Minecraft 1.21 Update: Features, Release Date and More

Whether you hop on the most popular Minecraft 1.20 servers or any gaming subreddit, the next Minecraft update is the talk of the town. There is so much to speculate, guess, and figure out that the community is working overtime. In line with this excitement, we are here to share everything there is to know about Minecraft 1.21 update. From exciting new features to the expected release date and parity concerns, we aim to cover it all. So, without any delay, let's jump in!

Minecraft 1.21 Update

Update (19 Jan): Added mechanics and details from the latest Minecraft 1.21 snapshot and Preview after in-game testing. Also introduced a dedicated section around leaks of the next update.

Potential Leak: Frying Table

With the release of the Minecraft 1.20.3 update, developers shared some concept art and insights in a promotional video. Within the same, players spotted a reference to a "Frying Table".

It is currently unclear what the functionality of this block could be. Moreover, it's unclear whether it's a planned feature or an idea that was scrapped during development. But, if Minecraft 1.21 supposedly brings the Frying Table to the game, we can expect a new way to cook and potentially some new food items too.

Trial Chambers are Coming to Minecraft

Minecraft 1.21 update is bringing "Trial Chambers", a brand new hostile structure to the game. It lives up to its name by serving as a test for your adventure and combat skills. However, unlike other existing structures in the game, the Trail Chambers generate procedurally. This means that, much like biomes, you can witness a completely different structure every time.

In terms of design, the Trail Chambers relies on a lot of blocks from the copper family. This includes both existing blocks like stairs and several new blocks such as the copper bulbs. Interestingly, it is also the only in-game structure where decorated pots can naturally spawn, possibly containing valuable loot.

Get Ready with Trail Spawners

The Trial Chambers are made up of a variety of rooms, some with rewards and others with challenges. One of the main challenges includes Trail Spawners. These are new types of mob spawner blocks that can spawn a wave of enemies. As per the preview in Minecraft Live, they can only spawn one type of mob at a time.

Once you defeat the mob the block ends up dropping some loot and goes on a cooldown. The amount of loot and the size of each wave depend on the number of players. So, you can have fun killing enemies on your own and even while playing on the best Minecraft 1.21 servers.

The Breeze

Breeze is a playful hostile mob that uses wind attacks to playfully toss players around. It looks similar to a Blaze but doesn't deal as much damage as the fire mob. Moreover, instead of direct damage, its attacks interact with contraptions in your world. This allows the Breeze to activate trapdoors and dispensers within the Trail Chambers.

New Copper Blocks

With Minecraft 1.21 update, the family of copper blocks is expanding. Here are the new blocks you can expect from the update:

Bulbs: These are light-emitting blocks that can dim over time due to oxidation. You can use an axe to clean it and restore its light. This opens up the option to create a controlled lighting system in your base.
Grate: These are hollow solid blocks that consist of a lot of smaller holes and openings.
Copper Doors: Interactive blocks that, like wooden doors, can open with Redstone signals as well as direction interaction.
Copper Trapdoors: Smaller variants of regular doors that are just one block tall. You can use your hands or a Redstone signal to open or close them.
Chiseled Block of Copper: A variant of Blocks of Copper with a unique pattern on every face.

Tuff Blocks in Minecraft 1.21

Along with copper, the new upgrade is also adding new Tuff blocks to the game. You can use our guide on how to use Tuff in Minecraft 1.21 to explore all of the new blocks in depth. The list of new tuff blocks includes:

Tuff Bricks, Stairs, Slabs, Walls
Chiseled Tuff Bricks, Stairs, Slabs, Walls
Polished Tuff Stairs, Slabs, Walls
Tuff Brick Stairs, Slabs, Walls
Chiseled Tuff Bricks

Automatic Crafting with Crafter

Crafter is a new type of functional block that allows you to automate the crafting process. You can use it to set up any crafting recipe in the game and use Redstone to make it work on its own. This powerful mechanic opens up a ton of amazing ways to create farms within the game.

When it comes to the UI, the Crafter looks exactly like a Crafting Table. But, it gives you a unique option to disable certain slots. Thanks to this mechanic, you can use hoppers to sequentially fill the block and craft any item that you want without pressing any buttons. You can explore our list of best Minecraft crafter ideas to see this block's full potential.

Armadillos and New Wolf Armor

Armadillo, winner of Minecraft Mob Vote 2023 is coming to Minecraft 1.20 next year. They are passive mobs that spawn in the savanna biome of Minecraft. Brown in color, Armadillos sport a sturdy shell on their back. Much like their real-world counterparts, Minecraft's Armadillos retreat into their shells when startled. While this behavior protects them from hostile mobs, you also have to approach armadillos carefully to avoid scaring them.

Scute: Armor for Your Wolves

Like baby turtles in Minecraft, Armadillos drop scutes when you interact with them. You can use them to craft armor for your tamed wolves, giving them an extra layer of protection. If the wolf armor is anything like the horse armor, you won't be able to use any Minecraft enchantments on it.

Regardless, it is a great way to protect your canine friends and take them on riskier adventures. Though, it is still unclear whether you have to kill the armadillo or use a tool like shears to get these scutes.

When is Minecraft 1.21 Coming Out?

At the moment, there is no official announcement or teaser for the release date of the Minecraft 1.21 update. But, let's take a look at the recent major releases to make a fair estimate:

Trails & Tales update: June 2023
Wild update: June 2022
Caves & Cliffs (Part II): November 2021
Caves & Cliffs (Part I): June 2021

As you can notice, most major updates in the recent year only came out in June of the year following the announcement. So, if we follow this trend, it is reasonable to expect the release date of the Minecraft 1.21 update in June 2024.

However, please take this release window with a pinch of salt. The game development process is quite complex and unexpected delays can occur. Moreover, if the developers plan the next update in parts, we might not see it in its final form by the end of next year.

How Did Minecraft 1.20 Change Release Cycles

During the announcement of Minecraft's 1.20 update, the developers hinted at a shift away from the traditional update system. Instead of massive annual updates, they want players to enjoy a bunch of smaller updates that eventually merge into a larger update. This approach was evident in the unveiling, testing, and implementation of features of the Minecraft 1.20 update.

Considering this new approach, it's likely that the Minecraft 1.21 update will follow the same pattern. So, you can expect the release of some features for the next major update alongside the official announcement. Meanwhile, the remaining features of the Minecraft 1.21 update are likely to come out gradually over the following weeks.

Minecraft 1.21: Release Date & Platforms

At the moment, there is no official release date for Minecraft 1.21 update. However, the update will likely be available on all platforms currently supported by the game. These include:

Xbox
PlayStation
Nintendo Switch
iOS
iPad OS
Android
ChromeOS (with Android support)
Windows
macOS*
Linus*

*Java Edition

It is worth noting that ChromeOS is the latest entry in the list of platforms that the game supports. You can use our dedicated guide to easily install Minecraft on Chromebooks and be ready to play the next update when it releases.

Speculated Features of Minecraft 1.21

Over the years, Minecraft has teased and announced a bunch of features that haven't made it into the game yet. Here are some of these features that might finally release with Minecraft 1.21:

Glowing armor trims
Savanna or Badlands revamp
Swamp and jungle villagers
Bundles
Emerald items, tools, and gear
Functionality for Fletching Table

If you want to dive into the details, you can explore our dedicated list of features we want to see in the Minecraft 1.21 update. Notably, some of these features have a very promising chance of being included in the game.

Potion of Glowing - Hinted Feature

In a recent blog post discussing Minecraft Lofi music, the writer, Linn Viberg, described their ideal day in the game. Towards the end of the description, Viberg mentions something interesting:

Their description was amazingly soothing, but what truly stands out is its end. Here's what Viberg mentions:

"I whip out my fishing rod again and soak up the view. Some soul lanterns and a Potion of Glowing would top this off well. I think me and my new soundtrack will like it here."

As you can notice, the description mentions a Potion of Glowing, which doesn't exist in the game. But, the game already has a Glowing status effect as well as a glow ink sac. All that's left is a potion-brewing recipe which might be coming in the Minecraft 1.21 update.

Pending Java & Bedrock Parity Changes

Even after a decade of its release, Minecraft still struggles to maintain equality and parity in both of its editions. However, with each major update, many of these parity issues get resolved. Let's go over some features that might get into sync with the Minecraft 1.21 update.

Biomes and World Generation

There are a bunch of quality-of-life features that make the world of Minecraft better, but only in one edition. These include:

Fallen and dying trees*
Cauldrons with potions*
Bamboo areas in sparse jungles*
Stronghold beneath villages of Minecraft*
Huge mushrooms in swamps*
Denser crimson forests^
Variants of azalea trees^
Villages in super flat mode^
More grass in jungles, savannas, plains, meadows, and Cherry Groves

*Features that are exclusive to Minecraft Bedrock

^Features that are exclusive to Minecraft Java

Other Major Differences

One of the most common differences between Minecraft Java and Bedrock editions lies in the crafting recipes of items like boats. But, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Let's explore some of the significant distinctions that exist between these two editions of the beloved sandbox game:

Combat Parity: It's been ages since the Java edition got a combat overhaul that altered every weapon in the game. But Bedrock players are still waiting on the same.
Command compatibility: There are a bunch of commands and command functionality that are exclusive to the Java edition. For example, the Ride command had extended customizability.
Hardcore mode: The no respawn hardcore game mode is only supported by Minecraft Java.
Debug Screen: A panel that showcases all the technical details is only on Java.
Marketplace: Only players on Bedrock can download official content from the official marketplace.

Minecraft 1.20.2 Update

Sticking to their promise, developers are releasing new features in minor updates before the Minecraft 1.21 update. While a lot of them revolve around the Villager Trade Rebalance in Minecraft, there are a bunch of new mechanics too. Here are the ones you need to know about.

Updated Armorer Trades

As a part of the trading revamp, armorers now offer fresh and more balanced trades. This completely changes how you interact with one of the powerful types of villagers in Minecraft. The major change includes needing diamonds to unlock diamond armor trades. Earlier, players could skip searching for diamonds and farm diamond gear using armorers.

Furthermore, the other changes include:

Master-level armorers can buy iron blocks
Chainmail armor is now only available as a trade for jungle and swamp villagers
Savanna armorers sell diamond gear at cheaper prices but with cursed enchantments
Taiga armorers can swap one piece of diamond armor for another

New Locations to Find Enchanted Books

You can now find the following enchanted books in these structures:

Mending in Ancient City
Efficiency in Mineshaft
Quick Charge in Pillager Outpost
Unbreaking in Desert Temples and Jungle Temples

New Maps with Cartographer Trades

Cartographers in Minecraft now sell 7 new maps, each revealing directions to a nearby village. The list includes:

Desert Village Map
Jungle Explorer Map
Plains Village Map
Savanna Village Map
Snow Village Map
Swamp Explorer Map
Taiga Village Map

Thanks to these maps, you can go on wandering from one village to another. They also allow you to find a bunch of biomes more easily than ever before. You can refer to our dedicated guide to easily learn how to use village maps in Minecraft.

Balancing of Mob Attacks and Height

Overhauling the entire combat system of Minecraft, snapshot 23W33A is changing mob attacks in many ways. The changes include:

While riding animals like a horse, smaller mobs (like baby zombies) cannot reach or attack you.
Ravagers can no longer attack you through thick walls. Though, they can still harm you through thin walls, like the ones made out of fences.
If you want to escape an Enderman in Minecraft, you need to be at least 3 blocks above the ground, not just 1.5. In general terms, you have to be higher than the complete height of the Enderman and not just its arms.
When you step into the bottom part of the hitbox of mobs, it gives them the ability to harm you.

Player Skin & Name Reporting

Promoting a sense of inclusivity and security, Minecraft now allows players to report inappropriate names and skins. Getting reported can not only get rid of your name or skin but can even get you banned from playing the game altogether.

Biome-Based Enchanted Books with Librarian Trades

With Minecraft 1.20.2, the librarian villagers offer unique enchanted books, based on their village's biome. What's even more intriguing is that each biome's master-level librarian has exclusive enchantments.

Interestingly, this mechanic also includes swamp and jungle villagers who don't have a village yet. This signals that developers are actively considering these villages and might put them on the list of Minecraft 1.21's features.

Better Wandering Traders

Putting an end to years of complaining, we can now witness the reworked versions of Wandering Traders in Minecraft. Instead of selling only environmental blocks, they now offer useful trades including pickaxes, logs, and even potions.

Moreover, they also have the ability to buy items, giving you a new way to get emeralds in Minecraft. Though, their desire to shop is only limited to water, hay, baked potatoes, milk, and fermented spider eye.

Deepslate Diamonds

To get a balanced Minecraft 1.20 ore distribution, the diamond ores now spawn more frequently in the deepslate layers. This change aims to make mining in deeper and more dangerous areas more rewarding.

Minecraft 1.21 Snapshot and Preview

Fortunately, you don't need to wait till the release date of Minecraft 1.21 to experience the new features. Many of them are already available, thanks to the test snapshots and preview version of the game. Let's go over all of them to discover what you can expect.

Java Snapshot 24W03A and 24W03B

Added new gamerule to modify spawn chunks
Visually upgraded Armadillos
Armadillos now also spawn in the Badlands biome
Spiders and Cave Spiders now run away from Armadillos if they are not rolled up
Adjusted the texture of the wolf collar and Wolf Armor
Changed Wind Charge projectile's visuals to make it appear more dynamic
Armorer villagers can now purchase pieces of diamond armor

Java Snapshot 23W51B

Added Armadillo and Armadillo Scutes
Introduced Wolf Armor
Renamed existing scutes to Turtle Scutes
Tweaked Breeze sounds

Bedrock Preview 1.20.60.23

Added Armadillo
Introduced Armadillo Scutes
Added Wolf Armor
Replaced Copper Bulbs in Trail Chambers with their waxed variants
New "/hud" command to hide or reset HUD elements
4K Support for Xbox Consoles
Updated Edit World screen
Introduced Realm Story feature

Java 1.20.3 + Pre-Releases and Bedrock 1.20.50

Breeze can now break decorated pots, chorus flowers, and pointed dripstone blocks with its wind charge.
Added all upcoming features inside the main game within the experiments section
Minor bug fixes around copper blocks

Snapshot 23W46A and Preview 1.20.60.20

Added Breeze, Trial Spawner, and Trial Chamber to Bedrock
Updated texture of Crafter and Tuff blocks
Introduced early development version of Minecraft Bedrock Editor APIs
Added Scoreboard command and data formatting to Java edition
Changed the tick behavior of Crafter and Copper bulbs to match existing Redstone components

Minecraft Snapshot 23W45A

Putting a rest to players' wait, this snapshot finally introduced a new structure and mob to the game:

Introduced Breeze hostile mob
Added Trial Chamber (learn how to find Trial Chambers in Minecraft)
Added Trial Spawner blocks
New Trial Key item with no functionality
Bug fixes for new features including copper bulbs, copper grates, and doors

Snapshot 23W44A

With a major focus on bug fixes, here are all the changes in this Minecraft 1.21 snapshot:

New texture of copper doors and copper trapdoors
Separate loot table for decorated pots
The Tick command's step keyword now has the default value of one tick, unless you specify a time

Snapshot 23W43A and Preview 1.20.50.22

Here are all the major changes and features:

Introduced new blocks to the Copper family
Added family of Tuff blocks
Updated the design, animation, and model of Bats
Changed calculations to determine whether a mob can attack a player or other mobs
Updated Minecraft Bedrock Editor
Added teleportation sound to thrown Ender Pearls
Introduced Tick command to Minecraft Java

Snapshot 23W42A and Preview 1.20.50.21

Here are all the major changes and new mechanics:

Introduced Crafter for automatic Redstone-based item farming
Added option to hide yellow splash texts within the Accessibility Settings
Added a recovery screen for worlds with missing data
Changed to wobbling of Decorated Pots due to interaction
Bug fixes related to Minecraft Bedrock shaders

Everything You Need to Know About Minecraft 1.21 Update

With that, you are now familiar with the next big Minecraft update. But, this doesn't mean you have to wait till its release to enjoy some exciting new features. There are a bunch of great Minecraft modpacks that can transform your game with a single click. Though, if you only want visual changes, the best Minecraft texture packs might be a better pick. Paired with OptiFine, these packs can alter your game beyond recognition. However, let's not venture too far from the topic at hand. What do you think should be the Minecraft 1.21 update? Drop your guesses on our Discord server! You never know which random entry might reach a Mojang developer.