Java Edition 1.2.1

Not to be confused with Java Edition 1.21 or Java Edition 1.20.1.
Minecraft 1.2.1
Java Edition 1.2.1.png: Infobox image for Minecraft 1.2.1 the version in Minecraft
Edition

Java Edition

Release date

March 1, 2012

Development versions
Snapshots (8)
Pre-releases (1)
(View all)
Downloads

Client (.json)
Server

Protocol version

28

Minimum Java version

Java SE 5

There is a guide for this update!
 
See Java Edition guides/1.2 releases for a guide to all of the new features introduced in 1.2 releases.

1.2.1 is a major update to Minecraft (Java Edition) released on March 1, 2012,[1] which adds a new height limit of 256 blocks (changed from 128) as a result of the new Anvil file format, zombie sieges, and generated features including jungle biomes, wooden bridges in mineshafts, and desert wells. It also added new blocks and items – bottles o' enchanting, redstone lamps, fire charges and chiseled stone bricks – and two new mobs, iron golems and ocelots.

Additions

1.2.1 block and item additionsInvicon Jungle Log.png: Inventory sprite for Jungle Log in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jungle Log with description: Jungle LogInvicon Jungle Leaves.png: Inventory sprite for Jungle Leaves in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jungle Leaves with description: Jungle LeavesInvicon Jungle Sapling.png: Inventory sprite for Jungle Sapling in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Jungle Sapling with description: Jungle SaplingInvicon Bottle o' Enchanting.png: Inventory sprite for Bottle o' Enchanting in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Bottle o' Enchanting with description:Invicon Fire Charge.png: Inventory sprite for Fire Charge in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Fire Charge with description: Fire ChargeInvicon Ocelot Spawn Egg.png: Inventory sprite for Ocelot Spawn Egg in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Ocelot Spawn Egg with description: Ocelot Spawn EggInvicon Redstone Lamp.png: Inventory sprite for Redstone Lamp in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Redstone Lamp with description: Redstone LampInvicon Chiseled Stone Bricks.png: Inventory sprite for Chiseled Stone Bricks in Minecraft as shown in-game linking to Chiseled Stone Bricks with description: Chiseled Stone Bricks

Blocks

Chiseled stone bricks

  • Only available in Creative mode.

Redstone lamp

  • Crafted with glowstone and redstone.
  • Gives off light at a light level of 15 only when it is powered.

Jungle log

  • New type of wood that spawns as jungle tree trunks.
  • Has a slightly mossy brown texture with horizontal bark.

Jungle leaves

  • Generates in jungle trees and as bushes in jungles.

Jungle sapling

  • Can be grown into jungle trees and drops from jungle leaves.

New textures

  • Not available in-game and have no block equivalents.
  • Planned to be used as decorative sandstone variants.

Items

Bottle o' enchanting

Fire charge

  • Produces fire when used.
  • Can be fired out from dispensers.

Ocelot spawn egg

Mobs

Iron golem

Ocelot

  • Can be tamed using raw fish.
    • Tamed ocelots scare off creepers and teleport to the player similarly to tamed wolves.

World generation

Jungle biome

  • A very dense, uncommon biome featuring large jungle trees that can reach up to 31 blocks tall with 2×2 thick trunks. Oak trees can also be found. Jungle leaves cover much of the forest floor.

Desert Wells

  • Rarely found in deserts.
  • Are comprised of sandstone with a single water source in the middle.

Gameplay

Zombie sieges

  • Comprised of a large number of zombies.
  • Spawn occasionally at night in villages.

General

World file format

Server.properties

  • New setting:
    • max-build-height

Changes

Blocks

Dispenser

  • Changed texture from to .

Grass

  • Placing blocks on grass now replaces the grass.

Ladders

  • Re-added collision box.
  • Crafting recipe now yields 3 ladders instead of 2.

Lava

  • Now has a faint rumbling sound effect, and large particles that hop out of the lava produce a popping sound.

Oak sapling

  • Changed texture from to .

Cobwebs

  • Now completely absorb all fall damage.

Slabs and stairs

  • Crafting recipe for slabs now yields 6 instead of 3.
  • Can now be placed upside-down.

Vines

  • Can now be climbed like ladders.

Water

  • Now only two blocks are required to break a fall from the maximum build height to y = 0 instead of four.

Mobs

Cave spider

  • Now swim quickly.

Creepers

  • No longer strafe to the player's left but now simply stop in front of the player when they are about to explode.

Villager

  • Now breed if there are enough empty houses in a village.

Wolf

Zombies

  • Can break down doors on Hard difficulty and in Hardcore mode.
  • Have a rare chance to drop an iron ingot, iron helmet, iron shovel, or iron sword.
  • Navigate to the nearest shadow or body of water for safety when they catch fire.
  • Chase and attack villagers.
    • Sometimes zombies prioritize attacking villagers instead of the player, and always choose the shortest way to the target, even if there is a door in the way.

Skeletons

  • Have a rare chance to drop a bow or an enchanted bow.
  • Navigate to the nearest shadow or body of water for safety when they catch fire.

Snow golems

  • Melt and die in the Nether.

Zombie pigmen

  • Have a rare chance to drop a golden helmet, gold ingot, or golden sword (which may be enchanted).
  • Swim faster in water.

World generation

Mineshafts
  • Now generate with wooden bridges under floating sections of mineshafts.

Gameplay

Debug screen

  • Added items:
    • lc: Largest section height
    • b: Current biome
    • bl: Block brightness
    • sl: Sky brightness
    • rl: Raw brightness

Multiplayer

  • Now that biome data saves to chunks, multiplayer servers no longer send clients the world seed, instead the seed displays as "0" to the client.

Third person view

  • Now has a slight delay on the speed at which the head moves on the player.
    • Makes it possible to see the sides of the player's head.

Death screen

  • Has a slight delay before buttons become active, to avoid accidentally clicking buttons when killed.

Fixes

3 bugs fixed

Video

Similar to Java Edition 1.1, an official video documenting some of the 1.2's major features was released on Mojang's official YouTube channel on March 1, 2012. The video was made by Hat Films, who have made update trailers and videos for Mojang in the past.

Trivia

  • Development versions for 1.2 started only a week after 1.1 was released.
  • Despite the number, 1.2.1 is the first full release, not a minor update.
  • 1.2.1 has the same amount of snapshots as 1.7.4.

References

  1. "Minecraft 1.2 is Out!" (Archive) by Jens Bergensten – Mojang.com, March 1, 2012.

Navigation