Minecraft is over ten years old and the most popular video game in history through sales. The game's continued success stems from the content continuously added with every major update. Minecraft is full of hidden features that players do not know about. With over 84 mobs and 800 blocks, it is without a doubt that many players are unaware of certain features.
Every mob in the game is incredibly detailed and full of mechanics that separate them from one another. The recent Sniffer is a one-of-a-kind mob that can be bred using the new special torch flower seeds. Through hidden mechanics, players have been able to exploit many features of the game and create automatic farms that provide ample resources for the player.
Updated on January 19, 2024, by Aly Azmy: Minecraft is full of intricate and hidden mechanics that need to be brought to the attention of all players. Some mechanics benefit the player while others are purely cosmetic. Taking advantage of these cool tricks lets fans discover new ways to mine, farm netherite, build animal pens, and more. There's even a method for how explosive damage is detected and how the damage received from it can be reduced. Here's what hidden mechanics players can expect to find in the game going into the upcoming 1.21 update.
14 Lightning
Use Case: Obtaining Rare Creeper
Lightning in Minecraft has many hidden interactions with mobs that will cause them to transform. When struck by lightning, Red Mooshrooms will turn into Brown Mooshrooms and vice versa. Pigs will turn into Zombie Pigmen and Creepers will become Supercharged Creepers. Supercharged Creepers have an aura of lightning and will deal a deadly amount of damage.
The most tragic transformation occurs to Villagers. When a Villager is struck by lightning, they will turn into a Witch. This occurrence is a nightmare for players who have built an active iron farm as it will transform Villagers into Witches and ruin all hard work. Using a lightning rod is essential to eliminate the possibility of having an iron farm turn into contemporary decor by one unlucky lightning strike.
13 Cats
Use Case: Farming Gunpowder
Other than being the cutest mob added to the game, Cats have a hidden feature that allows them to provide value to the player. Cats will scare off Creepers and keep the player safe and can also be used to farm gunpowder automatically. Gunpowder is essential once a player has obtained an Elytra, as it crafts fireworks.
Phantoms are considered to be the most annoying mob in Minecraft. Cats will also scare off Phantoms and keep them at bay. This feature is handy when building outdoors at night as the Phantoms will infiltrate safe areas and disturb any player who has not recently used a bed.
12 Music Discs
Use Case: Obtaining Music Discs
The music in Minecraft punches far above its weight and the same applies to the music discs in the game. The best use for diamonds is no doubt crafting a jukebox and blasting tunes from the various records in the game.
Players can build up their record collection with the dissatisfaction of a creeper. When a skeleton delivers the killing blow on a creeper, it will drop a random music disc as loot. The dropped disc is entirely random and players will need to mastermind a skeleton killing a creeper several times to expand their music selection.
11 Minecart Hopper
Use Case: Automatic Farms
Hoppers added a lot of functionality to Minecraft and helps players to create automated systems. Hoppers can only pick up items through specific blocks and cannot pick up items through solid blocks. A minecart with a hopper can pick up items through a solid block.
The rail allows the minecart to clip slightly above the ground and gives it enough reach to pick up items through the block above it. Players can use this mechanic to keep their automatic farms neat without the need for visible hoppers ruining the aesthetic.
10 End Rods
Use Case: Lighting
Building is a massive aspect of Minecraft and talented players need to do their homes justice by using lighting sources other than torches. End rods are an underutilized lighting block source and can fit in well with a modern building style.
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Crafting end rods isn't common knowledge, despite how easy they are to craft once players have good gear. The crafting recipe requires one popped chorus fruit and 1 blaze rod and provides 4 end rods. Popped chorus fruit is obtained by smelting chorus fruit.
9 TNT & Player Hitbox
Use Case: Surviving Explosions
Surviving a TNT blast usually requires the use of a shield or good armor. Minecraft's method to calculate damage from blast damage is a little odd and can be exploited. The explosion hitbox of a player is located at their feet.
A player will take much less damage if they are one block below an explosion than if they are a few blocks distant horizontally. Players can use this mechanic outside of PVP for mining Netherite.
8 Netherite Mining
Use Case: Obtaining Netherite
Mining for Netherite is a lengthy process but is worth the armor and tool upgrades. Players can vastly speed up their Netherite collection process and make it fun with the help of explosions. The only requirement is a sheep farm for wool and crafting many beds.
Beds explode in the Nether when interacted with by any player. Once near Y level 15, dig a small tunnel to pack the bed in, and be sure to be a few blocks below the bed to take advantage of the player's explosion hitbox. It's best to take minimal gear and ample food to get a feel of the double-edged Netherite mining method safely.
7 Carpet Fence
Use Case: Easy Navigation of Animal Pen
Setting up an animal pen early in a game is essential to create a sustainable source of food. Sheep will provide a consistent source of wool that may be used to accumulate a stockpile of beds for netherite farming. It is vital to trap at least two animals of every type if possible, such as cows, for their leather to craft books.
The cheapest early game method to encase animals is using a cobblestone fence, but creating a gate can be tricky and can cause animals to break free. Adding a carpet on top of a cobblestone fence allows the player to maneuver on top of the fence while the mobs cannot.
6 Trimming
Use Case: Aesthetics
Shears have many uses that range from obtaining wool and sparing sheep from harm to carving out pumpkins. Many players do not know that shears have a hidden ability to halt the growth of specific plants.
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If players know what to do with it, kelp can be one of the most useful resources in Minecraft.
Players can right-click on cave vines, kelp, twisting vines, and weeping vines to permanently pause their growth. Kelp can be stopped from growing in ponds containing Axolotls and prevent them from hiding the lovely amphibians.
5 Straight Down Mining
Use Case: Mining
Since the release of Minecraft, players have advised against digging straight down as it may end in an unfortunate accident. With the aid of one small tip, players can safely violate the first rule of Minecraft and discover a new method to mine.
Digging directly down is associated with a 1x1 tunnel and gives the player no safety against what may lie below. Players can dig a 1x2 tunnel and stand directly between the two blocks to create a buffer area that will prevent them from falling. This step is useful for the early game as a good pickaxe with enchantments may give players no time to react against danger.