Caves & Cliffs
Caves & Cliffs expanded Minecraft’s underground and mountain landscapes across two parts. It arrived as Java Edition 1.17–1.18 and Bedrock Edition 1.17.0–1.18.0, with a rollout spanning June 8 and November 30, 2021.
Mobs
Part I Wildlife
Goats inhabited mountain terrain, leaping across gaps and occasionally ramming nearby mobs. Axolotls introduced an aquatic companion that can be carried in a Bucket and fight other water creatures. Glow Squid supplied Glow Ink Sacs for luminous-looking text and displays.
Blocks and Building
Copper, Amethyst, and Deepslate
Copper introduced blocks that weather through oxidation, with waxing preserving a selected stage. Lightning Rods gave the material a practical use for directing lightning.
Amethyst Geodes contained Budding Amethyst and growing clusters. Shards supported Spyglasses and Tinted Glass, combining observation tools with a glass block that blocks light.
Deepslate, Tuff, Calcite, Pointed Dripstone, Glow Lichen, Moss, and other additions broadened the underground building palette. New vegetation included Azaleas, Cave Vines, and Dripleaves.
World Generation
Part II: A Taller, Deeper World
Part II rebuilt terrain generation around large caves and higher mountains. Standard Overworld generation extended from Y = −64 to Y = 320, making room for deeper Deepslate terrain and taller peaks.
- Lush Caves introduced dense vegetation and underground water.
- Dripstone Caves created formations of Pointed Dripstone.
- New mountain biomes included Meadows, Groves, Snowy Slopes, and several Peak types.
- Large cave systems, aquifers, revised ore distribution, and ore veins changed mining and exploration.
Existing Overworlds gained newly generated terrain beneath their old Bedrock layer, while terrain blending helped join old and new areas.
Items and Other Highlights
Spyglasses used Copper and Amethyst for a zooming tool. Glow Ink Sacs made Glow Item Frames and illuminated Sign text. Candles supplied small decorative lights, while Part II added new music, including the Otherside Music Disc.
Development and Release
Part I released on June 8, 2021 as Java 1.17 and Bedrock 1.17.0. Part II followed on November 30 as Java 1.18 and Bedrock 1.18.0.
Features originally discussed alongside Caves & Cliffs, including the Deep Dark, archaeology, and Bundles, arrived in later named updates. Development media may therefore show concepts outside the final two-part release.
Gallery
Official Artwork
Mojang Images
