The latest patch of Minecraft is spooky. A new type of block consumes the souls of the dead and spreads further.
Minecraft is known for taking its time between updates. What was originally planned as a big “Caves&Cliffs” update was later split into two and then three parts.
Now the patch titled “The Deep Dark” is within reach. And in the namesake darkness lurk really nasty monsters – and even a block that consumes the souls of mobs and spreads further …
What’s included in the new patch? Even in the first test version of patch 1.19 “The Deep Dark”, there are a lot of new contents and features. These include:
- “Deep Dark” biome: In the deepest depths of Minecraft, this new biome can appear, lying in eerie darkness.
- Frogs & tadpoles: New animals in the wild that have new functions.
- Mangrove blocks
- Mud & mud brick blocks
- “Sculk” blocks that consume souls
What can frogs do? Frogs are a new wildlife in Minecraft that mostly do not pose a threat. They croak peacefully, can swim, walk on land, and jump quite high. However, frogs have a tremendous appetite for slimes. When they eat a small slime, they leave behind a slime ball.
If they eat a magma cube, they create the new “Froglight Block.” This comes in three different colors (depending on the frog type) and is a new decorative block that also serves as a light source.
Funny to know: In an early version, frogs could swallow entire goats …
And what can tadpoles do? Tadpoles are significantly more vulnerable than their adult frog counterparts. They can swim in the water, but on land they hop around in panic (like fish) and perish shortly after. However, anyone who wants to save the tadpoles can simply catch them with a bucket and release them elsewhere.
The frog that tadpoles develop into depends on the biome of their birth.
But beware: Tadpoles can be eaten by axolotls .
Sculk blocks consume souls of monsters
The creepiest new feature is the “Sculk”. This is a series of blocks that shimmer in dark, eerie colors and have various properties.
The strangest of these blocks is the “Sculk Catalyst.” This block registers when a creature dies in its immediate vicinity – regardless of the cause. The mob does not leave any experience points but is devoured by the Catalyst. The Catalyst then “blooms” and the blocks under the deceased creature turn into Sculk blocks. This is how Sculk slowly but surely spreads.
Similarly creepy: At the edge of the “Sculk” area, shimmering Sculk vines appear. These can spread – and blocks touched by them can also be transformed into Sculk. At the same time, the vines increase the influence of the Catalyst. This means that if a Catalyst is far away from a dying mob but connected by vines, the soul of the mob can still reach the Catalyst and provide it with more energy.
As if that weren’t creepy enough, there is also the “Sculk Shrieker” block. This can be found in ancient cities, but also sometimes when a Sculk Catalyst consumes a soul and enlarges its area. These “Sculk Shriekers” emit a scream when they detect a player nearby.
The scream inflicts darkness upon players, which occasionally limits their vision. But worse: If a player hears the scream of a Shrieker too often, it summons a powerful “Warden”, a new, extremely strong mob in Minecraft that makes quick work of them – but the Warden is currently not included in the snapshot.
So if you find yourself near Sculk in its various forms, stay cautious – it could quickly turn into a creepy nightmare.
How can you join in? If you want to try out the new patch, you can install the “snapshot.” This can be done via the launcher of the Java version. After logging into the launcher, select the drop-down menu next to the “PLAY” button and switch from “Latest Full Version” to “Latest Development Version”, and the download will begin.
This is essentially the current state of the patch before it is released. Keep in mind that this is a kind of beta for the upcoming update – there will certainly be many changes, and plenty of bugs may arise. However, it is also a great opportunity to preview the new content and provide feedback.
Are you excited about the next patch of Minecraft? What features do you want to see?
