Minecraft 1.18, released on November 30, 2021, revolutionized world generation with massive caves, towering mountains, and expanded world height. Here's everything you need to know about this game-changing update.
World Height Changes
The most significant change in 1.18:
- Build Height: Increased from Y=256 to Y=320
- Depth: Extended down to Y=-64 (was Y=0)
- Total Height: 384 blocks of vertical space
- Bedrock: Now generates at Y=-64 to Y=-60
New Ore Distribution
Diamonds now generate best at Y=-59! Iron is most common around Y=16 and Y=232 (mountains).
New Cave Types
- Cheese Caves: Large open caverns with varied sizes
- Spaghetti Caves: Long, winding tunnels
- Noodle Caves: Thinner, more claustrophobic passages
- Aquifers: Underground water and lava lakes
New Cave Biomes
Underground Biomes
Dripstone Caves: Stalactites and stalagmites, pointed dripstone
Lush Caves: Glow berries, moss, azalea trees, axolotls
Deep Dark: (Prepared for 1.19) Sculk blocks placeholder
Mountain Generation
Mountains received a complete overhaul:
- Meadow: Flower-covered plateaus
- Grove: Snowy spruce forests
- Snowy Slopes: Powder snow hazards
- Jagged Peaks: Dramatic stone spires
- Frozen Peaks: Ice and packed ice mountains
- Stony Peaks: Warm climate mountains
Gameplay Impact for Servers
Server owners should note:
- Existing chunks won't regenerate - blend issues at borders
- New chunks require more resources to generate
- Cave exploration is now more dangerous and rewarding
- Mining strategies need to adapt to new ore distribution