Okay, so Minecraft just dropped its third Java snapshot for version 26.2, and it’s awesome! We finally get to try out a bunch of stuff that’s been in development. Mojang is really going all-in on making the caves way better – not just prettier, but with some seriously cool new things to do down there. This snapshot keeps that going, and I’m really excited to see where they’re taking it.
While not every update is as exciting as the recent baby mob additions in Minecraft, it’s important to steadily improve the core game alongside adding new features. For years, Mojang has let dedicated players try out upcoming gameplay and content through weekly test releases. These releases aren’t always perfect – they might be a little rough around the edges or not fully balanced – but this latest update continues that practice, even if it seems less flashy than others.
Minecraft 26.2 Snapshot 3 introduces Sulfur Spikes and More
The latest snapshot for Minecraft, version 26.2 Snapshot 3, released on April 14th by Mojang’s Java team, features a new addition called Sulfur Spikes. These striking, yet dangerous, spikes are found in sulfur caves and can cause damage to players who stand under them when they fall. Mojang is aiming to make cave exploration more interesting in Minecraft – even after the major Caves & Cliffs update – and Sulfur Spikes are a part of that effort, coming in the next Chaos Cubed update. Previously, caves were often just about finding resources or fighting, so this adds a new element of risk and visual variety.
In addition to the new Sulfur Spikes, this update includes several improvements and fixes to make playing more enjoyable. For example, boats will no longer automatically collect Sulfur Cubes when passing by them. Also, magma cubes will now consistently drop magma cream again. Mojang has also updated the Nautilus creature, hinting at potential further changes in the future as part of the Chaos Cubed update.
The upcoming Chaos Cubed update will include all the content from the recent experimental snapshots, plus the complete set of Cinnabar and Sulfur building blocks. Players can explore three new biomes – Sulfur caves, pools, and springs – and encounter a new creature called the Sulfur Cube. While similar to sulfur biomes created by fans, the Sulfur Cube is particularly interesting because its behavior and characteristics change based on what it consumes.
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Although Minecraft Snapshot 26.2.3 isn’t a huge update, that’s typical for how Mojang releases pre-release content. Mojang’s approach to these releases, which started in late 2023, has been successful overall, and not every snapshot can be packed with major features. Some players might be hoping for a more substantial update in the next release, and that’s perfectly understandable.
Minecraft 26.2 Snapshot 3 Patch Notes
New Features
Sulfur Spike
- Is a new block that generates naturally on Sulfur blocks inside the sulfur caves biome
- Forms a stalactite if placed on the ceiling or a stalagmite if placed on the floor
- Can be combined to form longer stalactites & stalagmites
- Stalactites and stalagmites merge if the tips are next to each other, unless you press shift while placing
- Stalagmites will break if they’re not attached to something below
- Stalactites fall down if not attached to something above
- Being hit by a falling stalactite hurts, and they are sharp!
- Thrown Tridents break Sulfur Spike
Changes
- The Potent Sulfur block no longer crafts back into Sulfur blocks
- Updated the textures for the following blocks:
- Chiseled Cinnabar
- Chiseled Sulfur
- Cinnabar
- Cinnabar Bricks
- Polished Cinnabar
- Polished Sulfur
- Sulfur Bricks
Sulfur Cube mob
- Can no longer be picked up by Boats
Sulfur Cube mob
- Can no longer be picked up by Boats
Sounds
- Updated sounds for Nautilus jets and Nautilus recovers
Technical Changes
- The Data Pack version is now 102.0
- The Resource Pack version is now 86.0
Data Pack Version 102.0
Block Entity Data
- The minecraft:bed block entity has been removed
Predicates
Entity Predicates
The way we define entity characteristics has been simplified. Instead of using a complex structure with many optional details, it now resembles a straightforward data map.
For example, previously effects was an optional field:
{ "effects": {...} } In this version it has become a component-like sub-predicate entry:
{ "minecraft:effects": {...} } The main functional changes are:
- All keys in entity predicates are now identifiers
- Since identifiers can be written without namespace (default to minecraft namespace), existing field names are still valid
- Exception: field type has been renamed to minecraft:entity_type
- Unrecognized sub-predicate components are now rejected (previously unknown fields were ignored)
Existing type-specific sub-predicates have been renamed and moved to top-level.
- minecraft:lightning to minecraft:type_specific/lightning
- minecraft:fishing_hook to minecraft:type_specific/fishing_hook
- minecraft:player to minecraft:type_specific/player
- minecraft:raider to minecraft:type_specific/raider
- minecraft:sheep to minecraft:type_specific/sheep
- minecraft:slime to minecraft:cube_mob as it now includes Sulfur Cubes in addition to Slimes and Magma Cubes
For example:
{ "type_specific": { "type": "minecraft:player", "looking_at": { "type": "minecraft:ender_dragon" } } } becomes
{ "minecraft:type_specific/player": { "looking_at": { "minecraft:type": "minecraft:ender_dragon" } } } Added minecraft:entity_tags entity sub-predicate
This predicate matches entity tags (i.e. ones set with the /tag command).
Fields:
- any_of – optional list of strings, if present the matched entity must have at least one of the listed tags
- all_of – optional list of strings, if present the matched entity must have all the listed tags
- none_of – optional list of strings, if present the matched entity must have none of the listed tags
World Generation
Overworld Features
- Adjusted Feature Type lake
- Added field can_place_feature – Block Predicate, describes which blocks this feature can be placed on
- Added field can_replace_with_air_or_fluid – Block Predicate, describes which blocks this feature can replace with air or the provided fluid block
- Added field can_replace_with_barrier – Block Predicate, describes which blocks this feature can replace with the provided barrier block
Tags
Block Tags
- Added #speleothems for blocks which are speleothems like Pointed Dripstone and Sulfur Spike
Resource Pack Version 86.0
Block Sprites
- Added new Block textures:
- block/sulfur_spike_down_base.png
- block/sulfur_spike_down_frustum.png
- block/sulfur_spike_down_middle.png
- block/sulfur_spike_down_tip.png
- block/sulfur_spike_down_tip_merge.png
- block/sulfur_spike_up_base.png
- block/sulfur_spike_up_frustum.png
- block/sulfur_spike_up_middle.png
- block/sulfur_spike_up_tip.png
- block/sulfur_spike_up_tip_merge.png
- Beds now use block models and textures, replacing with the respective bed’s color’s name
- block/bed_down.png
- block/bed_head_north.png
- block/
_bed_foot_east.png - block/
_bed_foot_south.png - block/
_bed_foot_up.png - block/
_bed_foot_west.png - block/
_bed_head_east.png - block/
_bed_head_up.png - block/
_bed_head_west.png
Item Sprites
- Added new Item sprites:
- item/sulfur_spike.png
Item Models
- The minecraft:bed special model type has been removed
Fixed bugs in 26.2 Snapshot 3
- MC-229057 – Picking up an axolotl with a lead attached destroys the lead
- MC-277744 – Blocks with emissive textures don’t emit much light when held by endermen
- MC-302496 – Glowing dragon fireballs no longer show the glowing outline
- MC-307177 – Enabling JFR profiling causes the client to crash on startup
- MC-307227 – Using an empty Offers NBT tag to disable trades doesn’t work after a relog/data merge
- MC-307289 – Polished sulfur is named “Polished Sulfur Block”, which is inconsistent with all other polished stone blocks
- MC-307291 – The game crashes when an entity with the friction_modifier attribute set to 2.5 moves
- MC-307298 – Sulfur cubes with blocks inside them produce footstep sounds when moving across the ground
- MC-307300 – Magma blocks held by sulfur cubes are not emissive
- MC-307315 – Frogs try to eat large magma cubes now
- MC-307316 – Magma cubes no longer drop magma cream
- MC-307340 – The bottom face of slimes’ outer layer z-fights with the ground
- MC-307347 – Releasing a sulfur cube from a bucket and killing it does not cause it to drop its held block
- MC-307357 – Sulfur cubes don’t emit light when holding a glowing block
- MC-307371 – The #sulfur_cube_archetype/fast_flat item tag contains pumpkin twice
- MC-307405 – When picking up a leashed sulfur cube with a bucket, the lead disappears
- MC-307420 – The game now renders fluid faces that should not be rendered
- MC-307473 – The block breaking texture on bamboo stalks is now always displayed centered
- MC-307483 – Emptying a sulfur cube bucket underwater doesn’t place the sulfur cube at the targeted block
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2026-04-15 13:06