Release Date: March 1, 2012
Edition: Java Edition
Development Versions: 8 Snapshots, 1 Pre-release
Protocol Version: 28
Minimum Java Version: Java SE 5
Java Edition 1.2.1 is a major update that expanded Minecraft’s world height to 256 blocks (up from 128) thanks to the new Anvil file format. This version introduced several new features including jungle biomes, zombie sieges, desert wells, wooden bridges in mineshafts, and new mobs like iron golems and ocelots. It also added various new blocks and items such as bottles o’ enchanting, fire charges, redstone lamps, and chiseled stone bricks.
Key Additions
Blocks
- Chiseled Stone Bricks: Only available in Creative mode; decorative stone variant.
- Redstone Lamp: Crafted with glowstone and redstone; emits light only when powered.
- Jungle Log: New wood type from jungle trees; horizontal bark texture.
- Jungle Leaves: Appear in jungle trees and as bushes in jungle biomes.
- Jungle Sapling: Can be grown into jungle trees; drops from jungle leaves.
- New Textures: Decorative sandstone variants planned but not yet used in-game.
Items
- Bottle o’ Enchanting: Spawns experience orbs; available in Creative mode.
- Fire Charge: Produces fire; can be launched from dispensers.
- Ocelot Spawn Egg: Spawns ocelots when used.
Mobs
- Iron Golem: Appears in villages to protect villagers; attacks hostile mobs. Can also be manually created with 4 iron blocks and a pumpkin.
- Ocelot: Can be tamed using raw fish; tamed ocelots scare creepers and teleport to the player like tamed wolves.
World Generation
- Jungle Biome: Dense, uncommon biome with towering 2×2 jungle trees up to 31 blocks high; floor often covered with jungle leaves.
- Desert Wells: Rare structures in deserts with sandstone walls and a single water source block.
- Mineshaft Bridges: Wooden bridges added beneath floating sections of mineshafts.
Gameplay
- Zombie Sieges: Large groups of zombies spawn occasionally at night in villages.
- Debug Screen Enhancements: Added new indicators such as largest section height, current biome, block brightness, sky brightness, and raw brightness.
- Multiplayer: Biome data is now chunk-based; world seeds are hidden from clients (displayed as “0”).
- Third-Person View: Head movement now slightly delayed for better visibility of the player’s sides.
- Death Screen: Buttons now have a brief delay before becoming active.
General
- World Format: Introduced the Anvil file format replacing MCRegion. Height limit increased to 256 blocks. Old worlds display “Must be converted!” and are automatically upgraded when opened.
- Server.properties: Added a new
max-build-heightoption.
Changes
Blocks
- Dispenser: Updated texture.
- Grass: Placing blocks now replaces grass.
- Ladders: Collision box restored; crafting now yields 3 instead of 2.
- Lava: Now has rumbling sounds and popping particles.
- Oak Sapling: Texture updated.
- Cobwebs: Fully absorb fall damage.
- Slabs & Stairs: Crafting yields doubled (6 slabs instead of 3); slabs can be placed upside-down.
- Vines: Can now be climbed like ladders.
- Water: Falling from max height now requires only 2 blocks to break a fall safely.
Mobs
- Cave Spider: Swim faster.
- Creepers: No longer strafe; stop in front before exploding.
- Villagers: Breed if sufficient empty houses are available.
- Wolves: Can breed using any meat; tamed wolves require full health.
- Zombies: Can break doors on Hard/Hardcore; sometimes prioritize villagers; rare drops include iron gear.
- Skeletons: Rare chance to drop bows or enchanted bows.
- Snow Golems: Melt in the Nether.
- Zombie Pigmen: Rare chance to drop golden gear; swim faster in water.
World Generation
- Wooden bridges added to mineshafts for more structural variety.
Gameplay
- Minor enhancements to debug screen, multiplayer synchronization, third-person camera, and death screen behavior.
Fixes
- Double doors now interact correctly with redstone.
- Multiplayer ambience fixed.
- Mob spawners display correct mobs in multiplayer.
Video
An official trailer for Minecraft 1.2 was released on Mojang’s YouTube channel on March 1, 2012, produced by Hat Films.
Trivia
- Development for 1.2 began just a week after 1.1 was released.
- Despite its numbering, 1.2.1 is considered the first full release of the 1.2 series, not a minor update.
- 1.2.1 has the same number of snapshots as 1.7.4.