Minecraft Combat Update!

Today, Mojang released it\’s newest update for Minecraft – and it\’s packing A TON of new content. Here\’s the rundown they released this morning:

Minecraft has been updated to version 1.9!

The pretty much almost complete feature list:

• Added shields
• Attacking now has a “cool-down” delay, making it more important to time your attacks
• You can now hold items in both hands (default quick key to swap items is ‘F’)
• Swords have a special sweep attack
• Axes have a special crushing blow attack
• Added the elytra
• New mob: Shulker
• Expanded The End
• Added Chorus plants
• New Purpur blocks
• New End Rod block
• Added dragon head block
• Ender Dragon can be resummoned
• Added beetroot and beetroot soup (from MC:PE)
• Added grass path block
• Added igloos
• Armor protection values have been lowered
• Added tipped arrows
• Added spectral arrows
• Added Frost Walker enchantment and frosted ice block
• Added a whole bunch of new sound effects
• Added sound effect subtitles
• Brewing Stand now requires Blaze Powder to activate
• Added skeleton riders
• We believe we’ve fixed MC-10 and a whole bunch of other issues
• Removed Herobrine

// The Minecraft Team

This update is GAME CHANGING.  SHIELDS GUYS.  SHIELDS.  You can dual wield now, so you can swing at your enemies and then use the right click button to pop your shield up, which pretty much reduces their blow to almost nothing (it will wear our the shield).  We\’ve got the Elytra, which is basically gliding wings that you can find in The End.  You jump off of a high place, and you can glide off into the distance.  You can\’t fly forever and you\’ll eventually hit ground, but HOLY CRAP IS IT AWESOME.  ALSO YOU CAN SHOOT ARROWS WHILE IN FLIGHT.  HELLO AIRBORNE COMBAT.  And don\’t even get me started on arrows, they\’ve added tipped arrows with status changing effects and even the spectral arrow, which will highlight any enemy you hit for a short period of time, allowing you to see them through blocks.

Speaking of status changes, any buffs or status changes will now appear on your main screen in the top right corner, so you no longer need to go to your inventory to check if something is active or not.

There\’s also been a ton of updates to sounds and decorative blocks.  Most notably, glass panes now appear like fences do when you only place one down, like a single small column instead of a cross.  Paths have been added as well, to give your creations a nice added touch.

The End received a facelift as well, with new dungeons, blocks, and ways to get in.  The Shulker is a new enemy that hides within blocks and shoots projectiles at you (that shield is going to come in handy real quick).  End City is the new structure found in the end, with new purple blocks that accompany it.  There are now Ender Gateways that teleport you between end islands, and Chorus Plants that teleport you when eaten.

So far, all the new additions have been really fun to play and try out.  I can\’t wait to take the time to explore all the new content in my survival worlds and multiplayer realms.  Good luck, gear up, and go explore!