Minecraft is testing and triggering the next Caves and Cliffs update since it was announced on Minecraft Live, but the Caves and Cliffs update is not expected until the summer of 2021. Today, however, hardcore Minecrafters are having a chance to test and play with one of the biggest changes that comes in the Caves and Cliffs update with the new generation of caves. Minecraft: Java Edition snapshot 21w06a is here with new “noise” caves and aquifers.
Noise caves refer to a new way of generating caves in Minecraft and are expected to generate much more diverse and exciting caves wherever you go. The idea of this new system is also to make cave systems look more natural as you explore them. Aquifers replace the old underwater systems present in Minecraft to allow “local water surface levels”, which means that you can find entire underwater lakes!
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This is undoubtedly the biggest snapshot of Caves and Cliffs Update we’ve ever seen, and it’s exciting to see such a significant feature come to life after months of waiting. If you’re not sure how to test snapshots with Minecraft: Java Edition, check out our guide on how to play with Minecraft: Java Edition snapshots.
Otherwise, you will have to wait with the rest of us for the huge update of the Caves and Cliffs to reach everyone. The Caves and Cliffs update includes much more than just a new generation of caves and is one of the most extensive updates Minecraft has ever seen. If you’re as excited as I am, consider checking out our list of the Best Minecraft Products, Toys and Gifts to buy something for you or another Minecrafter in your life.
Remember that this is a first snapshot of the Caves and Cliffs update, so there must be a lot of bugs in this snapshot. Mojang Studios warns of two main caveats with this specific release:
- You will not be able to open old worlds in this snapshot, as there is currently no upgrade path to the height of the new world
- All caves of the new type between 31 and 63 will be flooded with water
The complete changelog for Minecraft: Java Edition snapshot 21w06a includes:
New features
- Noisy caves and aquifers added
Noisy caves and aquifers
- Noise caves are a new way of generating caves, providing a more natural variety. They can get really big sometimes!
- Noise caves come in two flavors:
- Cheese caves. Like the holes in Swiss cheese. They often form caves of various sizes
- Spaghetti caves. Long, irregular tunnels, sometimes wide like tagliatelle
- No, they are not tall. The “noise” part of the noise caves is a technical term and has nothing to do with sound
- Ancient cave sculptors and canyons still spawn, combining with noise caves to form interesting cave systems
- As with sculptors, when noise caves cross the surface, they form the entrances to the caves
- An aquifer is an area with a local water level, regardless of sea level. Aquifers are used during the world generation to generate bodies of water inside noise caves. This sometimes results in large underground lakes!
- For now, aquifers are used just below y31. This means that all noise caves between y31 and sea level (y63) will be flooded with water and the noise cave entrances will be essentially lakes. This will be fixed later
- Magma is sometimes generated at the bottom of underground water bodies
- Underwater cave sculptors and underwater canyons have been removed, as aquifers are used to generate water in caves.
To alter
- The overworld generation and construction limits have been expanded
- Mineshafts adapted for larger caves
- You can no longer crouch or jump to prevent a large drip from tipping
- A large leak will now tilt rather than break when hit by a projectile
- A large redstone-powered dripper will not tilt (except when hit by a projectile)
- Textures for hanging roots and small drops have been updated
World generation
- The generation range and construction limits have been expanded by 64 blocks up and 64 blocks down, for a total range of 384 blocks
- Underground resources, structures and caves spawn all the way to y -64
Mine changes
- The parts of the ore shaft do not generate if they were fully floating in the air
- Mine corridors are supported by log pillars when needed
- No floating cobwebs
Bug fixes
- A large drip sheet can be broken with arrows to protect the spawn
- A small leak can destroy any block