Minecraft 1.17 Update - What's New
First half of the Caves & Cliffs update. Added amethyst geodes, copper ore, axolotls, glow squids, goats, spyglass, lightning rod, and many new blocks. World generation changes deferred to 1.18.
Overview
Minecraft 1.17 is a stable release for Minecraft: Java Edition, published on June 8, 2021. It is the base 1.17 release, known to the community as Caves & Cliffs Part 1, and it bundles 22 documented changes across 3 areas of the game.
The work in this update spans gameplay, mobs, and blocks & items. On the gameplay side it brings amethyst geodes as underground structures and powder snow.
Within Minecraft's history, 1.17 is the first half of Caves & Cliffs, shipping the mobs and blocks ahead of the world-generation changes. Its signature additions include copper, amethyst geodes, the axolotl, and the glow squid, and this release is where they first arrived for everyone playing on the stable channel.
Changes
#Gameplay(5)
- Added amethyst geodes as underground structures
- Added powder snow (entities sink through it)
- Added lightning rod to redirect lightning strikes
- Added spyglass for zooming in
- Added glow lichen and glow berries for cave lighting
#Mobs(3)
- Added Axolotl (aquatic mob, helps fight underwater hostiles)
- Added Glow Squid (drops glow ink sacs)
- Added Goat (jumps high, rams entities)
#Blocks & Items(14)
- Added copper ore, copper blocks, and copper aging/oxidation system
- Added cut copper, stairs, slabs in all oxidation states
- Added amethyst blocks, budding amethyst, amethyst clusters
- Added tinted glass (blocks light but transparent)
- Added calcite and tuff
- Added deepslate and all deepslate variants
- Added raw ore items (raw iron, raw gold, raw copper)
- Added dripstone and pointed dripstone
- Added moss block and moss carpet
- Added azalea and flowering azalea
- Added rooted dirt and hanging roots
- Added glow berries and cave vines
- Added candles (16 colors, up to 4 per block)
- Added bundle (experimental, stores mixed items)
Server Admin Migration Guide
- No world height changes yet (deferred to 1.18)
- New blocks and items available but terrain generation unchanged
- Copper will oxidize over time - purely decorative for now
- Straightforward upgrade from 1.16.x
Known Issues
- Bundles are experimental and hidden in survival
- Dripstone can be used as a weapon by players
What This Means
For players
If you play singleplayer or on a server, 1.17 is safe to update to. New blocks and items become craftable, new mobs begin to spawn in eligible worlds, and existing worlds carry forward without resetting. Back up your save first as a habit, then load it on the new version.
For server admins
Server owners should not rush a production upgrade. Wait for your platform (Paper, Spigot, Fabric, Forge, NeoForge) and every plugin or mod to publish 1.17-compatible builds, then test the full stack on a staging copy before touching the live world.
Background & Context
- 1.17 (Caves & Cliffs Part 1) was a major version bump, the kind of release that introduces a new theme of content to the Caves & Cliffs era.
- Minecraft: Java Edition keeps full backward compatibility for worlds, so saves created on 1.17 continue to open and upgrade on later releases.
- Always keep a backup of important worlds before changing versions; the Astroworld versions database tracks client and server compatibility for 1.17.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Minecraft 1.17 released?
Minecraft 1.17 was released on June 8, 2021 as a stable release for Minecraft: Java Edition.
What does the Minecraft 1.17 update add?
First half of the Caves & Cliffs update. Added amethyst geodes, copper ore, axolotls, glow squids, goats, spyglass, lightning rod, and many new blocks. World generation changes deferred to 1.18. Notable entries include: Added amethyst geodes as underground structures; Added powder snow; Added lightning rod to redirect lightning strikes. In total it documents 22 changes across 3 categories.
Is Minecraft 1.17 stable for survival worlds?
Yes. 1.17 is a stable release; existing worlds upgrade in place and the version is intended for normal singleplayer and multiplayer play. Back up your save before updating as a precaution.
Can I run 1.17 on a Minecraft server?
You can, but wait until your server software (such as Paper, Spigot, Fabric, Forge, or NeoForge) and all of your plugins or mods publish builds compatible with 1.17, then test on a staging server before upgrading the live one.
What is Minecraft 1.17 called?
Minecraft 1.17 is Caves & Cliffs Part 1. It is the first half of Caves & Cliffs, shipping the mobs and blocks ahead of the world-generation changes, headlined by copper, amethyst geodes, the axolotl, and the glow squid.
Are there known issues in 1.17?
Yes. Documented issues for this build include: Bundles are experimental and hidden in survival; Dripstone can be used as a weapon by players. These are typically resolved in a later point release.
Looking for version compatibility info?
Check client and server version details on our versions database.