After much anticipation, the first half of Minecraft's Caves & Cliffs update has finally been released. The 1.17 update adds new mobs, blocks and items into the game. However, new cave and mountain generation won't be available until the latter half of the update later this year - so where should players look to find the new additions to Minecraft?
Caves & Cliffs was first announced in 2020 during Minecraft Live. In early 2021, Mojang Studios then announced that the release of Caves & Cliffs would be split into two parts, with the first half releasing during summer 2021 and the latter scheduled to come out during the holiday season that same year. The first half of the update was later confirmed to be releasing on June 8, and is now available for players to experience. The reasoning given for the split release was to resolve technical difficulties presented by the scope of the update, as well as to prevent pre-existing player worlds from being negatively impacted by changes.
The latter half of Minecraft Caves & Cliffs will include the update's most anticipated new features, including new biomes and completely altered Minecraft world generation. New mobs and items will spawn in the improved caves and mountains provided by this half of the update. Axolotls, for example, will eventually spawn inside of the new lush caves biome However, because these areas don't naturally occur within Minecraft as of yet, it can be difficult for players to find the mobs and blocks added in Caves & Cliffs: Part 1. Here's where to look for the game's new features.
Caves & Cliffs Part 1: Where To Find Copper In Minecraft
Copper, a new ore introduced in Caves & Cliffs and an important part of crafting the new Minecraft items in Part 1, currently generates similarly to iron. Ore generation patterns won't be changed until the release of Part 2, so all other ores spawn normally for the moment. This will change when the world depth is altered in the next half of the update. Additionally, copper occasionally replaces gold drops that are acquired when players defeat Drowned.
Caves & Cliffs Part 1: Where To Find New Caves In Minecraft
Newly introduced underground biomes, such as lush caves, are not included with Minecraft's Caves & Cliffs: Part 1. However, players can encounter a few new features in caves that are generated in new chunks. Amethyst Geodes can appear underground, as can Deepslate, a newly introduced material in Minecraft. Players can also create new worlds to encounter these features more easily, as it may be difficult to travel far enough out to generate new chunks in a pre-existing world.
Caves & Cliffs Part 1: Where To Find New Mobs
The new underwater Minecraft mobs, Axolotls and Glowsquids, will spawn in underground lakes. Goats spawn on mountain biomes - however, it seems probable at the moment that they will most likely only appear on newly generated mountains. Players may need to travel to a new chunk in order to find them. The Warden, a hostile mob that was previewed in the Caves & Cliffs announcement trailer, will not be present until Part 2 of the update. Minecraft fans will have to wait a few more months to see the full scope of the game's changes.