Minecraft:Java Edition guides/Combat Update

This guide is a simplified overview of all the changes in the Minecraft:Combat Update (Template:JE 1.9.x releases), which assumes at least some familiarity with the Minecraft:Bountiful Update (Java Edition 1.8.x releases).

Mobs

New

Minecraft:Shulkers	Template:Animate	Spawn during generation of End cities.	Template:Xp (when killed by a Minecraft:player or tamed Minecraft:wolf)	Can be stood on like a Minecraft:block. When attacking, shulkers open their shell and shoot projectiles with the appearance of white sea urchins. Don't despawn on Peaceful, but don't attack or target players either.
Minecraft:Skeleton trap horse	File:Skeleton Trap Revision 1.png	Skeleton trap horses spawned from a fraction of lightning strikes during a Minecraft:thunderstorm.	Minecraft:Skeleton horse: Template:Drop Template:Xp (when killed by a Minecraft:player or tamed Minecraft:wolf) Minecraft:Skeleton: Template:Drop Template:Drop Template:Xp, plus Template:Xp per equipment piece (when killed by a Minecraft:player or tamed Minecraft:wolf) Spawned equipment Template:Drop Template:Drop	When a player comes within 10 blocks of the skeleton trap horse, Minecraft:lightning strikes it. When struck, the skeleton trap horse transforms into a Minecraft:skeleton horseman. It also spawns 3 additional skeleton horsemen in the vicinity. Each skeleton is equipped with an enchanted iron helmet and an enchanted bow, and have Minecraft:damage immunity for 3 seconds after spawning. Skeleton trap horse despawns after 15 minutes if not triggered.

Changed

All Minecraft:mobs		Improved AI. Mobs now can be pushed by other mobs. Added/changed sounds for some mobs. To have chance to spawn left-handed mobs.
Minecraft:Creepers, Minecraft:skeletons and Minecraft:zombies	Template:Animate	They must be closer to notice players wearing the corresponding mob Minecraft:head. Skeletons now hold their bows at their sides when not aiming.
Tamed Minecraft:wolves and Minecraft:cats	Template:Animate Template:Animate	Their deaths are now announced to their owners in chat, even if unnamed.
Minecraft:Ender dragon	File:Ender Dragon.gif	Can be respawned by placing one Minecraft:End crystal on each side of the exit portal at any one of the three blocks of that side. While respawning, beams shoot out of these crystals, that reset all the pillars. When done, they blow up and spawn the dragon. Subsequent dragons spawn new gateways up to a total of 20, but don't create new Minecraft:dragon eggs and only drop 500 Minecraft:experience instead of 12,000. When the dragon is respawned, the circle of pillars and the crystals reappear. Explosion particles appear on the tops of the pillars as they are being rebuilt. The fight has been changed to be more similar to the one on the Minecraft:console edition. They can no longer take damage from Minecraft:snowballs, Minecraft:eggs or Minecraft:fishing rods. Its attacks have been changed: The "charge" attack has been given a great amount of knockback. Breathes fire/purple particles (called "dragon breath") while on top of the portal. During the attack, it knocks back and damages all players on all angles in the vicinity (as if hitting with other body parts). Immediately charges the player right after. Right-clicking the dragon's breath cloud with a Minecraft:glass bottle turns it into Minecraft:dragon's breath. It is used to transform Minecraft:splash potions into Minecraft:lingering potions. Shoots special projectiles at the player called "ender acid". These produce a dragon breath cloud on impact and light the ground on Minecraft:fire. While on top of the portal, arrows bounce back and are set on fire. Tags can determine the dragon's phase. Its AI was changed: It sometimes returns to the center of the island to "perch" on top of the portal and shoot dragon breath. It charges right after. Defends the obsidian pillars more, the further the fight progresses. Flies back to the portal once it gets killed, to complete its animation. No longer teleports through nether portals or End portals. Can no longer ride anything. Can no longer have status effects. Dragon summoned with Template:Cmd now stays in the same position no matter what. Unlike a dragon with {NoAI:1b}, it still flaps its wings. These dragons do not show their boss health bar, nor do they take damage from any attack other than Template:Cmd.
Minecraft:Iron golem	File:Iron Golem JE1 BE1.png	Has 100% knockback resistance.
Minecraft:Pigs	File:Pig JE2 BE1.png	Can be led and bred with Minecraft:potatoes and beetroots, in addition to Minecraft:carrots.
Minecraft:Rabbits	Template:Animate	Now only spawn in Template:Tooltip. Even in these biomes, spawn chance is somewhat reduced. When rabbits are destroying Minecraft:carrot crops, now reduces the growth stage by 1 level, only removing the crop block entirely if the growth stage was 0. Are much smaller. Killer bunnies no longer naturally spawn.
Minecraft:Skeleton horse	File:Skeleton Horse Revision 1.png	Now spawns naturally in Minecraft:thunderstorms and can be Minecraft:tamed.
Minecraft:Snow golem	Template:Animate	Snow golems' Minecraft:pumpkin now can be removed with shears. Doesn't drop the pumpkin.
Minecraft:Zombie villagers	Template:Animate	Now have different textures based on the profession and career of the original villager. The profession is restored once cured but not its trades.

Blocks

New

Name	Image	Obtaining	Tool required	Uses
Template:BlockLink	Template:Animate	Found on the top of the chorus trees.	Axe	Breaks if the supporting block below is broken. It only drops when mined directly. Can only be planted on Minecraft:End stone in any dimension. Show a dead texture when it stops growing.
Template:BlockLink	File:Chorus Plant JE1 BE1.png	Found in the part of the chorus trees.	Axe	Breaks in quick succession if the supporting chorus plant below is broken.
Template:BlockLink	File:Dragon Head.png	Generates on the bows of End ships.	Any	While a player wears the dragon head and moves, the head's mouth opens and closes repeatedly. When powered with Minecraft:redstone while placed on a solid block, the jaw starts to open and close. They keep the mouth position of the exact moment it was unpowered.
Template:BlockLink	File:End Rod JE1 BE1.png	Generates in the End cities.	Any	Placeable horizontally and vertically. Can be used as a light source with the same brightness as Minecraft:torches. Unlike torches, End rods have a hitbox.
Template:BlockLink	File:End Stone Bricks JE1 BE1.png	Generate in the End cities.	Pickaxe	Can be used as a decorative block.
Template:BlockLink	File:Purpur Block JE1 BE1.png	Generates in the End cities.	Pickaxe	Can be used as a decorative block.
Template:BlockLink	File:Purpur Pillar (UD) JE1 BE1.png	Generates in the End cities.	Pickaxe	Can be used as a decorative block.
Template:BlockLink and Template:BlockLink	File:Purpur Slab JE1 BE1.png File:Purpur Stairs JE1 BE1.png	Generate in the End cities.	Pickaxe	Can be used as decorative blocks.
Template:BlockLink	File:End Gateway.gif	Generates in gateway structures.	N/A	Teleports entities to corresponding gateways elsewhere in the End.
Template:BlockLink	File:Grass Path JE1 BE1.png	Right-clicking Minecraft:grass block with any tier of Minecraft:shovel. This consumes one durability of the shovel.	Shovel (drops dirt)	Can be used as a decorative block.
Minecraft:Beetroot crops	Template:Animate	Created by planting beetroot seeds on farmland.	Any	Drops multiple beetroots and beetroot seeds when fully grown.
Template:BlockLink	Template:Animate	Created by walking on water using Frost Walker boots.	Any	Breaks after a few seconds, allowing players to create temporarily bridges across water.
Template:BlockLink and Template:BlockLink	File:Chain Command Block JE2 BE1.png File:Repeating Command Block JE2 BE1.png	Obtainable through commands.	N/A	While activated, chain command blocks run a command when an adjacent command block runs a command. While activated, repeating command blocks run a command every tick.
Template:BlockLink	Template:Animate	Obtainable through commands.	N/A	Can be used to save and load structures.

Changed

Name	Changes
All Minecraft:blocks	Added/changed sounds for some blocks.
Template:BlockLink	Renaming an item does not increase the repair cost for a future repair/rename anymore.
Template:BlockLink	Now keeps the item in it after reloading the world. Drops any contained item when exiting the GUI. Effect duration depends on pyramid levels, 9 seconds plus 2 seconds per level (formerly a constant 9 seconds). Now immediately activates when placed on valid pyramids.
Template:BlockLink	Now requires Minecraft:blaze powder to be able to use. One piece of blaze powder adds 20 fuel. 1 fuel is used on every batch of potions.
Template:BlockLink	Breaks if Minecraft:lava is adjacent. Breaks if Minecraft:water or lava is in the block above.
Template:BlockLink	Minecraft:Buckets now can be filled from a full cauldron.
Template:BlockLink	Now drops itself when cut with Minecraft:shear.
Template:BlockLink	No longer emits a signal at night when sufficiently shaded.
Template:BlockLink	Now drops 0–2 Minecraft:sticks when broken.
Template:BlockLink	Now equips Minecraft:pumpkins on the heads of Minecraft:players, Minecraft:mobs and Minecraft:armor stands.
Template:BlockLink	Now placed facing left/right depending on which half of the block the player clicks on unless neighboring doors cause them to place a certain way.
Template:BlockLink and Template:BlockLink	Are now 2×2 pixels in footprint if no blocks connect to their sides.
Template:BlockLink	Falling onto it does only 20% of normal fall damage.
Template:BlockLink	No longer requires supporting blocks. An open trapdoor may be climbed like a ladder if it is directly above a ladder and on the same side of the block.

Items

New

Name	Image	Obtaining	Uses
Template:ItemLink	File:Beetroot JE1 BE1.png	Can be harvested from beetroot crops.	Fills Template:Hunger hunger point when eaten. Can be used to craft beetroot soup. Can also be used to craft Minecraft:rose red dye.
Template:ItemLink	File:Beetroot Soup JE1 BE1.png		Give Template:Hunger hunger points when eaten.
Template:ItemLink	File:Beetroot Seeds JE1 BE1.png	Harvested from beetroot crops. Additionally beetroot seeds can be found in villages or loot chests.	Used to grow beetroots.
Template:ItemLink	File:Chorus Fruit JE1 BE1.png	Breaking chorus plants.	Give Template:Hunger hunger points when eaten. Teleport entity to a random nearby location when eaten, like an Minecraft:enderman. Can be eaten even if the player's hunger bar is full, similar to Minecraft:golden apples. Can be cooked in the furnace to obtain popped chorus fruits.
Template:ItemLink	File:Dragon's Breath JE1 BE1.png	Scooping up the ender dragon's breath attack or dragon fireball clouds in a Minecraft:glass bottle.	Can be used to brew lingering potions with a Minecraft:splash potion.
Template:ItemLink	File:Elytra (item) JE1 BE1.png File:Broken Elytra (item) JE1 BE1.png	Found on End ships in an Minecraft:item frame.	Players can glide when elytra is equipped in the "chestplate" slot. Take damage at a rate of 1/s when working. When durability reaches 1, the elytra stop working until they are repaired. Elytra never fully break. Minecraft:Leather repairs elytra in an anvil. The elytra texture defaults to the cape texture if the player owns a Minecraft:cape.
Template:ItemLink	File:End Crystal (item) JE1 BE1.png		The item form of End crystal entity. Summons an End crystal when using it on Minecraft:bedrock or Minecraft:obsidian. Summoned End crystals have no bottom plate, unlike natural End crystals.
Template:ItemLink	File:Popped Chorus Fruit JE1 BE1.png		No longer edible. Can be used to craft purpur blocks.
Template:ItemLink	File:Shield JE1.png		New tool used for blocking incoming attacks. If the player holds right click while being attacked, the damage inflicted is reduced, and the shield loses durability. Hitting a shield with an Minecraft:axe has a chance to disable the shield for 5 seconds. Can be combined with Minecraft:banners to transfer patterns to it. Minecraft:Planks repairs shields in an anvil.
Template:ItemLink and Template:ItemLink	File:Arrow of Luck JE1 BE1.png File:Spectral Arrow (item) JE1.png		New types of Minecraft:arrows. Imbue a Minecraft:status effect when hitting a mob or player. Spectral arrow imbues the Minecraft:Glowing effect for 10 seconds. For effects with duration, the duration is Template:Frac that of the corresponding potion.
Template:ItemLink	File:Shulker Spawn Egg JE1 BE2.png	Available in the creative inventory.	Can be used to spawn shulkers.

Changed

Name	Changes
All Minecraft:items	Added sounds for some items. Now shows animation for variant states in the hotbar/inventory for some items.
Template:ItemLink	Armor points count for less as the attack strength increases: each Template:Health done by the attack reduces the effective defense points by Template:Armor, but not below 20% of the armor points.
Template:ItemLink	Hitting a player who is blocking with a shield using an axe has a chance to disable the player's shield for 5 seconds.
Template:ItemLink	Added spruce, birch, jungle, acacia and dark oak variants. Crafted from 5 same variant planks, with the shape just as it was before. The previous "Boat" is now called "Oak Boat". Boats have a new model, with a pair of paddles on it.
Template:ItemLink	Is now uncraftable. Now gives Template:EffectLink II for 20 seconds (heals Template:Health in total) and Template:EffectLink IV for 2 minutes (providing Template:Hp points of absorption health).
Template:ItemLink	Now can be thrown in Minecraft:Creative mode. Has a cooldown time every time it is used.
Template:ItemLink and Template:ItemLink	Can no longer be added to extended or tier-II potions, respectively.
Template:ItemLink	Can no longer be enchanted with Minecraft:Silk Touch. Now lose durability when used to break any block. Minecraft:Cobweb now drops itself when cut with shears.
Template:ItemLink	Can no longer be used for blocking. New defensive sword "sweep" attack when swinging the sword while crouching or standing. Mobs near the attacker are knocked back and receive Template:Hp damage.
Template:ItemLink	Splash water potion extinguishes any Minecraft:fire block that it's thrown at, as well as a maximum of five of them in the vicinity.

Non-mob entities

Changed

All Minecraft:entities		Added sounds for some entities.
Minecraft:Arrows	File:Arrow.png	Now bounce off of Creative mode players, where as before they would pass straight through. Now take the shooter's motion into account.
Minecraft:Boats	Template:Animate	Are faster, and no longer crash and break on the shore. Using the Template:Control and Template:Control keys now turns the boat. Using the mouse no longer turns the boat. Using the mouse, the player can look fully 90 degrees to the left or the right, but not behind. Holding the Template:Control keys no longer have any effect. Now sink when there's water above it, instead of floating upwards. The player cannot use items or attack while the boat is in motion. Mobs and armor stands can go into boats, with a maximum of two. Riding a boat no longer subjects water-sensitive mobs to being damaged by water, and no longer protects sunlight-sensitive mobs from being damaged by sunlight. Now come in 6 different wood type variants.
Minecraft:Projectiles		Now take the thrower's motion into account.

Effects

New

Minecraft:Glowing	File:Glowing JE1.png	Being hit by spectral arrows.	Makes entity's outline glow, even through non-transparent blocks.
Minecraft:Levitation	File:Levitation JE1 BE1.png	Being hit by shulker projectiles.	Makes entity involuntarily float high into the air.
Minecraft:Luck	File:Luck JE1.png	Potion of Luck (unobtainable in Survival).	Increases the luck attribute by 1 per level.
Minecraft:Bad Luck	File:Bad Luck JE1.png	Commands only.	Decreases the luck attribute by 1 per level.

Potions

New

Template:ItemLink		The effect is the same as the original Minecraft:splash potion. Thrown like a splash potion. Leaves a patch of the potion particle effect on impact. Entities that walk into it get the effect.
Template:ItemLink	Can only be obtained in creative inventory.	Minecraft:Luck (5:00)
Template:ItemLink	Cannot be obtained in Survival.	No effects.

Changed

Extended Template:ItemLink and extended Template:ItemLink	Decreased duration for these potions, from 2:00 to 1:30.
Template:ItemLink	Can no longer be made using a Minecraft:potion of Fire Resistance.
Template:ItemLink	Can no longer be made using a Minecraft:potion of Water Breathing.
Template:ItemLink	Changed to Template:Health damage increase, was 130% increase.
Template:ItemLink	Changed to Template:Health damage decrease, was 0.5 (Template:Hp × Template:Frac) decrease. All recipes for the potion of Weakness were removed except using a Minecraft:water bottle.

Structures

New

Template:BiomeLink	File:Small End Islands.png	Generate in every direction from the main island, separated by a gap of about 1,000 blocks.	No	Template:EntityLink	Chorus trees and End cities generate here.
Template:EnvLink	File:End gateway JE2 BE1.png	A new gateway generates near the edge of the main island each time the Minecraft:ender dragon is defeated.	None	None	The way to the outer islands. Up to 20 gateways can be generated.
Template:EnvLink	File:Chorus Tree JE1 BE1.png	Generates on the outer islands of the End.	None	None	Consist of chorus plants and chorus flowers; a chorus flower generates at the top of each branch. The player can grow a new chorus tree by planting a flower on a block of End stone.
Template:EnvLink	File:EndCityEntrance JE1 BE1.png	Generates on the outer islands of the End.	Yes	Template:EntityLink	A dungeon-type structure fashioned like a branching tower.
Minecraft:End ship	File:End Ship JE1 BE1.png	Has an 80% chance of being generated with an End city.	Yes	Template:EntityLink	Appear to sail away from what appears to be a pier.
Template:EnvLink	File:Igloo top Revision 1.png File:Igloo bottom JE1 BE1.png	Spawns randomly in Minecraft:ice plains and Minecraft:cold taiga (but not the hills variant).	Yes	Template:EntityLink Template:EntityLink	Can be a shelter for the player. Some igloos have a stone brick basement. A cleric villager and a cleric zombie villager always spawn in the iron bars. Always spawns a splash Minecraft:potion of Weakness and a Minecraft:golden apple. It hinting the player to use these on the zombie to turn him into the villager.

Changed

In 1.9+ in each world 128 strongholds generate (before 1.9 only 3 strongholds generated per world).

All Minecraft:structures		Rebalanced Minecraft:chest loot.
Template:EnvLink	File:Obsidian Pillar JE1 BE1.png	Obsidian pillars now generate in a circle around the exit portal. Some of the shorter pillars now generate with iron bars.
Template:EnvLink	File:Exit portal (empty).png	Pre-generated, but without the Minecraft:dragon egg and portal blocks.
Template:EnvLink	File:OakHouse.png	Farms now include beetroot crops.
Template:EnvLink	File:Swamp hut JE1 BE1.png	Now always spawn with a Minecraft:witch.

Gameplay

New

Template:EffectLink	A meter shows up after switching items or attacking. Damage done now depends on the fullness of the meter, and attack does 20%–100% of normal damage as the meter fills. Template:EffectLink and Template:EffectLink cause the meter to fill faster or slower.
Template:EnvLink	Players now can use both hands to perform different actions using the left and right mouse buttons. For example, if a player has a pickaxe in their main hand and a torch in their other hand, right clicking places the torch. Added an extra inventory slot called the offhand slot. Pressing Template:Key switches whatever item is selected in the hotbar with the item in the offhand (including no item). The offhand slot is displayed next to the hotbar when it's not empty (left for right-hand players and vice versa). Only the main hand can be used for breaks blocks or attacks.
Template:ItemLink	Players now can glide when equipped elytra. To glide, the player must press the Template:Ctrl key when in mid-air, then the elytra spread apart like insect wings and the player enters a glide. Player can aim their view around to turn or adjust the pitch. Losing altitude increases speed, and gaining altitude decreases speed. Trying for too high a pitch reduces the player's lift. Directly hitting any surface while gliding causes damage proportional to flight speed.

Changed

Template:ItemLink	Overpowered Description changed from "Build" to "Eat" an enchanted golden apple.
Template:EffectLink	Damage done by Minecraft:tools has been rebalanced: Tool Attack speed Attack damage Damage/second (DPS) Minecraft:Sword 1.6 Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite 6.4 Template:ItemSprite 8 Template:ItemSprite 9.6 Template:ItemSprite 11.2 Template:ItemSprite 6.4 Minecraft:Shovel 1 Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite 2.5 Template:ItemSprite 3.5 Template:ItemSprite 4.5 Template:ItemSprite 5.5 Template:ItemSprite 2.5 Minecraft:Pickaxe 1.2 Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite 2.4 Template:ItemSprite 3.6 Template:ItemSprite 4.8 Template:ItemSprite 6 Template:ItemSprite 2.4 Minecraft:Axe Template:ItemSprite 0.8 Template:ItemSprite 0.8 Template:ItemSprite 0.9 Template:ItemSprite 1 Template:ItemSprite 1 Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite 5.6 Template:ItemSprite 7.2 Template:ItemSprite 8.1 Template:ItemSprite 9 Template:ItemSprite 7 Minecraft:Hoe Template:ItemSprite 1 Template:ItemSprite 2 Template:ItemSprite 3 Template:ItemSprite 4 Template:ItemSprite 1 Template:Hp Template:ItemSprite 1 Template:ItemSprite 2 Template:ItemSprite 3<ref group="note" name="dpsLimit2">Against a single target, DPS is effectively limited to 2 due to damage immunity.</ref> Template:ItemSprite 4<ref group="note" name="dpsLimit2">Against a single target, DPS is effectively limited to 2 due to damage immunity.</ref> Template:ItemSprite 1 Other 4 Template:Hp 4<ref group="note" name="dpsLimit2">Against a single target, DPS is effectively limited to 2 due to damage immunity.</ref>
Template:ItemLink	Minecraft:Luck of the Sea and the Luck effect affect fishing again, and effects stack. Each point increases the weight of treasure by 2, decreases the weight of fish by 1, and decreases the weight of junk by 2.
Template:Healthbar Minecraft:Hardcore	Upon death the player now can choose to respawn in Minecraft:Spectator mode rather than the world being deleted.
Minecraft:Heads-up display	Minecraft:Status effect icons are now displayed on the HUD on the right hand corner. They are ordered by the time of infliction from right to left. Positive effects are on the top row and negative effects on the bottom row. Effects that are about to run out blink.
Template:EffectLink	Health regenerates faster when saturation is non-zero and the hunger bar is at 20. Health regeneration increases exhaustion more.

Enchantments

New

Minecraft:Enchantment	Max level	Applicable items	Notes
Minecraft:Mending	I	Template:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSpriteTemplate:ItemSprite	When an item with the enchantment is held or equipped (in the main hand, offhand, or armor slots), collected Minecraft:experience orbs repair the item at a rate of 2 durability per XP instead of adding the XP to the player's total experience.
Minecraft:Frost Walker	II	Template:ItemSprite	If moving on ground (not falling, jumping, or flying), any still Minecraft:water blocks with air above within a radius of 2 + level around the block being moved to are turned into Minecraft:frosted ice. Frosted ice cannot be obtained in Survival. Frosted ice naturally melts fairly quickly with light and show the breaking texture. Incompatible with Minecraft:Depth Strider.

Changed

Minecraft:Lure	No longer affects the chances of catching things, only the delay.
Minecraft:Protection	Bonuses are now linear instead of quadratic.
Minecraft:Sharpness	Each level now adds Template:Health damage to the base damage at level I and an additional 0.5 (Template:Health × 0.25) for each additional level, down from a flat 1.25 (Template:Health × 0.625) per level.
Minecraft:Silk Touch	Can no longer be added to Minecraft:shears.

Others

New

Minecraft:Subtitles

Mainly intended for players who are hard of hearing, deaf or play with sounds off. They can also be used for hearing quieter sounds. Minecraft:Mobs have individualizing subtitles, for example "Creeper hisses". "<" or ">" points in the direction in which the sound is coming from if the sounds are offscreen.