Spring is arriving not only in real life but also in Minecraft! The new 1.21.5 update has been eagerly anticipated and is now finally available for everyone to play following a Minecraft Live presentation. But what new features does it actually bring? Well, the update is primarily focused on making the world of Minecraft more lively and fresh, and it certainly succeeds. With new mob variations, new vegetation, and other exciting tweaks, this update introduces a breath of fresh air into the game and makes you eager to explore a new world.
New Mob Variations for a More Vibrant Overworld
One change you will likely notice right away in a new world is the new variations of chickens, pigs, and cows. Since the update, all three mobs have both their normal version and a cold and warm type. This makes the different biomes in Minecraft stand out even more from each other, albeit mostly visually. Their functions remain largely the same, except for chickens, which can now lay differently colored eggs. You can tame and breed the new colorings as usual; the offspring will randomly take after one of the parents and not the biome in which it is born.
Cold animals can be found in:
- Plains
- All variations of temperate forests
- Swamp
- Cherry Blossom Forest
Normal animals can be found in:
- Savanna
- Jungle
- Mesa
Warm animals can be found in:
- Taiga variations
- Windswept biomes
Thanks to wool, sheep already come in 16 different variants, but now the spawn rate has also been adjusted according to the biome. In cold biomes, sheep are more likely to be black, while in warm biomes they now have brown wool. White sheep can be found in normal biomes; all other colors have been excluded from natural spawning. Only the pink sheep have been retained and made rarer again as a small surprise!
Wolves have also received a small update, as they can now make six new types of sounds. Along with the new fur colors, this is meant to reflect the character of the wolves. We have already written an extensive article about wolves if you want to learn more. (Wolves and Armadillos in Minecraft: Tips for Horn Shield Farming)
Revitalizing Plants: New Flora in Minecraft
One of the biggest changes is the new plant types you can find in different biomes. These not only visually enliven the world, but some can also play sounds that enrich the environment. If you harvest them, you can even take these sounds with you and incorporate them into your base! Let’s take a closer look at which blocks are available. By the way, you should have shears or a tool with “Silk Touch” handy.
- Dead Bush: This desert block isn’t new, but it now has possible sounds and can finally be harvested.
- Leaf Pile: A decorative block found in forests or made from burnt leaves.
- Wildflowers: Yellow and blue flowers that can be found especially in birch forests.
- Firefly Bush: A bush you can find near water. It glows at night and emits soft sounds. It’s probably one of the most beautiful new plants you can find!
- Bush: A normal bush that serves as an alternative to regular grass.
- Cactus Blossom: A pink blossom that now generates along with some cacti. It can also grow on self-planted cacti and be used for breeding bees and honey production.
- Dry Grass: This grass comes in both low and tall forms. It’s a type of grass block found in desert biomes. Dry grass can also play sounds when placed on certain blocks.
In larger deserts or mesa biomes, sand, red sand, and terracotta now also have the ability to play ambient sounds. For this to happen, they must be surrounded by similar blocks. During your desert expeditions, you can now hear wind noises and the rustling of the sand! Additionally, leaves now shed small particles that generally enhance the atmosphere in forests.
Enhanced Maps for Exploration Tours
In one of our previous articles, we took an in-depth look at navigation in Minecraft (Effective Navigation in Minecraft: Using Compass and Map) , and the 1.21.5 update brings some new features that have been adopted from experimental updates. The cartographer has especially received new functions and now sells a few more maps to ease your exploration.
There are three new types of maps: a Swamp Map, a Jungle Map, and a Village Map. The Swamp Map leads you to a witch’s hut in the swamp, while the Jungle Map takes you to an abandoned jungle temple. The Village Maps are particularly exciting because they show you the way to a village in a different biome. There are maps for villages in the savanna, plains, desert, taiga, and snowy areas. Additionally, the diversity of explorer maps has been adjusted so that they don’t always lead to the same place.
Important Adjustments to Known Features
There are also some minor new features and changes that may not be immediately obvious but do enhance the gameplay.
- For instance, some features between Java and Bedrock have been balanced, so sheep now show their actual wool color after shearing, or fallen logs can now also be found in some biomes in Java.
- A significant adjustment is also the spawn eggs you find in the creative menu. These not only have a different coloration but are now visually matched to their respective mobs.
- Camels no longer spawn only in desert villages but also in the desert itself.
- The wandering trader now has more items to choose from and offers different sales. This is especially good for people doing various challenges.
- The recipe for the Lodestone has been adjusted, so you now need iron instead of Netherite.
- The size of the biome “Pale Garden” has been improved, giving you more chances to explore this eerie area.
- You can fly directly into ladders, vines, or scaffolding with an Elytra, and your flight will be interrupted. This makes maneuvering easier.
Conclusion
We’ve only focused on the most important new things, but there’s much more to discover! The update is surprisingly packed with exciting changes designed to make Minecraft significantly more atmospheric. It’s especially fun to explore the new 1.21.5 update with friends and discover all the facets together. Rent your own Minecraft server and set out to find the new plants or the variations of familiar animals. You’re sure to encounter a few surprises!
