One clever Minecraft fan decided to create a data pack that made Creeper holes refill themselves, no matter where the hole was made or what was in it. Minecraft players are no strangers to working on impressive feats, like this 15 million block recreation of the Registan of Samarkand in Minecraft, so having a way to protect it from Creeper explosions is essential. This is where the data pack comes in.
Creepers are arguably one of the worst enemies in Minecraft. They are silent when moving around and the only indication a player receives is the sound of a fuse being lit, which usually means it's too late. When they explode, Creepers not only take the player down but also any surroundings. This means that if a Creeper explodes in a player's village or build they can lose all of that hard work. Players can spend years building impressive creations, like one Minecraft player who spent two years on a build only to accidentally delete it. Losing any amount of hard work can be devastating for players.
Reddit user Scommander_ thought of a clever way to prevent all of that hard work from being lost. They decided to create a data pack that fills in all of the spaces that a Creeper destroyed, regardless of what was in the space. Scommander shared a video on Reddit of their work in action in different areas of the map. First, they exploded a Creeper in the desert only surrounded by sand. The sand quickly refilled with a satisfying popping sound to go along with it. The next clip in the video shows the player inside of a home with a chest full of items and a furnace currently being used. The player places a Creeper egg and subsequently explodes the Creeper. The surrounding area is obliterated, but once again quickly refills leaving it as though nothing happened. They even show the items in the chest still intact and the furnace still working away on the cobblestone. The next few clips show additional proof that no matter what is destroyed it will build back, with the inclusion of obsidian in a Nether Portal.
I coded it so creeper holes refill themself - all in datapack form! (Download for 1.18 below) from Minecraft
It seems as though Scommander thought of everything while creating this data pack, which is available for Minecraft's newest version 1.18. When asked by a Reddit user what happens to the player's items, Scommander noted that they still drop the same way and are not covered by the blocks refilling the area. They also mentioned that if sand explodes and starts falling into the hole created it will be replaced back to its original state. Though they have only created this for Creeper explosions, they also mentioned that they are looking to make this applicable for Ghasts as well. They explained that the data pack works because it takes a snapshot of the area when the iconic Creeper sound begins, which is how it is able to know what was in the area before the explosion.
This data pack can be a game-changer for some players. If they build in survival mode, like this massive Minecraft Oreo was, the dangers of Creepers are always looming. With the ability to protect their works of art from being destroyed, many players will appreciate this fan's hard work. Now Minecraft players can build without the worry of a Creeper ruining their day.
Source: Scommander_/Reddit