Minecraft Java Edition 1.13 – The Aquatic Update That Transformed Oceans

The aquatic-themed release transformed underwater gameplay forever. Minecraft version 1.13 launched on July 18, 2018, bringing revolutionary changes to ocean exploration and water mechanics.

Download Links

• Client (.json)
• Server

Revolutionary Block Additions

This major update introduced numerous building materials that enhanced construction possibilities. Players discovered exciting new options for creative projects.

Ocean-Themed Building Materials

• Coral Blocks: Available in five distinct colors—blue, pink, purple, red, and yellow—naturally found in warm ocean biomes. These blocks die when removed from water or nearby blocks receive updates.
• Coral Plants: Decorative elements that grow exclusively on coral blocks. They can be harvested using shears.
• Coral Fans: Naturally spawn in reef environments, come in five color variations, and can be placed both horizontally and vertically.

Vegetation and Organic Materials

• Kelp: A renewable underwater plant that can be eaten or dried into fuel blocks.
• Seagrass: Exists in short and tall forms, required for turtle breeding.

Wood Processing Innovation

• Stripped Wood Blocks: Created by right-clicking logs with an axe, offering smoother textures.
• Expanded Wood Recipes: All wood types gained new options for buttons, trapdoors, and pressure plates.

Frozen Water Features

• Blue Ice: A premium translucent building block found in icebergs, crafted from nine packed ice blocks.

Enhanced Fruit Generation

• Pumpkins: Now spawn without carved faces. Shears are used to carve them, yielding seeds in the process.

Illumination Upgrades

• Sea Pickles: Provide light when underwater. Up to four can be placed per block, and they produce lime dye when processed.

New Item Categories

Combat Equipment Advancement

• Tridents: A new weapon with enchantments:
  • Loyalty: Returns when thrown.
  • Impaling: More damage to sea creatures.
  • Riptide: Allows fast water travel.
  • Channeling: Summons lightning during storms.

Utility Item Expansion

• Treasure Maps: Lead to buried chests in shipwrecks and ruins.
• Heart of the Sea: Found in buried treasure chests.
• Nautilus Shells: Combine with the Heart of the Sea to make conduits.

Conduit Mechanics

Conduits provide underwater power when surrounded by prismarine blocks. They grant beneficial effects and damage hostile mobs within range.

Protective Gear Innovation

• Turtle Shell Helmets: Crafted from scutes. Provide 10 seconds of water breathing and are used in turtle master potions.

Aquatic Transportation

• Fish Buckets: Allow players to collect and transport live fish—perfect for aquariums and fish farms.

Creature Additions Transform Gameplay

Aerial Threats

• Phantoms: Undead flying mobs that attack sleep-deprived players after three nights without rest. Burn in sunlight.

Marine Life Diversity

• Dolphins: Interactive and helpful. Boost swimming speed and guide players to underwater structures. Attacking one provokes the whole pod.

Reptilian Additions

• Sea Turtles: Lay eggs on specific beaches. Hatchlings move toward water at night. Vulnerable to several predators.

Aquatic Species Variety

• Fish Types:
  • Cod: Found in temperate waters.
  • Salmon: Prefer cold biomes.
  • Pufferfish: Live in warm waters.
  • Tropical Fish: Come in many color patterns.

All fish types die out of water unless stored in buckets.

Undead Aquatic Enemies

• Drowned: Former zombies turned aquatic. Can carry tridents or fishing rods. Trident variants attack from a distance.

Structural Discoveries

Nautical Archaeology

• Shipwrecks: Found in oceans and on beaches. Feature three loot categories and varied orientations.

Frozen Formations

• Icebergs: Large natural structures made of packed ice and snow.

Oceanic Geography

• Underwater Ravines: Feature magma blocks that pull objects down or exist as basic trenches.

Ancient Settlements

• Underwater Ruins: Cold and warm variants with treasure maps and loot.

Hidden Riches

• Buried Treasure Chests: Found using treasure maps and contain high-value rewards.

Mechanical Improvements

Fluid Dynamics Revolution

• Water can now flow into slabs, stairs, fences, and more. These filled blocks act as full water sources, enhancing water realism.

Swimming Animation Overhaul

• Underwater movement received a fluid animation, replacing old walking-like behavior.

Visibility Enhancements

• The longer you’re underwater, the clearer your visibility becomes in specific biomes.

Command System Updates

Syntax Improvements

• Enhanced visual feedback and component color-coding for easier command use.

Legacy Command Removal

• Older commands like /blockdata and /entitydata were replaced with /data. Game modes now use full names (e.g., creative, survival).

Final Thoughts

This comprehensive update established Minecraft’s aquatic foundation. Ocean exploration became vastly more rewarding, with new mobs, materials, structures, and gameplay mechanics reshaping how players interact with the sea.