192. There is now much more variation in beach size. Ocean biomes temperatures now match land biome temperatures.