Snapshot 25w31a is here with a massive copper upgrade that finally makes the metal worth mining! This is the first part of update 1.21.9, which is scheduled for autumn.
The Star: Copper Golem
Remember the mob vote copper golem? It’s finally here! Place a pumpkin on a copper block and you get a helpful little robot that:
- Sorts items automatically between copper chests and regular chests
- Oxidizes over time like other copper blocks
- Turns into decorative statues when fully oxidized
- Each statue pose emits different redstone signals for builders
New Copper Gear
Copper equipment now sits between stone and iron in power:
- Tools: Faster than stone, more durable, super enchantable
- Armor: Way tougher than leather/gold, decent protection
- Horse armor: Because your horse deserves to look fancy
Cool New Blocks
Copper Chests: Regular chests that oxidize for character
Shelves: Display up to 3 items each, redstone-powered ones swap with your hotbar
Behind the Scenes
The big performance win: entity rendering got completely reworked. Mob farms and crowded areas should run way smoother now.
They also ditched the old spawn chunks system for a smarter approach that loads chunks based on actual activity instead of just keeping a fixed area loaded.
Other Neat Stuff
- Debug screen (F3) is way less cluttered and customizable
- Attack/use buttons can be toggled instead of held
- Lightning rods now oxidize too
- Monster spawn eggs don’t work in peaceful anymore
Bottom line: Copper went from “meh” to “must-have” in one update. The golem alone makes it worth checking out!
Ready to test? Enable snapshots in your launcher and back up your worlds first.
