The new Minecraft patch makes squids glow. And you can showcase glowing ink items in even cooler ways.
For 2021, a major Minecraft update is planned, namely the “Caves and Cliffs” patch. As the name suggests, this will primarily modernize and enhance underground caves, but also introduce many new creatures and objects. One of the new beings is the glowing squid. They leave behind glowing ink upon their death, providing a variety of new decorative options.
What benefit does the ink have? Glowing ink can be used for several things that are likely to create a lot of atmosphere. For one, it is possible to give text on signs a glowing effect. Normally, signs need to be illuminated by other light sources, such as torches or lanterns, to be visible in the dark. With glowing ink, it is possible to read the text even in total darkness.
A second benefit is possible in connection with frames (“Item Frames”). When frames are made with glowing ink, the items in those frames will be brightly illuminated. This allows you to create an illuminated display case and showcase special items – like diamonds, cool armor, or simply a golden apple – well-lit in your own home.
The difference between glowing and non-glowing objects is clear, as this picture from Reddit user bigvillain7 shows:
Glowing ink is therefore mainly for decorative purposes, but it may also find some application in adventure maps. Especially in spooky gardens that take place in deep darkness, glowing ink on signs is an interesting and useful effect.
What else is new? Also new are the glowing lichen. These are thin plants that spread over blocks and emit a faint, eerie light. The glowing vines only produce a light level of 7, which is why monsters can still appear nearby. Glowing lichen primarily appear in caves and offer a small light source for orientation – or illuminate the looming danger when creepers and zombies approach from the shadows.
Glowing lichen can be harvested with scissors and then placed on other blocks. If desired, they can be “bred” with bone meal to jump to other blocks.
When will the patch come? There is no exact release date for the “Caves and Cliffs” patch yet. Roughly, it is scheduled to be released “mid-2021”, so you will have to wait a few more months. However, if you want to try out the new features right now, you can download the current snapshot (essentially a beta version) of the Java edition and get a firsthand experience of the new content.
However, keep in mind that glowing squids currently do not spawn in the open world, but can only be created using spawn eggs. You can use them in the creative mode of the snapshot.
Are you excited for the new Minecraft update? Is it time for new features or do you still have enough to do in the game?
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