Highlights

  • The upcoming 1.21 update for Minecraft lacks specific plans for major changes to biomes, despite the importance of landscapes in the game.
  • The Savanna biome is receiving improvements in the 1.21 update, particularly with the introduction of the Armadillo mob, which drops resources for crafting Wolf Armor. However, it should be expanded further via a special temple and other structures.
  • The Birch Forest biome is popular for its abundance of birch wood, but it lacks unique features. Adding a Birch Forest-specific mob, such as a Woodpecker, could enhance the biome and align with Minecraft's focus on automation. The Desert could also be expanded with unique flora and wells.

The anticipated 1.21 update for Minecraft is set to launch at some point in 2024, with fans already being in deep discussion over the confirmed content that Mojang has already announced. While these new introductions are exciting, they are only as good as the landscapes that they exist in, with the many biomes of the sandbox title being massively important.

Biomes are usually shown some love in major Minecraft updates, but the current information surrounding 1.21 does not really indicate any big plans for specific locations. By taking into account what kind of content is set to come in 1.21, a few key biomes can be identified as being deserving of a change in the update. Some biomes in particular have fallen into obscurity through the lack of real content they offer players, and 1.21 could be the perfect vessel to give Minecraft a more consistent feel throughout its different geographical locations.

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Minecraft 1.21: Savanna Biome Improvements

Minecraft Acacia Tree In Savannah

The Savanna biome was first introduced to Minecraft in 2010, being one of the most longstanding biomes in the game. Despite the long history of the location, the Savanna remains in the shadows of more prominent biomes that boast a much larger variety of content.

Interestingly, the Savanna is the only biome that has had confirmed improvements that are set to come with 1.21, all thanks to the update's introduction of the Armadillo mob. The Armadillo is highly anticipated thanks to its ability to drop resources that are key to crafting Wolf Armor, and will exclusively spawn in Savanna biomes.

Minecraft's Armadillo Needs More Structural Support

This will likely lead to an explosion of popularity for Savanna biomes, and Mojang would be smart to capitalize on this to make the biome more appealing to fans who will be actively seeking it out. With the mobs of the biome already being fleshed out with 1.21, it would make sense for some unique Savanna structures to also be added, with the biome only possessing villages and pillager outposts as things stand. A unique Savanna temple is just one example of what this could look like, and would be a huge boost for engagement with the biome.

Minecraft 1.21: Birch Forest Improvements

Minecraft Birch Forest

The Birch Forest is another longstanding Minecraft biome, first finding life in 2011. While being popular simply through its abundance of a wood that is often used in building, the biome itself has very little to offer beyond this, with fans having long called for some changes to be made to Birch Forests.

No mob is unique to the Birch Forest, with common structures like villages even being unsuitable for the biome. It is clear in this way that measures need to be taken to bolster the Birch Forest experience, and with 1.21 already having a mob-heavy focus, the introduction of a Birch Forest-specific mob in the update could be quite feasible. For example, something like a Woodpecker mob could be implemented to Birch Forests, with the animal potentially being tamed by the player, after which it could mine and collect wood - in-keeping with Minecraft's growing focus on automation.

Minecraft 1.21: Desert Biome Upgrades

minecraft-desert-build

The Desert biome has undergone a lot of changes recently, with the very nature of the location being one of barren plains and harsh conditions that are inherently unappealing. For example, Desert biomes got a lot of love in the recent Trails and Tales update, with the following Desert-related changes being introduced:

  • Camel mobs
  • A rework of Desert Temples
  • Archeology mechanic

Despite these changes, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done with Desert biomes, and 1.21 could easily pick up where Trails and Tales left off. Fans have long been wanting some flora improvements to Desert biomes, with things like palm trees, unique desert flowers, and oasis' being new features that would surely bring huge amounts of attention to Minecraft's deserts. This could come alongside new random structures like Desert Wells that could tie into the recent archeology system, showcasing just how much room a lot of Minecraft biomes still have to grow.