Mojang has offered a glimpse into Minecraft's forthcoming update, revealing that Ice Caves will be added to the game. These rare underground areas will expand upon cold biomes, introducing glowing ice crystals and environmental diversity.
Accompanying the new biomes is a new hostile mob: the Frozen Zombie. This creature can inflict freezing effects with its melee attacks and also throws damaging ice balls. These ice balls can be utilized by players as weapons or incorporated into potion brewing, offering new strategic elements for combat scenarios. According to Mojang, the inclusion of Ice Caves aims to add significant variety to the game's cold biomes, making underground exploration more engaging.
The developer noted that while beautiful, these caves are dangerous. Ice crystals found within can be placed both vertically and horizontally, providing new building and decoration options, and they can even serve as a light source. The Frozen Zombie's melee attacks apply a stacking freeze effect, which can immobilize players if they sustain enough damage. The mob also employs ice balls, which deal damage, cause knockback, and can push players away. Additionally, normal zombies can transform into Frozen Zombies when exposed to powder snow, a mechanic that could potentially be used for advanced mob farms.
Upon defeat, Frozen Zombies drop ice balls, which players can collect and use. These can also be crafted into a new potion. As a projectile, ice balls inflict damage and knockback, and the potion derived from them has the effect of freezing players. Further details on the update and other announcements were revealed at Minecraft LIVE.