Minecraft 1.20 Update - What's New
Added archaeology system with brush and pottery sherds, cherry blossom biome, armor trims, camels, sniffers, bamboo wood set, and hanging signs.
Overview
Minecraft 1.20 is a stable release for Minecraft: Java Edition, published on June 7, 2023. It is the base 1.20 release, known to the community as Trails & Tales, and it bundles 23 documented changes across 4 areas of the game.
The work in this update spans gameplay, mobs, blocks & items, and commands. On the gameplay side it brings archaeology system with suspicious sand/gravel and brush and armor trims for customizing armor appearance.
Within Minecraft's history, 1.20 is the update built around self-expression and storytelling, adding archaeology and the cherry grove. Its signature additions include archaeology, the cherry grove, the sniffer, and the camel and bamboo wood, and this release is where they first arrived for everyone playing on the stable channel.
Changes
#Gameplay(6)
- Added archaeology system with suspicious sand/gravel and brush
- Added armor trims for customizing armor appearance
- Added cherry grove biome with pink cherry trees
- Added trail ruins as buried structures
- Added smithing template system for armor trims and Netherite
- Netherite upgrade now requires a smithing template
#Mobs(3)
- Added Sniffer (ancient mob, digs up seeds)
- Added Camel (rideable, two-player mount)
- Sniffer eggs found in suspicious sand in warm ocean ruins
#Blocks & Items(10)
- Added cherry wood set (logs, planks, stairs, slabs, etc.)
- Added bamboo wood set (planks, mosaic, raft)
- Added hanging signs (all wood types)
- Added chiseled bookshelf (functional, stores books)
- Added decorated pot (crafted from pottery sherds)
- Added brush for archaeology
- Added calibrated sculk sensor
- Added pitcher plant and torchflower (from Sniffer)
- Added 20 pottery sherds
- Added 16 armor trim patterns
#Commands(4)
- Added /return command for functions
- Added /damage command
- Added display entities (block, item, text)
- Added interaction entity
Server Admin Migration Guide
- Netherite upgrade now requires smithing template - affects existing upgrade paths
- Armor trims are purely cosmetic - no balance impact
- Archaeology only in new chunks with suspicious sand/gravel
- Cherry Grove biome only generates in new chunks
- Chiseled bookshelves interact with comparators for redstone
Known Issues
- Decorated pots can be broken by projectiles (fixed in 1.20.2)
What This Means
For players
If you play singleplayer or on a server, 1.20 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 1.20-compatible builds, then test the full stack on a staging copy before touching the live world. Command or datapack changes in this version can break custom map logic, so re-check those especially.
Background & Context
- 1.20 (Trails & Tales) was a major version bump, the kind of release that introduces a new theme of content to the archaeology era.
- Minecraft: Java Edition keeps full backward compatibility for worlds, so saves created on 1.20 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 1.20.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Minecraft 1.20 released?
Minecraft 1.20 was released on June 7, 2023 as a stable release for Minecraft: Java Edition.
What does the Minecraft 1.20 update add?
Added archaeology system with brush and pottery sherds, cherry blossom biome, armor trims, camels, sniffers, bamboo wood set, and hanging signs. Notable entries include: Added archaeology system with suspicious sand/gravel and brush; Added armor trims for customizing armor appearance; Added cherry grove biome with pink cherry trees. In total it documents 23 changes across 4 categories.
Is Minecraft 1.20 stable for survival worlds?
Yes. 1.20 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 1.20 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 1.20, then test on a staging server before upgrading the live one.
What is Minecraft 1.20 called?
Minecraft 1.20 is Trails & Tales. It is the update built around self-expression and storytelling, adding archaeology and the cherry grove, headlined by archaeology, the cherry grove, the sniffer, and the camel and bamboo wood.
Are there known issues in 1.20?
Yes. Documented issues for this build include: Decorated pots can be broken by projectiles (fixed in 1.20.2). These are typically resolved in a later point release.
Looking for version compatibility info?
Check client and server version details on our versions database.