Minecraft Caves & Cliffs, Update 1.17, will be on every Minecraft’s players mind from now to its 2021 launch.

While you can test some of its features now in the Minecraft 1.17 Beta, there is plenty more to come in the massive update.

So much so that we’ll break the update down into its pieces - starting with the mobs coming in Caves & Cliffs.

Warden

Wardens are new enemy mobs coming to Minecraft, and they’re one of the scariest enemies the game has ever had.

Wardens live deep underground in cave systems, and are blind. They’re massive enemies that are better avoided than fought.

While Wardens can’t see you, however, they can hear you. That means players will have to sneak around Wardens, or avoid them entirely if possible.

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To fight a Warden, you’ll need to be massively geared up or strategic. Just know they’ll be some of the most dangerous things under the surface in Minecraft.

Axolotl

Now departing from the scary side into the cute and a bit scary side, we have the Axolotl.

The Axolotl is a salamander mob that looks cute, but can quickly wreak havoc on your aquarium if you leave them unattended.

(Image Credit: /u/Avox7)

Axolotls are carnivorous, and eat jellyfish, fish, and more aquatic life.

These salamanders will also fight players if they’re struck first!

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Axolotls will spawn in Lush Cave biomes, but may also spawn in rivers (though this isn’t confirmed just yet).

While they aren’t the most opposing enemy, the Axolotl is a bit more sinister than its cute look suggests, and make a great addition to an aquarium if kept separate from the rest of your aquatic life.

Goats

Goats are the friendliest mob to be added in the Minecraft 1.17 Caves & Cliffs Update, and simultaneously present some of the biggest threats.

Goats are fair in their aggression, headbutting any mobs that come within range of them.

While this itself isn’t threatening, the fact that goats live high on mountaintops and hills make them especially dangerous to players. This is because goats will knock players off of edges if they aren’t careful.

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The good news about goats in Minecraft 1.17 Caves & Cliffs, is that they also knock away other hostile mobs.

This makes a group of goats near your home somewhat effective as base protection.

Goats can be experienced now in the Minecraft 1.17 beta, which currently features goats and powder snow for players to test.

Minecraft Caves & Cliffs

Apart from mobs, the Minecraft Caves & Cliffs update is packed to the brim with incredible new content for the game, and while it’s a distant 2021 release, it’ll shake everything up on arrival.

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In the meantime, take your time to explore the Minecraft Caves & Cliffs beta, and see each new feature as they go live for testing. You can get a server with BisectHosting to play the snapshots with your friends as they are realeased.