Minecraft’s much-anticipated 1.20 update is dubbed “Trails and Tales.” This massive release is filled with thrilling enhancements and content, such as a new biome, fresh blocks, archaeology, and more, all aimed at nurturing storytelling and world-building.
If you missed the last time we wrote about an update, you can find the Minecraft 1.19.4 post here.
Here’s a rundown of what’s new in Minecraft’s latest update:
Minecraft 1.20: Trails and Tales
Mojang has bestowed upon this latest update a moniker that represents its theme: “Trails and Tales.” Emphasizing elements like self-expression, creativity, and intrinsic motivation, this update aims to keep players engaged, not because they feel trapped in the endless crafting loop, but because they feel inspired.
The new features reflect these themes. You’ll find novel building blocks, a functional bookshelf, a camel mount, and an introduction to archaeology—all discovered in the desert regions of the Minecraft universe.
Highlights of the 1.20 Update:
Release Date
Minecraft 1.20, also known as the Trails & Tales update, is available for everyone. It went through the usual sequence of prerelease and snapshot builds starting from October 2022. Delve into the fascinating world of archaeology and other features without delay!
New Blocks and Mobs
Personalizing builds and crafting stories through new discoveries and contraptions are central to the 1.20 update. From the bamboo and cherry blossom wood types to functional chiseled bookshelves, patterned pots, and hanging signs, these new blocks are there for you to create and narrate your own tales.
Some noteworthy additions:
- Bamboo Wood: A collection of blocks made from bamboo, including doors, stairs, trapdoors, and planks.
- Raft: A flat raft you can ride, made from bamboo.
- Cherry Blossom Wood: A complete set of beautiful pink-hued wood blocks from the new cherry blossom biome.
- Chiseled Bookshelf: A functional bookshelf that can hold up to six books and emits a redstone signal based on the number of books it holds.
- Suspicious Sand: Found near desert temples, cleared out with the new Brush tool to discover pottery shards, bones, Sniffer eggs, and more.
The New Mobs: Camel and Sniffer
Two delightful additions to the mob family are the desert-roaming camel and the fascinating sniffer.
- Camels: These desert dwellers can seat two players and have a special horizontal dash ability for crossing ravines.
- Sniffers: Resurrected via archaeology, these large turtle-shaped mobs dig ancient seeds out of the ground for you to plant.
Archaeology Feature
The long-awaited Archaeology feature, once postponed, has finally been introduced in the 1.20 update. Dig through “suspicious sand” with a brush tool to find valuable artifacts, like sniffer eggs, and even uncover underground archaeology sites known as trail ruins, which may lead you to an ancient settlement.
Cherry Blossom Biome
This unexpected but beautiful addition provides a stunning landscape filled with pink flower petals. You can break down these trees to craft a full wood set, including hanging signs and cherry tree saplings. Look out for animals and perhaps a creeper or two enjoying the lovely pink trees!
Other Features
- Armor Trim: Customize your armor with colorful trims using smithing templates and a smithing table.
- Bundles: While featured as an experimental element, bundles did not make it into the 1.20 update officially.
Bedrock Updates
Minecraft’s Bedrock version also received small hotfixes and feature changes, like a short sneak—which reduces player height to 1.5 blocks when sneaking—and adjustments to boat and barrel recipes.
Minecraft Servers running 1.20
You can spin up a singleplayer world or join some of the amazing online multiplayer servers that support version 1.20, 1.20.1 & 1.20.2.
Final thoughts on the Minecraft 1.20 Update
Minecraft’s 1.20 “Trails and Tales” update is a treasure trove of new content and features designed to spur creativity and exploration. With a focus on storytelling and personalized building, the update is filled with exciting possibilities for old fans and newcomers alike. Whether you’re crafting secret doors with the new chiseled bookshelf, riding a camel across a desert with a friend, or uncovering ancient secrets through archaeology, there’s a world of imagination waiting to be unlocked.