Java Edition 1.2.1

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1.2.1 is a major update to 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.

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Jungle log

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

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Jungle leaves

• Generates in jungle trees and as bushes in jungles.

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Jungle sapling

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

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Redstone lamp

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

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Chiseled stone bricks

• Only available in Creative mode.

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New textures

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

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Bottle o' enchanting

• Can be used to spawn experience orbs.
• Only available in Creative mode.

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Fire charge

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

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Ocelot spawn egg

• Used to spawn ocelots.

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Ocelot

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

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Iron golem

• Occasionally spawns in villages.
• Attack zombies and other hostile mobs.
• Can be spawned by placing 4 iron blocks and a pumpkin in a specific pattern.

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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.

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Desert wells

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

Zombie sieges

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

World file format

• Added the Anvil file format, replacing MCRegion.
  • Height limit increased from 128 blocks to 256 blocks.
  • A total of 4096 block IDs can be used.
• Old worlds alert the message "Must be converted!"
• World selection screen shows worlds saved in Region file format, and converts them.
• No longer shows worlds saved in Alpha level format.

Server.properties

• New setting:
  • max-build-height

Dispenser

• Changed texture from 👁 Image
  to 👁 Image
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Grass

• Placing blocks on grass now replaces the grass.

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Ladders

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

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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 👁 Image
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  to 👁 Image
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Cobwebs

• Now completely absorb all fall damage.

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Slabs and 👁 Image
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stairs

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

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Vines

• Can now be climbed like ladders.

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Water

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

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Golden boots

• Renamed "Golden boots" to "Golden Boots".

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Lava bucket

• Renamed "Lava bucket" to "Lava Bucket".

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Cave spider

• Now swim quickly.

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Creepers

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

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Villager

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

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Wolf

• Wolves can now be bred through the use of any type of meat such as chicken (raw or cooked), pork (raw or cooked), beef (raw or cooked), and rotten flesh if tamed and at full health.

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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.

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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.

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Snow golems

• Melt and die in the Nether.

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Zombie pigmen

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

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Mineshaft

• Now generates with wooden bridges under floating sections.

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.

Fog

• The Nether fog now appears closer to the player.

3 bugs fixed

• Doors have been updated so that double doors work better with redstone.
• Ambience now works in multiplayer.
• Mob spawners show the correct mob in multiplayer (instead of a pig).

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.

• 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.