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The first Minecraft 1.16 snapshot was Java Edition snapshot 20w06a, announced on February 5, 2020. It introduced the Nether Update’s first preview features, including the Crimson Forest, Soulsand Valley, Warped Forest, Hoglins, and Netherite. It was an early Java snapshot—not the finished 1.16 update or a Bedrock preview.
What was Minecraft snapshot 20w06a?
Mojang announced 20w06a as the first snapshot for Minecraft 1.16, the Nether Update. The announcement’s author, Adrian Östergård, wrote: “The first snapshot for 1.16, the ‘Nether Update’ is here, and we’re very excited to share it with you!” Read Mojang’s 20w06a announcement.
A snapshot is a development preview for Java Edition. This build offered an early look at the Nether’s new environments and systems; its feature list should not be read as a list of everything in the eventual 1.16 release.
Which Nether biomes arrived in the first snapshot?
Snapshot 20w06a added three Nether biomes and renamed the previous Nether biome Nether Wastes.
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- Crimson Forest: Crimson nylium covers the ground, with large Crimson Fungi, shroomlights and hanging weeping vines. The announcement describes Hoglins roaming here and crimson spores drifting through the air.
- Soulsand Valley: This open landscape is mostly Soul Sand and Soul Soil, with basalt pillars stretching from floor to ceiling and fossil remains. Falling ash, a light-blue glow and skeletons contribute to its distinctive atmosphere.
- Warped Forest: Warped nylium and vegetation, large Warped Fungi, shroomlights, dark-blue fog and warped spores define this biome. Mojang described it as the least hostile place in the Nether at this stage of development.
Basalt Deltas were not among the three biomes in this first snapshot. Mojang’s later Bedrock 1.16.0 release notes describe four new Nether biomes, including Basalt Deltas; those final-release notes are a separate account from the 20w06a feature list. See the Bedrock 1.16.0 release notes.
What new mobs and progression did 20w06a add?
Hoglins
Hoglins were one of the snapshot’s headline additions. Mojang’s announcement specifically placed them among the creatures wandering the Crimson Forest.
Netherite
The snapshot introduced Netherite as a high-level material found in the Nether and used to upgrade diamond gear. It established a new gear-upgrade path alongside the new biome and block content.
Which blocks, plants and effects were included?
The announcement listed these new blocks and Nether vegetation:
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- UNO Minecraft features a deck and storage tin decorated with graphics from the popular video game.
- Players match colors and numbers to the card on top of the discard pile as in the classic game.
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- Crimson Stems and Warped Stems
- Crimson Nylium and Warped Nylium
- Basalt and Soul Soil
- Nether Sprouts, Crimson Roots and Warped Roots
- Crimson Fungi and Warped Fungi
- Warped Wart blocks, Weeping Vines and Shroomlights
Bone meal could spread Nylium onto Netherrack. Soul Soil could be used to make Soul Torches and Soul Lanterns. The snapshot also added ash, crimson-spore, soul-fire-flame and warped-spore particle types to give the new areas their distinct visual effects.
What else changed in snapshot 20w06a?
The build included gameplay and sound adjustments as well as Nether content:
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- Now Minecraft lovers can play a special version of UNO!
- Same as Basic UNO but features Minecraft characters and includes special Creeper rule card. Draw this card and the other players have to draw three more cards from the pile!
- The goal is to get rid of all the cards in your hand.
- First player or team to 500 wins.
- When you're down to one card, don't forget to yell "UNO"!
- Knockback resistance became a scale rather than a probability.
- Patrols no longer spawned when the player was close to any village.
- Vertically stacked walls no longer had gaps.
- Ghast sounds could be heard from a shorter range, and several block sounds were updated.
For technical users, the snapshot added the locatebiome command, with syntax locatebiome <biome>, to find a biome.
How could Java players try the first snapshot?
Mojang’s snapshot announcement directed Java Edition players to the Minecraft Launcher. In the launcher, open the Installations tab and enable snapshots, then select the snapshot installation to play it. Snapshots are development builds, so use a separate installation and world from a regular save if you want to keep that save isolated from preview changes.
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How does the first snapshot differ from the full Nether Update?
20w06a was one early Java Edition preview released during development, not the completed 1.16 update. Its announcement names three new biomes; later full-release notes for Bedrock 1.16.0 describe four. Features and details introduced after this snapshot should not be attributed to 20w06a.
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