Minecraft: Bedrock Edition "1.17.0" Update

This page documents an update currently being worked on.

Therefore, not all official feature names or items are mentioned.

1.17.0, the first release of the Caves & Cliffs update, is an upcoming major update to Bedrock Edition set to release in mid-2021. It was first announced during Minecraft Live 2020 on October 3, 2020.

Additions

Blocks

Copper Block

Can be crafted with 4 copper ingots, and can also be crafted back into 4 copper ingots.
Oxidizes and changes texture to a turquoise-green over time.
Can be stopped from oxidizing by combining it with a honeycomb to create a Waxed Copper Block.
Can be crafted into cut copper.

Copper Ore

Generates randomly underground in small veins, but this has been confirmed to be a placeholder.
Has the same rarity as iron.
Generating starts at the same minimum level(s) as iron.
Can be smelted into a copper ingot.
Spawns in up to 5 blocks together.

Cut Copper

Can be made into stair and slab variants.
Oxidizes and changes texture over time.
Can be stopped from oxidizing by combining it with a honeycomb to create Waxed Cut Copper.

Cut Copper Slab

Oxidizes and changes texture over time.
Can be stopped from oxidizing by combining it with a honeycomb to create a Waxed Cut Copper Slab.

Cut Copper Stairs

Oxidizes and changes texture over time.
Can be stopped from oxidizing by combining it with a honeycomb to create Waxed Cut Copper Stairs.

Dripstone Block

A decoration block.
Appears to be made of the same materials as stalactites and stalagmites but as a full cube.
Generates only in the Dripstone caves biome, which is currently available only through single biome, caves, or floating islands world types.
Can be crafted from 4 pointed dripstone.

Glow Item Frame

Placeable entities that appear to glow.
Glowing entities do not affect the light level, appearing only as if lit up themselves.
Items placed inside also glow.
Crafted using an item frame and a glow ink sac.
Includes application to maps.

Lightning Rod

Can be crafted with 3 copper ingots.
Lightning strikes within a 32-block radius get redirected to the lightning rod.
Gives off a redstone signal with a strength of 15 if hit by lightning.
Can be activated directly by throwing a trident with Channeling at it during a thunderstorm, though this does not produce a redstone signal.
Gives a light level of 1.

Pointed Dripstone

Can be either placed on a ceiling to create a stalactite, or on top of a block to create a stalagmite.
- Can be combined to form longer stalactites and stalagmites.
Thrown tridents break pointed dripstone, which also breaks when pushed directly or with a block by a piston.
Stalagmites break if not attached to something below
Stalagmites hurt entities that fall on top of them more than normal fall damage.
- Damage is relative to height: For example, jumping on a stalagmite deals 2 of damage, and falling from 3 blocks deals 8 of damage.
Stalactites can fall or break if unsupported, and break apart on impact, hurting entities they fall on.
- Damage is relative to height: For example, one falling from 2 blocks deals 2 of damage, and one falling from 3 blocks deal 4 of damage.
- They drip water or lava into cauldrons if a source block is placed above the stalactite, and gradually fill the cauldron. Water drips even without any water above the block (lava in the Nether), but does not fill the cauldron.

Powder Snow

Now available in-game.
A variant of snow, Entities that walk over it sink into it.
Leather boots can be worn to prevent entities from sinking into powder snow blocks.
- Players can still crouch to descend with leather boots. Wearing leather boots also allows powder snow to be "climbed", like water or scaffolding.
When inside a powder snow block, a frosty vignette appears around the player's screen and any entity inside starts freezing and taking damage after a short time.
- Wearing any piece of leather armor stops the freeze effect.
Can be collected and placed with a bucket.

Sculk Sensor

A redstone component that sends and receives redstone signals wirelessly.
Currently, it does not generate naturally, available only from the Creative inventory or commands such as /give, but natural generation is planned for future versions.
Senses vibrations such as block placement, footsteps, and projectiles, and emits a redstone signal.
Emits particles when it senses a vibration nearby.
A comparator connected to it emits different signal strengths based on what caused the signal.
Does not detect ambient weather such as rain.
Wool blocks between the sensor and the cause of the sound prevent the sensor from detecting the sound.

Items

Bundle

Crafted with 2 string and 6 rabbit hide.
Used to store other items (except shulker boxes) inside of it.
Can hold only one stack of items, but can hold different types of items inside the stack.
- Items with smaller stacks, such as ender pearls, take up more room in a bundle, and non-stackable items take up the whole bundle.
The bundle's contents can be opened by pressing use while holding it, throwing out its entire content into the world. When destroyed as an entity, it drops the items it currently has as well.
- Right-clicking a bundle in the inventory empties one item from the bundle.
Even though bundles are not stackable, bundles can be nested.
- Can hold up to 16 bundles.
- Only empty bundles can be placed in other bundles without using commands.
Has a GUI when hovering over it.
- Shows contained items in its GUI's inventory slots when hovering over it, as well as fullness as a number.
Note: Bundles can hold any amount of any item if added using commands.

Copper Ingot

Obtained by smelting copper ore.
Used to craft copper blocks and lightning rods.

Glow Ink Sac

Dropped by glow squids when killed.
Can be used to craft glow item frames.
Can be used to make text glow on signs.

Powder Snow Bucket

Obtained by using a bucket on powder snow.
Can be used to place a powder snow block wherever it is used, or can be used to fill cauldrons with powder snow.

Spawn eggs

Added goat spawn eggs.
Added glow squid spawn eggs.

Mobs

Goat

Spawns in mountain biomes.
Can jump high to avoid obstacles, about 5 blocks tall.
Attacks nearby animals by charging and knocking them a considerable distance.
Takes reduced fall damage.
Avoids powder snow by jumping over it.
Can be bred with wheat to produce a baby goat.
Drops one goat horn when ramming into a block. Goat horns do not regrow.

Glow Squid

Originates from the mob with the same name from Minecraft Earth.
Underwater mob that behaves like a regular squid.
Does not naturally spawn yet.
Drops glow ink sacs when killed.
Does not affect the light level, appearing only as if lit up itself. Glows in the same way that magma cube cores, vexes, blazes, and the eyes of spiders, drowned, and endermen do.
Stops glowing for a short time and swims away fast after taking damage.

World generation

Dripstone Caves

A new underground biome, consisting of a massive cave biome containing vast quantities of stalactites and stalagmites.
Made up of primarily dripstone blocks and stone, with large clusters of dripstone blocks hanging from the ceiling, pointed dripstone on the floor and ceiling and many pools of water.
Does not yet generate naturally in normal worlds, and can be generated only using buffet worlds with "Dripstone Caves" selected as the source biome or using custom world. Natural generation is planned for future versions.

Gameplay

Death messages

Added 6 new death messages:
- "<player> froze to death".
- "<player> was frozen to death by <entity>".
- "<player> was skewered by a falling stalactite"
- "<player> was skewered by a falling stalactite whilst fighting <entity>"
- "<player> was impaled on a stalagmite"
- "<player> was impaled on a stalagmite whilst fighting <entity>".

Changes

Blocks

Banners

The unused "base" pattern has been renamed to the "field" pattern and given proper translation strings (its ID is still "base").

Cauldrons

Can now be filled with powder snow.
- Powder snow cauldrons are formed when cauldrons are under the sky during snowfall.
- Can also be filled with powder snow by using a powder snow bucket on it.
Have been split into normal, water, lava, and powdered snow cauldrons.

Dispenser

Can now place powder snow using a powder snow bucket.
- Also can remove it using a bucket.

Lapis Lazuli Block

Renamed to "Block of Lapis Lazuli".

Structure block

Default mode of structure blocks is now "Load". "Data" is now hidden by default.
"Data" can be accessed by clicking the mode button while holding the Alt key.

Items

Ink Sacs

Can be used to revert glowing text on signs to normal.

Dye

Can be used to change the color of text on signs.

Mobs

Shulkers

If a shulker is hit by another shulker's projectile, it now has a chance of spawning a new shulker. Shulkers are more likely to spawn new shulkers when there are fewer shulkers nearby.

Planned additions

Please note that the names of many features are currently placeholders. They may be marked with ^{[unofficial name]}.

Blocks

Clay Pot

Uses the texture of clay.
Ceramic Shards can be incorporated into an unfired pot.
Can be fired by lighting fire under the pot.
Pot can fit up to 8 Ceramic Shards.

Painted Clay Pot

Uses the texture of terracotta.
Created by firing a clay pot.
Upon firing, any placed Ceramic Shards become permanently incorporated on to the clay pot.

Sculk Block

Generates in the mysterious new cave biome, referred to as the "deep dark" temporarily.
Has an animated texture.
May be used in redstone as seen in this video when they talk about the sculk sensor.

Sculk Trap^{[unofficial name]}

This image shows the sculk blocks in redstone, implying that the other sculk blocks also have redstone uses.

Generates in the deep dark biome.
Has a different top texture than the Sculk Block and Sculk Chute.
May be used in redstone as seen in this video when they talk about the sculk sensor.

Sculk Chute^{[unofficial name]}

Generates in the deep dark caves.
Made of sculk and a bone-like material.
May be used in redstone as seen in this video when they talk about the sculk sensor.
Glows but does not emit light, similar to the Glow Squid or the Glow Item Frame.

Sculk Growth

Generates in the deep dark cave biome.
Generates in a layer on top of blocks, similar to snow.
Some have parts that are transparent, allowing the player to see the block it is on top of.
May be used in redstone as seen in this video when they talk about the sculk sensor.

Darkstone^{[unofficial name]}

Can be found around the deep dark cave biome walls.
Can be found in large chunks.

Processing rubble^{[unofficial name]}

A technical block associated with archaeology.
At least comes in dirt and gravel variants.
Created upon using a brush on what appears to be normal dirt or gravel.
Has 16 layers.

Items

Brush

Used to sweep debris away from archaeological items.
Sweeps debris off archaeological items one layer at a time. If interrupted, the block it was being used on simply disappears, and does not yield custom block heights.
Also comes in a blue-green variant:

Ceramic Shards

Obtained with a brush at archeological sites.
Come in different colors and different designs, each depicting a different picture, such as an ender dragon, a cow, Alex, a skeleton, a tree and a vindicator.
Can be placed/customized on clay pots.
Currently using placeholder art, according to Jasper Boerstra.

Spawn Eggs

The Warden spawn egg is visually confirmed but not yet implemented.

Mobs

Warden

A picture of the Warden and Iron Golem standing side by side

Spawns in the new deep dark biome.
The first fully blind mob (bats, despite relying almost exclusively on echolocation, still have basic eyesight).
When sensing movement, it moves toward the source of the movement.
- It follows and attacks players, mobs, and other entities that make vibrations.^{[note 1]}
  - It does not attack other Wardens.
- When attacked, it path finds toward the player.
- Seems to follow the same rules as the sculk sensor when detecting noise.
  - When it detects a vibration, the growths on its head rattle and light up, similar to the sculk sensor.
- If any projectile (e.g. egg, snowball, arrow) lands near the Warden, the mob inspects the location where the projectile landed, due to the projectile creating movement and noise. This feature can be used in order to cause a distraction.
- Does not detect players that are sneaking.
- Can detect players that are invisible.
- When aggravated for long enough, the warden follows the player continuously, regardless of any other distractions.
Incredibly strong, doing 30 × 15 damage, bringing players wearing full netherite armor from full health to 7 health points.
A mob designed to be extremely difficult, and fled from.
Has a way to counter the strategy of building up 3 blocks to avoid attacks.
At least as fast as the player's walking speed.
Seems to have knockback resistance.
The warden's chest has a glowing core that appears to brighten and dim in tandem with the ambient lighting of the deep dark cave biome.
- The core creates a low throbbing sound as it pulses. The sound and animation seem to speed up rapidly when the warden notices a player.
Is about 3.5 blocks tall, making it one of the tallest mobs in the game, exceeding the iron golem and enderman in height and width (the same).^{[note 2]}^{[more information needed]}

World generation

Deep dark biome

New biome at the "deepest depths of the world".
Wardens can spawn here.
May contain candles.
Contains sculk blocks and sculk sensors.
Contains a new Darkstone.^{[unofficial name]}

Lush caves

Generate below azalea trees.
Can be reached by following azalea roots underground.
Contains tall grass, glow berries, dripleaf plants, spore blossoms, moss blocks, moss carpets, clay blocks, hanging roots, and azalea variants.
Can spawn axolotls.

Mesh caves

Seems to be possibly a large tunnel-like cave generation.
Not much is known about this cave variation yet, but it was confirmed on Twitter by Henrik Kniberg.

Possibly contain "catacomb" style branching cave sections.

General

More extreme and smooth terrain.
Likely change to the generation of alternate stone types, to make them appear in larger but less numerous deposits.
- Possibly seen in a screenshot tweeted by Henrik Kniberg, in which diorite appears to generate in a long and flat horizontal strip, rather than a small unevenly shaped patch.

Gameplay

Archaeology

The player can find items and blocks in gravel and dirt inside the dig site structure by using the brush.
Possible items shown in the preview footage include:
- Ceramic shards of varying color that depict different images.
- Diamond blocks and emerald blocks are probably not a part of this list and serve as a placeholder for something else.^{[citation needed]}

Dimming of light^{[unofficial name]}

While in the deep dark cave biome, the ambient lighting occasionally dims temporarily, limiting the player's visibility. This serves as a warning that the warden is nearby.

Planned changes

World generation

Mountains

The preview of updated mountain generation given during Minecraft Live 2020.

Height dependent generation.
Revamped, featuring some new small spruce trees on the slopes and ice or packed ice above the peaks.
Contain goats, snow blocks, and powder snow.

Mineral veins

To be revamped, possibly to balance the generation of copper. This may also be to adjust ores generating due to the new world depth.
Some stone appears a little different and when that stone is mined, more of the ore should be found behind it.

Other Stones

Diorite or calcite and what appears to be tuff spawn in layers of stone in straight lines instead of splotches.

An example of how the other stones may generate

Unconfirmed features

Structures

Underground Cabin^{[unofficial name]}

Seen in the Deep Dark biome during the Minecraft Live 2020 stream.
Consists of a chamber with a cobblestone floor and stripped log support beams, containing 3 barrels, a blast furnace, and a large chest, with cobwebs and candles in and around it.
May possibly not be a generated structure, but instead a construction built for the purpose of the Warden showcase.

Unconfirmed features

These features are not confirmed for 1.17, but were mentioned or showcased by developers during the development of 1.17. Main article: Mentioned features.

World generation

Underground Cabin^{[unofficial name]}

Seen in the Deep Dark biome during the Minecraft Live 2020 stream.
Consists of a chamber with a cobblestone floor and stripped log support beams, containing 3 barrels, a blast furnace, and a large chest, with cobwebs and candles in and around it.
May possibly not be a generated structure, but instead a construction built for the purpose of the Warden showcase.

General

Height limit

May be increased. It is considered to change only in the Overworld as stated by Jeb.
World-height related values are now exposed for customized worlds, which might confirm that height limit might get removed or increased.

Trivia

This is the first Bedrock Edition update to add a new ore to the overworld since emerald ore was added.
- Similarly, this is also the first Bedrock Edition update to add a real-world metal into the game since iron and gold ore was added.

Notes

↑ The warden does not attack other entities but it does follow the vibrations that they make. (For example it follows a snowball but it breaks upon impact to a block rendering it non-attackable by the Warden.
↑ Height of the Warden is based from the image found on twitter.