Release date: July 18, 2018 (Java Edition)
Version(s): Java Edition 1.13, Bedrock Edition 1.4.0, Legacy Console Edition 1.51, Education Edition 1.0.24
◄◄ World of Color UpdateVillage & Pillage ►►
The Update Aquatic is the name for Java Edition 1.13, a major Minecraft update focused on revamping oceans, water gameplay, and underwater exploration. It was officially released on July 18, 2018 for Java Edition, after a lengthy development cycle featuring ten pre-releases, making it one of the largest pre-release sequences in Minecraft history. The update also released for Bedrock, Legacy Console, and Education Editions, bringing the new aquatic features to all major platforms.
The update introduced new blocks, items, mobs, biomes, structures, and mechanics, transforming underwater gameplay and making oceans more engaging and diverse.
Contents
- Additions
- New Gameplay Mechanics
- New Mobs
- Structures and Biomes
- Notable Changes
- Further Revisions
- References
Additions
New Blocks
- Blue Ice – A faster-sliding variant of packed ice, crafted from packed ice or naturally found in icebergs.
- Coral Blocks & Coral Fans – Colorful blocks found in warm ocean biomes, available in five colors: pink, blue, red, yellow, and purple.
- Sea Pickles – Light-emitting plants placed on top of blocks underwater; multiple pickles in a stack increase light level.
- Bubble Column – Generated using soul sand (creates upward current) or magma blocks (creates downward current) in water.
- Gravel and Sand Variants – New underwater sand and gravel formations for more realistic ocean floors.
New Items
- Tropical Fish – Captured using buckets, comes in many color patterns.
- Trident – A powerful throwable and melee weapon, dropped by Drowned mobs; can be enchanted with Loyalty, Riptide, and Impaling.
- Nautilus Shell – Dropped by Drowned or obtained through treasure; used to craft Conduits.
- Heart of the Sea – Found in buried treasure chests; used for crafting Conduits.
- Turtle Shell – Dropped by turtles; can be worn as a helmet providing water breathing.
Spawn Eggs
- Dolphin, Turtle, Drowned, Tropical Fish – Used in Creative mode to spawn new aquatic mobs.
New Gameplay Mechanics
- Swimming and Water Physics – Players can swim faster with new animation, and diving mechanics are updated.
- Waterlogging – Many blocks can now exist submerged in water without being destroyed.
- Conduit Power – Grants underwater breathing, mining speed, and vision when near an active Conduit.
- Trident Mechanics – Throwable weapon with unique enchantments affecting travel, damage, and mobility.
- Bubble Columns – Allow fast vertical movement in water, either upwards or downwards depending on the block below.
- Riptide Enchantment – Allows players to propel themselves forward in water or rain while holding a trident.
New Mobs
- Dolphins – Friendly ocean creatures that can guide players to underwater treasure and playfully interact with boats.
- Turtles – Spawn in beaches, lay eggs, and drop scutes for turtle shell crafting.
- Drowned – Zombie variants adapted to water; can wield tridents and spawn naturally in oceans or rivers.
- Tropical Fish – Passive mobs adding color and life to warm ocean biomes.
Structures and Biomes
- Shipwrecks – Found in oceans, containing loot like treasure maps, emeralds, and enchanted items.
- Underwater Ruins – Stone brick structures inhabited by Drowned, offering chests with various loot.
- Ocean Monuments – Updated with more guardians and improved underwater architecture.
- Coral Reefs – Vibrant, shallow water biomes teeming with coral, sea pickles, and tropical fish.
- Warm, Lukewarm, and Cold Oceans – Subdivided ocean types, each with unique blocks and mob spawns.
Notable Changes
- Complete overhaul of ocean terrain generation, with realistic seabeds and underwater caves.
- Improved lighting and water transparency for enhanced underwater visibility.
- New fishing mechanics, including treasure, junk, and fish categories.
- Introduction of Advancements for underwater exploration, such as locating treasures, riding dolphins, and defeating Drowned with tridents.
Further Revisions
- 1.13.1 – Bug fixes for water physics and mob spawning.
- 1.13.2 – Added a few more advancements and minor improvements to Bedrock Edition.
- 1.13.0.1–1.13.1 (Bedrock) – Stability improvements, fixing crashes on various devices.
Trivia
- Development of Update Aquatic was divided into two parts, initially planned as “Update Aquatic Part I & II” but later merged.
- This update marked the first major revamp of oceans in Minecraft’s history, making them as exciting to explore as land biomes.
- Jeb suggested in earlier interviews that underwater combat and movement were among the most challenging systems to redesign.