Minecraft’s new update structure has a great deal of promise, but it brings into question how one aspect of gameplay can be changed. In this era of small updates, Mojang can approachMinecraft’s combat in a number of ways.
Earlier this year, Mojang announced that it would be changinghowMinecraftupdates work. Now, instead of one big annual update,Minecraftwill be receiving multiple small updates per year—akin to the Armored Paws or Buzzy Bees updates. One update has already come out under this structure, that being Bundles of Bravery. That patch finally brought Bundles to the game, as well as Hardcore mode to Bedrock Edition, and it could be a hint at what the combat overhaul process would look like.
Minecraft’s New Update Method Could Mean Big Things For Combat
What’s interesting about this switch to small updates is how it will affect something fans have long requested. Anupdate toMinecraft’s combathas been among fans' hopes since 1.9, which updated combat in a way many fans disliked. The idea that the combat system needs tweaking has been incredibly pervasive among players, with many placing their hopes on a major revamp. However, this change in update structure has, to a degree, dashed the possibility of such expectations. IfMinecraft’s combat is going to change, it’s going to be over a longer timeframe.
Mojang May Focus On The Minutiae Of Minecraft Combat
A ‘combat update’ is typicallyenvisioned byMinecraftfans as an overhaul, doing for combat what The Nether Update did for the game’s hell dimension. Despite this popular construction, Mojang’s new update method will likely see individual parts of combat changed—as opposed to a revamp of the whole at once. For instance, this could involve an update dedicated to a single new weapon, or one revolving around a revision of dual wielding or timing mechanics.
Minecraft’s upcoming Pale Garden, the next micro update, will be something of an example. In this case, an entire biome is constructed around a new mob with its own combat system. The Creaking borrows from Weeping Angels, freezing when stared at. However, it can only be hurt by destroying a certain block hidden within the garden. At some point or another, the player has to look away from the Creaking to accomplish this task, and that’s without mentioning hazards from other mobs. The Creaking revitalizesMinecraft’s combat by adding a new challenge, one that works on a level beyond mobs with tougher stats. This won’t impact combat on a large scale or in every case, but it does make fighting and adventuring more interesting.
The Armored Paws update is also a good example. A new form of armor was added here,makingMinecraft’s wolves better equipped for practical use. This has definitely had a notable impact onMinecraftcombat, and the structure of small updates that hone in on certain features helped it shine; fan feedback took wolf armor from a quaint decoration to broadly useful protection. Another combat update could do the same for a new system, a new way to upgrade weapons and armor beyond enchantments.
Small Updates Would Be Chance To Bring In Minecraft’s Experimental Snapshots
Minecraft’s revised update structurecould be a chance not only to update combat in a methodical way that accounts for fan feedback, but it could bring back some forgotten experiments. A series of experimental combat snapshots, worked on by Jeb, were released on Reddit in 2019. They included changes that would make potions and consumable projectiles more important in fights, all while nerfing the damage capabilities of axes on Java. Bringing these features back into mainstream conversation would be an interesting way to evolve them, landing perhaps on a new definitive combat system that could unite both editions.
Minecraft
WHERE TO PLAY
Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours. But if the thought of exploring a vast new world all on your own feels overwhelming, then fear not!Minecraft has no set goal and can be played however you’d like! This is why it’s sometimes called a “sandbox game” – there are lots of things for you to do, and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, then you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you’re feeling brave, you can explore the world and face daring challenges. Blocks can be broken, crafted, placed to reshape the landscape, or used to build fantastical creations.Creatures can be battled or befriended, depending on how you play. The world of Minecraft allows for epic adventures, quiet meditations, and everything in between. You can even share your creations with other players, or play in community worlds!
