Minecraft received the 1.9 patch for PC today, also known as the Combat Update. The patch changes – as its name implies – the way combat works. Specifically, it’s to “make fighting more interesting and offer more map-making options.”
The damage you inflict now depends on “cooldowns,” which basically means the faster you swing, the less damage you do. This effectively eliminates rapid left clicking as a fight strategy, unfortunately, but tools now receive a new “attack speed stat,” which is determined by tool type and material.
Players have also received an “off-hand” inventory slot, which allows you to dual wield items – such as the traditional sword and shield. The update also includes new arrow types, and this new slot can be used to choose which type will be fired.
The End, or Minecraft‘s “endgame dimension,” has also received some revamping – namely, the final boss Ender Dragon has received a power boost, and a new dungeon type, called “End City,” has been added, chock full of all kinds of rare loot.
The complete list, as posted on Mojang’s blog, consists of:
- 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