Note: This update was designed before the announcement of Caves and Cliffs. Some features of Caves and Cliffs will be added to this update, if compatible, once all features are announced.
The Cave Update is Minecraft's largest update. It was released on August 19th, 2022. It completely overhauls the Caves in all Dimensions and the Overworld's Underground and adds many new Biomes. It also includes a new Ore tier for Minecraft's progressional system. It includes 253 new Blocks, Items, and Armor, a new Weapon Type, a new Tool, 15 new Mobs, and a new Boss.
Underground Layers[]
Underground Biome
- An underground version of its corresponding Biome
- Each has a Stone variant, a Mob, and Plants
- Found 0-30 Blocks below surface
Cavern
- Similar to the pre-1.23 caves
- Has Lava 60 Blocks below surface
- Found 31-80 Blocks below surface
Crystal Cave
- Has a lot of Crystals growing it
- Found 81-100 Blocks below the surface
Extreme Cave
- Has multiple types
- Found 101-150 Blocks below the surface
- Freezing Cave
- A very cold cave that deals freeze damage to players. Filled with Freezefire and Freezelava.
- Deals 1 damage per second to unprotected players
- Primary Blocks: Chillstone, Freezefire
- A very cold cave that deals freeze damage to players. Filled with Freezefire and Freezelava.
- Burning Cave
- A very hot cave that deals warm damage to players, Filled with Fire and Lava.
- Deals 1 damage per second to unprotected players
- Primary Blocks: Lavastone, Magma
- A very hot cave that deals warm damage to players, Filled with Fire and Lava.
- Glowing Mushroom Cave
- A cave filled with many kinds of poisonous mushrooms that give off a bright glow
- Primary Blocks: Purphelium, Poisonshroom Block, and Purphel
Underdark
- The deepest depths of the known world, a large cave plagued with darkness and some of the strangest creatures
- Found 151-256 Blocks below the surface
Additions[]
Blocks[]
Andesite Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Andesite (Makes 4)
- Cut from Andesite
Diorite Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Diorite (Makes 4)
- Cut from Diorite
Granite Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall, variants
- Crafted with 4 Granite (Makes 4)
- Cut from Granite
Coldstone
- New Stone Block
- Is a dark-gray color
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Found in Underground Tundras
Polished Coldstone
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Coldstone (Makes 4)
- Cut from Coldstone
Coldstone Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Coldstone (Makes 4)
- Cut from Coldstone
Mossy Stone
- New Stone Block
- Similar to Stone, but has a Mossy texture
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Can be smelted from Mossy Cobblestone
- Found in Underground Taigas
Slate
- New Stone Block
- Is a Blue-Gray Color
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Found in Underground Mountains and Slate Deposits
Polished Slate
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Slate (Makes 4)
- Cut from Slate
Slate Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Slate (Makes 4)
- Cut from Slate
Limestone
- New Stone Block
- Is a lime-gray color
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Found in Underground Jungles and Limestone Deposits
Polished Limestone
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Limestone (Makes 4)
- Cut from Limestone
Limestone Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Limestone (Makes 4)
- Cut from Limestone
Seastone
- New Stone Block
- Is white-gray color
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Found on Ocean Floors and in Underground Oceans
Polished Seastone
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Seastone (Makes 4)
- Cut from Seastone
Seastone Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Seastone (Makes 4)
- Cut from Seastone
Shroomstone
- New Stone Block
- Is a Red Color with Gray speckles
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Found in Underground Mushroom Biomes
Polished Shroomstone
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Shroomstone (Makes 4)
- Cut from Shroomstone
Shroomstone Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Shroomstone (Makes 4)
- Cut from Shroomstone
Marble
- New Stone Block
- Is a White color with light gray accents
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Found in Marble Deposits
Polished Marble
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Marble (Makes 4)
- Cut from Marble
Marble Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Marble (Makes 4)
- Cut from Marble
Alabster
- New Stone Block
- Is similar color to Limestone, but lighter and more White
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Found in Alabaster Deposits
Polished Alabaster
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Alabaster (Makes 4)
- Cut from Alabaster
Alabaster Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Crafted with 4 Alabaster (Makes 4)
- Cut from Alabaster
Chillstone
- New Stone Block
- An icy White-Blue color
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Found in Freezing Caves
Freezefire Block
- Similar to Magma Block, but deals twice as much damage
- Can hold Freezefire or ignite Freezefire with Flint and Steel
- Found in Freezing Caves
Freezefire
- Similar to Fire, but deals 3 damage per second
Freezelava
- Similar to Acid
- Found in Freezing Caves
Lavastone
- New Stone Block
- Has a deep Red color
- Can be crafted or cut into Slab, Stair, and Wall variants
- Found in Burning Caves
Purphelium
- New Surface Block
- Can grow Poisonshrooms
- Found in Glowing Mushroom Cave
Purphel
- New Stone Block
- As a Purple spiral texture
- Found in Glowing Mushroom Cave
Poison Stem
- Can be found on Giant Poisonshrooms
- Is a pale Purple color
- Can be stripped with an Axe
- Can be crafted into Plank, Fence, Fence Gate, Stair, Door, Trapdoor, Slab, Hyphae, Stripped Hyphae, Sign, Button, Pressure Plate, and Chest variants
Poisonshroom Block
- Similar to Mushroom Block
- Found on Giant Poisonshroom
Poison Roots
- Gives an entity Poison for 5 seconds when stepped on
- Grows on Purphelium
Depthstone
- New Stone Block
- Textured Dark Gray color
- Can be crafted or cut into slab, stair, or wall variants
- Found in The Underdark
Mushroom Plank
- Can be crafted into Fence, Fence Gate, Stair, Door, Trapdoor, Slab, Hyphae, Stripped Hyphae, Sign, Button, Pressure Plate, and Chest variants
Dirt Slab
- Crafted with 3 Dirt (Makes 6)
Dirt Stairs
- Crafted with 6 Dirt (Makes 4)
Coarse Dirt Slab
- Crafted with 3 Coarse Dirt (Makes 6)
Coarse Dirt Stairs
- Crafted with 6 Coarse Dirt (Makes 4)
Yellow Sand
- Has Gravity
- Found in Underground Badlands
Yellow Sandstone
- New Decorative Block
- Crafted from 4 Yellow Sand (Makes 4)
- Can be chiseled or cut into Cut, Chiseled, and Smooth Sandstone
Yellow Sandstone Bricks
- New Decorative Block
- Crafted from 4 Yellow Sandstone (Makes 4)
Icy Snow
- Has properties of Ice, but slower increased movement speed
- Drops a Sleetball
- Found in Underground Mountains and Underground Tundras
Mossy Planks
- New Decorative Block
- Has Oak, Birch, Spruce,Jungle, Acacia, Dark Oak, Pine, Mangrove, Baobab, Palm, Mushroom, Poison, Crimson, Warped, Corrupted, and Vibrant variants
- Crafted with 4 Planks and 2 Moss (Makes 4)
Stalagmite
- Found in Caves 30 Blocks or more underground and Nether and End Caves
- Is 2 Blocks tall
- Juts out from Cave floors and ceilings
- Ceiling variant is Stalagtite
- Has Andesite, Diorite, Granite, Slate, Limestone, Marble, Alabaster, Netherack, and End Stone variants
- Drops 1-3 Pebbles unless mined with Silk Touch
Crystal
- Found in Crystal Caves
- Emits light and has a glittering particle effect
- Has White, Red, Yellow, Blue, Purple, and Brown variants
- Drops 0-1 Crystal Shards unless mined with Silk Touch
Dark Crystal
- Found in the Underdark
- Emits low Black light and has a glittering particle effect
- Drops 0-1 Dark Crystal Shards unless mined with Silk Touch
Crystalizer
- Crafting Block
- Can be infuse a Crystal Shard with a Staff to create an Elemental Staff
Moss
- New Plant
- Grows in Underground Biomes
- Can only be collected with Shears or Silk Touch
Underflower
- New Plant
- Grows in Underground Plains
- Can be crafted into Gray Dye
Gloomshroom
- New Plant
- Grows in Underground Dark Forests and Glowing Mushroom Cave
Poisonshroom
- New Plant
- Grows in Glowing Mushroom Cave
Skulk Vine
- New Plant
- Found in Underdark
Big Red Mushroom
- New Plant
- Grows in Underground Swamps, Underground Mushroom, and Caverns
- Drops 3 Red Mushrooms unless mined with Silk Touch
Big Brown Mushroom
- New Plant
- Grows in Underground Swamps, Underground Mushroom, and Caverns
- Drops 3 Brown Mushrooms unless mined with Silk Touch
Big Vase
- Found rarely in some Jungles, Temples, and Underground Biomes
- Similar to Vase, but gives 3 items instead
Slime Block
- Has new Black variant
Slime Generator
- Has new Black variant
Tin Ore
- New Ore
- Found at least 5 blocks below surface at Very Common rarity
- In between Stone and Iron Tier
- Can be smelted into Tin Ingots
Block of Tin
- Crafted with 9 Tin Ingots
Icy Rail
- Similar to a Rail, but makes Minecarts go at Ice Speed
- Crafted with 6 Iron Ingots, 1 Stick, and 2 Ice (Makes 16)
Alex Head
- A creative-only mob head that looks like Alex
Items[]
Pebble
- Found in Caves of all Dimensions
- Can be placed
- Has Stone, Andesite, Diorite, Granite, Slate, Limestone, Marble, Alabaster, Coldstone, Seastone, Shroomstone, Netherrack, and End Stone variants
- Can be used to craft Stone of the corresponding type (Takes 4)
Sleetball
- Can be thrown
- Deals 2 damage and knockback
Crystal Shard
- Has White, Red, Yellow, Blue, Purple, and Brown variants
- Can be infused with Staffs
Dark Crystal Shard
- Can be infused with Staffs
Tin Ingot
- Can be used to craft Tin tools, armor, and bows
Tin Nugget
- Crafted with a Tin Ingot (Makes 9)
Frosty Bar
- Can be used to craft Frozen Armor
Fiery Bar
- Can be used to craft Flaming Armor
Bitter Berries
- Food
- Restores 3 Food Points
- Can be placed as a Bitter Berry Bush
- Can be harvested from a Bitter Berry Bush
- Found in Underground Taigas
Slime Ball
- Has new Black variant
- Deals 7 Damage and has a chance to give Darkness effect
Glow String
- Similar to String
- Glows when placed
Quelling Sensor
- Can be used to craft Cave Compass
Cave Compass
- Uses vibrations to help navigate through dark caves
- Crafted with 4 Iron Ingot and 1 Quelling Sensor
Totem of Haste
- New Totem
- When held increases your mining speed
Potion of Darkness
- Gives Darkness for the chosen duration
- Can be crafted into Splash Potion of Darkness and Lingering Potion of Darkness
- Brewed with Gloomshroom
Tools and Weapons[]
Staff
- Can be used as the base for an Elemental Staff
- Crafted with 2 Sticks, 1 Diamond, and 2 Lapis Lazuli
- Has low durability
Air Staff
- Pushes other nearby entities back
- Infused with a White Crystal Shard
Water Staff
- Makes an entity float on a bubble, then fall when the bubble pops
- Infused with Blue Crystal Shard
Electric Staff
- Shocks up to 3 other nearby entities, dealing 3 damage each
- Infused with Yellow Crystal Shard
Fire Staff
- Sets a nearby entity on fire
- Infused with Red Crystal Shard
Plasma Staff
- Pushes nearby entities into a direction and clusters them
- Infused with Purple Crystal Shard
Earth Staff
- Forms a Dirt barrier in between you and another entity
- Infused with Brown Crystal Shard
Dark Staff
- Envelops nearby entity in darkness, making it disappear for 5 seconds, taking 1 damage each second
- Infused with Dark Crystal Shard
Hammer
- Similar to a Pickaxe
- Can effectively mine in a 3x3 area
- Has Wood, Stone, Tin, Iron, Gold, Diamond, Netherite, and Endium variants
- Can be crafted with 5 of the chosen item and 2 Sticks
| Tier | Attack Speed | Attack Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | 2 | 2 |
| Gold | 2 | 2 |
| Stone | 2 | 3 |
| Tin | 2 | 3.5 |
| Iron | 2 | 4 |
| Diamond | 2 | 5 |
| Netherite | 2 | 6 |
| Endium | 2 | 7 |
Tin Sword
Attack Speed: 1.6
Attack Damage: 5.5
Tin Shovel
Attack Speed: 1
Attack Damage: 4
Tin Excavator
Attack Speed: 2
Attack Damage: 4.5
Tin Pickaxe
Attack Speed: 1.2
Attack Damage: 3.5
Tin Axe
Attack Speed: 0.9
Attack Damage: 9
Tin Lumber Axe
Attack Speed: 1
Attack Damage: 7
Tin Hoe
Attack Speed: 4
Attack Damage: 1
Tin Bow
Full Charge: 1.45s
Attack Damage: 5/8/9
Tin Crossbow
Full Charge: 1.7sAttack Damage: 5/8/10
Armor[]
Mining Helmet
- 2 Defense Points
- Provides a light source around you
Tin Armor
- In between Stone and Iron Tier
| Piece | Defense Points |
|---|---|
| Helmet | 2 |
| Chestplate | 5 |
| Leggings | 4 |
| Boots | 1 |
| Total | 12 |
Frozen Armor
- Protects against cold damage
- In between Iron and Diamond Tier
| Piece | Defense Points |
|---|---|
| Helmet | 2 |
| Chestplate | 7 |
| Leggings | 6 |
| Boots | 2 |
| Total | 17 |
Flaming Armor
- Protects against heat damage
- In between Iron and Diamond Tier
| Piece | Defense Points |
|---|---|
| Helmet | 2 |
| Chestplate | 7 |
| Leggings | 6 |
| Boots | 2 |
| Total | 17 |
Spider Queen's Crown
- Headgear
- Gives 2 Defense Points
- Makes the nearest Spider, Cave Spider, Glowcrawler, or Undercrawler within 10 blocks of you fight nearby enemies
Mobs[]
Mossy Skeleton
- Spawns in Underground Forest, Underground Plains, and Underground Jungle Biomes
- Has 20 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Skeleton variant
- Drops 0-2 Bones, 0-2 Arrow of Poison, and 0-1 Moss
- Holds a Wooden Bow
- Deals 2-5 Ranged Damage + Poison
- Deals 2 Melee Damage
Jungle Zombie
- Spawns in Underground Jungle Biomes
- Has 20 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Zombie variant
- Drops 0-2 Rotten Flesh and 0-1 Moss
- Deals 3 Damage
- Releases Poison Clouds
Frozen Zombie
- Spawns in Underground Tundras and Underground Mountains
- Has 20 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Zombie variant
- Drops 0-2 Rotten Flesh and 1-3 Snowballs
- Can throw Snowballs
- Deals 1-2 Ranged Damage + Slowness
- Deals 3 Damage
Terracotta Golem
- Spawns in Underground Badlands
- Has 50 Health Points
- Neutral Mob
- Attacks if a player walks over it
- Lays on the ground and looks almost identical to a natural Terracotta floor
- Can be created using 3 Terracotta, 1 Gold Block, and 1 Carved Pumpkin in a T-Formation
- Drops 1-3 Gold Ingot, 1-3 Terracotta, and 0-1 Dead Bush
- Deals 6 Damage
Undead Miner
- Spawns in Caverns
- Has 25 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drops 0-1 Iron Pickaxe, 0-2 Bones, and 0-1 Miner's Helmet (Rare)
- Holds an Iron Pickaxe
- Deals 5 Damage
Black Slime
- Spawns in Caverns
- Have 64 (Big), 16 (Medium), 4 (Small) Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drop 0-2 Black Slime Balls
- Deal 12 (Big), 10 (Medium), 8 (Small) Damage + Darkness
Shardling
- Spawns in Crystal Caves
- A crystalline beast
- Has 40 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drop 1-3 random Crystal Shards
- Can shoot crystal pieces in all directions dealing damage
- Deals 4 Ranged Damage
- Deals 7 Melee Damage
Frostek
- Spawns in Freezing Caves
- A small snowy spirit that is the essence of the cold
- Has 20 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drop 0-2 Frosty Bar
- Freezes player in place for 3 seconds after each attack
- Deals 6 Damage
Ice Goliath
- Spawns in Freezing Caves
- A giant boulder-like monster covered in ice and snow
- Has 50 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drops 1-3 Frosty Bar and 2-4 Sleetballs
- Deals 8 Damage
Flamek
- Spawns in Burning Caves
- A small fiery spirit that is the essence of the hot
- Has 20 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drops 0-2 Fiery Bar
- Attacks burn the player for 3 seconds
- Deals 6 Damage
Fire Goliath
- Spawns in Burning Caves
- A giant boulder-like monster burning with heat and molten lava
- Has 50 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drops 1-3 Fiery Bar and 1-2 Fire Charges
- Deals 8 Damage
Shroomcap
- Spawns in Glowing Mushroom Caves
- A living poisonous mushroom
- Has 15 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drops 1-3 Poisonshroom
- Shoots ranged poison fumes
- Deals 3 Damage + Poison
Glowcrawler
- Spawns in Glowing Mushroom Caves and Underdark
- A glowing purple spider
- Has 32 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drops 0-2 Glow String
- Deals 4 Damage
Queller
- Spawns in Underdark
- A blind beast that can sense vibrations
- Similar to Warden
- Has 50 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drops 1 random mineral. and 1 Quelling Sensor
- Deals 10 Damage
Underwurm
- Spawns in Underdark
- A massive blind wurm that can sense vibrations
- Has 30 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Drops 1-3 Tooth
- Deals 8 Damage
Bosses[]
Arachnea
- Queen of all arachnids
- Found in Web of Eternity
- Has 300 Health Points
- Hostile Mob
- Can climb on walls
- Can shoot a web, trapping players inside
- Deals 10 Damage
- Drops the Spider Queen's Crown and 2-10 Glow String
Effects[]
Darkness
- Decreases vision radius and makes things seem darker
Burning
- Deals 1 damage per tick to unprotected players
- Fills Burning Biomes
Freezing
- Deals 1 damage per tick to unprotected players
- Fills Freezing Biomes
Structures[]
Miner's Cabin
- A multi-floor house-like structure with an entrance from a cave
- Made primarily of Oak Planks and Cobblestone
- Has a loot chest with an Iron Pickaxe, Village Loot, and Iron Ingots
- Has a chance to have an item frame with a Totem of Haste
- Found in Caverns
Mineshaft
- Has 3 new variants
- Occupied Mineshaft: Similar to Abandoned Mineshaft, but is not abandoned and has more of a stable structure
- Village Mineshaft: Found close to the ground and connects to a Village
- Occupied by villagers
- Not abandoned
- Illager Mineshaft: Found close to ground and underneath Pillager Outposts
- Occupied by Vindicators and Pillagers
- Has a lot of Gold Ore exposed
- Has some cages with Iron Golems and Villagers in them
Web of Eternity
- A giant web-like structure made of Glow String
- Home to Arachnea
- Is vertical, with a few horizontal inclines
- Found in the Underdark
Mini Dungeon
- Found in Underground Biomes and Caverns
- Made primarily of either Cobblestone, Mossy Cobblestone, Stone Bricks, or Bricks
General[]
World Height Limit
- Bottom limit of the world is now 256 blocks below the surface
Headgear Slot
- A new slot for Non-Armor Head Items
- Does not give defense, but gives non-enchantment effects
Changes[]
Biomes[]
Cave
- Complete revamp
- Now has 5 layers
- Improved generation
- Now can have major size variation
Blocks[]
Mushroom Stem
- Can be stripped with an Axe
- Can be crafted into Mushroom Planks
Vase
- Now found occasionally in Underground Biomes
Coal Ore
- Now found 5-80 blocks below the surface
Iron Ore
- Now found 20-80 blocks below the surface
Gold Ore
- Now found 40-100 blocks below the surface
Lapis Lazuli Ore
- Now found 60-120 blocks below the surface
Redstone Ore
- Now found 60-120 blocks below the surface
Diamond Ore
- Now found 80-150 Blocks below the surface
Emerald Ore
- Now found 50-100 blocks below the surface
Armor[]
Chainmail
- Removed
Mobs[]
Mummy
- Now spawns in Underground Deserts
Structures[]
Mineshaft
- Improved generation
- Slightly increased generation rate
- Now generates in Underground Biomes, Caverns, and Crystal Caves
Dungeon
- Complete revamp
- Now is multiple rooms and/or floors
- Has multiple spawners
- Increased loot rarity
- Can be made primarily of either Cobblestone, Mossy Cobblestone, Stone Bricks, or Bricks
- Now is multiple rooms and/or floors
- Increased generation rate
- Now generates in Caverns and Crystal Caves