Datapack Codex

Dripstone Caves

Minecraft Wiki article. Categories: Upcoming, Overworld_biomes

📌 Mirrored from Minecraft Wiki

This article is reproduced from Dripstone Caves on the Minecraft Wiki. Mirrored from revision 3659346. It is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 by the Minecraft Wiki contributors — not under the Codex’s CC BY-SA 4.0, and it may not be used commercially. Edits belong upstream, not here.

On this page
Dripstone Caves

Dripstone Caves Light.png: Infobox image for Minecraft biome 'Dripstone Caves'

Lit

Dripstone Caves.png: Infobox image for Minecraft biome 'Dripstone Caves'

Natural

Dripstone Caves Vibrant Visuals.png: Infobox image for Minecraft biome 'Dripstone Caves'

{
    "title": "Dripstone Caves",
    "rows": [
        {
            "field": "<span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" to File:EnvSprite woodland-mansion.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=Woodland Mansion|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to Woodland Mansion article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">Woodland Mansion</span>)</span>‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "(link to Structure article, displayed as Structures)"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span class=\"nowrap\"><span class=\"sprite-file\" to File:EnvSprite dripstone-cluster.png article, displayed as 16x16px|link=Dripstone Cluster|alt=|class=pixel-image|)</span>(link to Dripstone Cluster article, displayed as <span class=\"sprite-text\">Dripstone Cluster</span>)</span>",
            "label": "(link to Feature article, displayed as Features)"
        },
        {
            "field": "(values exceeds 1000 characters...)",
            "label": "Blocks"
        },
        {
            "field": "",
            "label": "Climate"
        },
        {
            "field": "0.8‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE)  only</span></i>]</sup><br>0.2‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "(link to Biome#Temperature article, displayed as Temperature)"
        },
        {
            "field": "0.4‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE)  only</span></i>]</sup><br>0.0‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "(link to Biome#Downfall article, displayed as Downfall)"
        },
        {
            "field": "Yes‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE)  only</span></i>]</sup><br>No‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "(link to Biome#Precipitation article, displayed as Precipitation)"
        },
        {
            "field": "",
            "label": "Colors"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span nowrap;\"><span inline-block; background-color: #91BD59; border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> #91BD59</span>‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE)  only</span></i>]</sup><br><span nowrap;\"><span inline-block; background-color: #8DB58A; border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> #8DB58A</span>‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "Grass color"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span nowrap;\"><span inline-block; background-color: #77AB2F; border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> #77AB2F</span>‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE)  only</span></i>]</sup><br><span nowrap;\"><span inline-block; background-color: #70A26C; border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> #70A26C</span>‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "Foliage color"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span nowrap;\"><span inline-block; background-color: #A37546; border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> #A37546</span>‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE)  only</span></i>]</sup><br><span nowrap;\"><span inline-block; background-color: #957754; border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> #957754</span>‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "Dry foliage color"
        },
        {
            "field": "<span nowrap;\"><span inline-block; background-color: #3F76E4; border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> #3F76E4</span>‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Java Edition\">(link to Java Edition article, displayed as JE)  only</span></i>]</sup><br><span nowrap;\"><span inline-block; background-color: #44AFF5; border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> #44AFF5</span>‌<sup class=\" nowrap Inline-Template \" title=\"\">[<i><span title=\"This statement only applies to Bedrock Edition\">(link to Bedrock Edition article, displayed as BE)  only</span></i>]</sup>",
            "label": "Water color"
        },
        {
            "field": "",
            "label": "Vibrant Visuals"
        },
        {
            "field": "(link to Vibrant Visuals/Configurations#Default atmospherics article, displayed as Default)",
            "label": "(link to Vibrant Visuals#Atmospherics article, displayed as Atmospherics)"
        },
        {
            "field": "(link to Vibrant Visuals/Configurations#Default lighting article, displayed as Default)",
            "label": "(link to Vibrant Visuals#Atmospherics article, displayed as Lighting)"
        },
        {
            "field": "(link to Fog#Vanilla volumetric fog settings article, displayed as Default)",
            "label": "(link to Fog#Volumetric fog article, displayed as Volumetric fog)"
        },
        {
            "field": "(link to Vibrant Visuals/Configurations#Default color grading article, displayed as Default)",
            "label": "(link to Vibrant Visuals#Post processing effects article, displayed as Color grading)"
        }
    ],
    "invimages": [],
    "images": [
        "Dripstone Caves Light.png",
        "Dripstone Caves.png",
        "Dripstone Caves Vibrant Visuals.png"
    ]
}

The dripstone caves is a cave biome found in inland areas, filled with clusters and pillars of pointed dripstone and dripstone blocks.

Generation

Dripstone caves generate underground at any altitude beneath areas with high continentalness values (≥ 0.8), which means they are usually found far inland, and are essentially never found under ocean biomes or bordering a coast. An indicator of high continentalness is when river fjords stop generating and mountain valleys are elevated.

While dark forests, old growth taigas, bamboo jungles, wooded badlands, and taigas at temperatures of -0.450 and below are almost guaranteed to have lush caves under them, dripstone caves may generate under them instead of lush caves when they're far inland.

Description

A large dripstone.

A dripstone cave looks similar to a regular cave, but dripstone blocks and pointed dripstone, both hanging as stalactites and growing from the ground as stalagmites generate throughout the biome. The ground is filled with small water wells of only a few blocks wide, containing waterlogged dripstone.

Large dripstone cluster structures occasionally generate inside expansive caves and ravines. This biome also generates larger copper ore blobs compared to other biomes. Drowned and rarely zombie nautiluses are able to spawn in aquifers, unlike in other biomes. The same cave structures and features can generate as normally, like monster rooms and glow lichen. In Bedrock Edition, woodland mansions also rarely generate.

When exposed to the surface, the surface is made entirely out of stone with occasional patches of dripstone. Above Y=120±8, the temperature drops below freezing level in Bedrock Edition, freezing all water and covering the terrain with snow, even when generated in warm biomes like badlands. However, no rain or snowfall occurs as it is an arid biome.

Mobs

The following mobs naturally spawn here:

In Java Edition
MobSpawn weightGroup size
Monster category
Creeper100⁄6104
Skeleton100⁄6104
Slime[note 1]100⁄6104
Spider100⁄6104
Drowned[note 2]95⁄6104
Zombie95⁄6104
Enderman10⁄6101–4
Witch5⁄6101
Zombie Villager5⁄6101
Underground water creature category
Glow Squid14–6
Ambient category
Bat18
  1. ↑ Spawn attempt succeeds only in slime chunks.
  2. ↑ Adult drowned wielding a trident have a 50% chance of spawning mounted on a zombie nautilus. 
{ "hasNotes": true, "notes": { "Slime": "Spawn attempt succeeds only in slime chunks.", "Drowned": "Adult drowned wielding a trident have a 50% chance of spawning mounted on a [[zombie nautilus]]." }, "1": { "totalWeight": 610, "mobs": [ { "size": "4", "mob": "Creeper", "weight": 100 }, { "size": "4", "mob": "Skeleton", "weight": 100 }, { "note": "Spawn attempt succeeds only in slime chunks.", "mob": "Slime", "weight": 100, "notename": "Slime", "size": "4" }, { "size": "4", "mob": "Spider", "weight": 100 }, { "note": "Adult drowned wielding a trident have a 50% chance of spawning mounted on a [[zombie nautilus]].", "mob": "Drowned", "weight": 95, "notename": "Drowned", "size": "4" }, { "size": "4", "mob": "Zombie", "weight": 95 }, { "size": "1-4", "mob": "Enderman", "weight": 10 }, { "size": "1", "mob": "Witch", "weight": 5 }, { "size": "1", "mob": "Zombie Villager", "weight": 5 } ], "category": "monster" }, "2": { "totalWeight": 10, "mobs": [ { "size": "4-6", "mob": "Glow Squid", "weight": 10 } ], "category": "underground" }, "3": { "totalWeight": 10, "mobs": [ { "size": "8", "mob": "Bat", "weight": 10 } ], "category": "ambient" } }
In Bedrock Edition
MobSpawn weightGroup size
Monster category
Creeper1001
Drowned[note 1]1002–4
Slime[note 2]1001
Spider1001
Zombie952–4
Skeleton801–2
Enderman101–2
Witch51
Zombie Villager52–4
Creature category
Glow Squid12–4
  1. ↑ Adult drowned wielding a trident have a 50% chance of spawning mounted on a zombie nautilus.
  2. ↑ Spawn attempt succeeds only in slime chunks. 
{ "hasNotes": true, "notes": { "Drowned": "Adult drowned wielding a trident have a 50% chance of spawning mounted on a [[zombie nautilus]].", "Slime": "Spawn attempt succeeds only in slime chunks." }, "1": { "totalWeight": 595, "mobs": [ { "size": "1", "mob": "Creeper", "weight": 100 }, { "note": "Adult drowned wielding a trident have a 50% chance of spawning mounted on a [[zombie nautilus]].", "mob": "Drowned", "weight": 100, "notename": "Drowned", "size": "2-4" }, { "note": "Spawn attempt succeeds only in slime chunks.", "mob": "Slime", "weight": 100, "notename": "Slime", "size": "1" }, { "size": "1", "mob": "Spider", "weight": 100 }, { "size": "2-4", "mob": "Zombie", "weight": 95 }, { "size": "1-2", "mob": "Skeleton", "weight": 80 }, { "size": "1-2", "mob": "Enderman", "weight": 10 }, { "size": "1", "mob": "Witch", "weight": 5 }, { "size": "2-4", "mob": "Zombie Villager", "weight": 5 } ], "category": "monster" }, "2": { "totalWeight": 10, "mobs": [ { "size": "2-4", "mob": "Glow Squid", "weight": 10 } ], "category": "creature" } }

Sounds

Music

These music tracks play while the player is in dripstone caves.

TitlePreviewJava EditionBedrock Edition
WeightProbabilityWeightProbability
Ebb211.76%211.76%
Nightly211.76%211.76%
Shores211.76%211.76%
An Ordinary Day15.88%15.88%
Danny15.88%15.88%
Deeper15.88%15.88%
Eld Unknown15.88%15.88%
Endless15.88%15.88%
Infinite Amethyst15.88%15.88%
Key15.88%15.88%
Oxygène15.88%15.88%
pokopoko15.88%15.88%
Subwoofer Lullaby15.88%15.88%
Wending15.88%15.88%

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifier Translation key
BiomeSprite dripstone-caves.png: Sprite image for dripstone-caves in Minecraft Dripstone Cavesdripstone_caves biome.minecraft.dripstone_caves

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID
BiomeSprite dripstone-caves.png: Sprite image for dripstone-caves in Minecraft [No displayed name]dripstone_caves188

Achievements

IconAchievementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)Gamerscore earnedTrophy type (PS)
PS4Other
Adventuring TimeDiscover 17 biomes.Visit any 17 biomes. Does not have to be in a single world.40Silver

Advancements

IconAdvancementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)
Adventuring TimeDiscover every biome The advancement is only for Overworld biomes. Other biomes may also be visited, but are ignored for this advancement.

History

Announcement

October 3, 2020The dripstone caves biome is shown at Minecraft Live 2020.

Java Edition

Java Edition
1.1720w49aAdded the dripstone caves.
21w03adripstone_caves display name is now "Dripstone Caves" instead of "Dripstone caves".[2]
1.18Experimental Snapshot 1Dripstone caves now generate naturally.
experimental snapshot 4Larger blobs of copper ore now generate in dripstone caves.
experimental snapshot 5Dripstone caves now place stone instead of grass blocks when they leak out of cave entrances.
21w39aDrowned are now able to spawn in aquifers inside dripstone caves.
Zombies no longer spawn in dripstone caves.
21w40aZombies once again spawn in dripstone caves.
21w44aDripstone caves are now required for the "Adventuring Time" advancement.

Bedrock Edition

Bedrock Edition
1.16.220
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs		beta 1.16.220.50Added the dripstone caves. They don't naturally generate yet and are only accessible through add-ons.
1.17.0
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs		beta 1.17.0.50Dripstone caves now generate throughout the Overworld.
1.17.30
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs		beta 1.17.20.22Dripstone caves can now generate below Y=0 to Y=-64.
1.17.40
Experiment
Caves and Cliffs		beta 1.17.40.21Dripstone caves now place stone instead of grass blocks when they leak out of cave entrances.
1.18.0beta 1.18.0.20Dripstone caves can now generate naturally by default, and no longer have to be enabled with the "Caves and Cliffs" experimental toggle.
Larger blobs of copper ore now generate in dripstone caves.

Data history

Java Edition
1.1821w37aPrior to the removal of numerical biome IDs, this biome's numerical ID was 174.

Issues

Issues relating to "Dripstone Caves" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

  • The Sơn Đoòng cave in Vietnam was of particular inspiration when coming up with the features of dripstone caves.[3]

Screenshots

  • A large dripstone cave in the deepslate layer, with multiple dripstone clusters
    A large dripstone cave in the deepslate layer, with multiple dripstone clusters
  • A spaghetti dripstone cave between the regular stone and deepslate layer
    A spaghetti dripstone cave between the regular stone and deepslate layer
  • A mineshaft in a dripstone cave
    A mineshaft in a dripstone cave
  • A player looking down into an exposed dripstone cave
    A player looking down into an exposed dripstone cave
  • An open dripstone cave within a plateau of forest and taiga biomes
    An open dripstone cave within a plateau of forest and taiga biomes
  • A very dark dripstone cave
    A very dark dripstone cave
  • A player in a dripstone cave, lightened by a torch, as seen from above
    A player in a dripstone cave, lightened by a torch, as seen from above
  • Exposed dripstone caves in badlands in Bedrock Edition, where snowfall may occur at this height
    Exposed dripstone caves in badlands in Bedrock Edition, where snowfall may occur at this height
  • A dripstone caves single biome world
    A dripstone caves single biome world
Historical screenshots
  • A dripstone caves single biome world before 1.18, which generates the surface as a plains biome. The caves are filled with dripstone.
    A dripstone caves single biome world before 1.18, which generates the surface as a plains biome. The caves are filled with dripstone.

Mojang screenshots

  • Dripstone caves as seen in Minecraft Live 2020
    Dripstone caves as seen in Minecraft Live 2020
  • Mineshaft in a dripstone cave
    Mineshaft in a dripstone cave
  • Stalactite in a dripstone cave
    Stalactite in a dripstone cave
  • Pillars in a dripstone cave
    Pillars in a dripstone cave
  • Lavafall in a dripstone cave
    Lavafall in a dripstone cave

In other media

  • Steve falling down a dripstone cave with a mace.
    Steve falling down a dripstone cave with a mace.
  • Steve falling through a dripstone cave.[4]
    Steve falling through a dripstone cave.[4]
  • Noor grabbing a redstone torch in a dripstone cave, while Ari is mining.
    Noor grabbing a redstone torch in a dripstone cave, while Ari is mining.
  • A camel falling through a dripstone cave.[5]
    A camel falling through a dripstone cave.[5]

References

  1. ↑ MCPE-142225 – Dripstone Caves biome temperature is too cold
  2. ↑ MC-207250 – Dripstone caves biome name is not properly capitalized – resolved as "Fixed".
  3. ↑ "One of the sources of inspiration for the new Minecraft caves & the large dripstone was Hang Son Doong caves in Vietnam. Mind blowing place with 80 meter stalagmites and other craziness!" – @henrikkniberg on X (formerly Twitter), February 12, 2021
  4. ↑ "Minecraft Caves & Cliffs Update: Part II - Official Trailer" – Minecraft on YouTube, November 30, 2021
  5. ↑ "A Tale of Two Friends | Trails & Tales" – Minecraft on YouTube, October 21, 2023

Sources