Minecraft 1.9 combat update brings shields, dual-wielding and attack cool-down
Mojang have detailed the new features coming to Minecraft as part of their 1.9 update — titled the Combat Update as it delivers various new fighting features.
Most notably, the update brings shields into the block-builder, allowing players to defend themselves from pesky Creeper explosions among other hostilities. You’ll also be able to dual-wield a variety of weapons, a lot of which have been upgraded to include powerful heavy attacks for when the light tapping doesn’t seem to cut it. For the button-mashers however, bad news: there’s now a cool-down period between attacks meaning players will have to time their attacks better to avoid getting caught in a pinch. See the full patch notes below:
- Added shields
- Attacking now has a “cool-down” delay, making it more important to time your attacks
- You can now hold items in both hands (default quick key to swap items is ‘F’)
- Swords have a special sweep attack
- Axes have a special crushing blow attack
- Added the elytra
- New mob: Shulker
- Expanded The End
- Added Chorus plants
- New Purpur blocks
- New End Rod block
- Added dragon head block
- Ender Dragon can be resummoned
- Added beetroot and beetroot soup (from MC:PE)
- Added grass path block
- Added igloos
- Armor protection values have been lowered
- Added tipped arrows
- Added spectral arrows
- Added Frost Walker enchantment and frosted ice block
- Added a whole bunch of new sound effects
- Added sound effect subtitles
- Brewing Stand now requires Blaze Powder to activate
- Added skeleton riders
- We believe we’ve fixed MC-10 and a whole bunch of other issues
- Removed Herobrine
Minecraft update 1.9 is now live.
