This guide is a simplified overview of all the changes in the Exploration Update (Java Edition 1.11.x releases), which assumes at least some familiarity with the Frostburn Update (Java Edition 1.10.x releases).
Mobs[]
New[]
Changed[]
Blocks[]
New[]
| Name |
Image |
Obtaining |
Tool Required |
Uses
|
| Observer
|
|
|
Pickaxe
|
- Outputs a redstone signal when it detects a block update
|
| Shulker Box
|
              
|
|
Pickaxe
|
- Similar to a chest, but keeps its content when broken
- Cannot be placed inside another shulker box
- Breaks when pushed by a piston
- Dispensers will place the shulker box in front of it
|
Changed[]
| Name |
Image |
Changed
|
| Bed
|
|
- If the player clicks on the bed, but is not right beside it, it now shows the message: "You may not rest now, the bed is too far away"
- Previously the player would get no message, but would be unable to sleep
|
| Cauldron
|
|
|
| End Gateway
|
|
- Now uses a magenta-colored beam when teleporting entities, rather than yellow
|
| Flower Pot
|
|
- The potted plant can now be removed from the pot, by pressing use
|
| Furnace
|
|
|
Items[]
New[]
| Name |
Image |
Obtaining |
Uses
|
| Shulker Shell
|
|
- Has a 50% chance of being dropped by a shulker upon death
|
|
| Totem of Undying
|
|
- Evokers will always drop one upon death
|
- Holding it in either hand will resurrect the player upon taking lethal damage
- Gives the player the Absorption and Regeneration effects when activated
- Does not prevent death by
/kill or the Void
- Has an animation when activated, which uses the item's texture and model
|
| Explorer Map
|

|
|
- Used to locate ocean monuments and the new woodland mansions
- Works like a map, but shows the outlines of land and a single structure icon
- Fills in the map with block colors once the player starts exploring the area shown
- Ocean explorer maps are slightly blue, while woodland explorer maps are slightly brown
|
| Iron Nugget
|
|
|
|
Zombie Villager, Wither Skeleton, Skeleton Horse, Zombie Horse, Donkey, Mule, Elder Guardian, Husk, Stray, Polar Bear, Llama, Vindicator, Evoker and Vex Spawn Eggs
|
            
|
- Obtained from the creative inventory.
|
- Can be used to spawn the respective mob.
|
Changed[]
Non-mob entities[]
New[]
Changed[]
| Name |
Image |
Changed
|
| Fireworks
|
|
- While flying using elytra, using a firework will give the player a boost for a certain amount of time. This will emit particles when in use.
- Fireworks stay at the players location until they disappear or explode.
- Longer flight duration on the rocket will make the boost last longer. You can increase the flight duration of a firework by crafting it with gunpowder in the other slots.
- Fireworks with an explosion will deal damage at the end of their flight.
- Firework explosions now hurt surrounding mobs and players.
- The damage radius of the explosion is about 2-3 blocks and is the same for any shape (large ball, creeper, burst, etc.) and the damage decreases with the distance to the explosion.
- The damage amount at close range is about 5
  without armor on, and with full diamond armor, it equates to about 1 .
- Death message is "[player] went off with a bang".
|
Structures[]
New[]
| Name |
Image |
Generates |
Chests |
Mobs |
Description
|
| Woodland Mansion
|
|
|
- The structure contains various chests in the different rooms
|
|
|
Gameplay[]
Changed[]
| Name |
Changed
|
| Chat
|
- Messages can now be 256 characters long instead of 100.
- Some warnings now appear above the hotbar instead in the chat, like "Press [key] to dismount" had.
- "You can only sleep at night"
- "You may not rest now, there are monsters nearby"
- "This bed is occupied"
- "Height limit for building is 256 blocks"
- "Unable to open. Loot not generated yet."
- "You may not rest now, the bed is too far away"
|
| Shields
|
- Now block 100%, as opposed to 66.6%, of the damage dealt in melee combat.
- Zombies without any weapons will not deal any damage to the player, nor damage the shield's durability.
- Creeper explosions deal 0 damage to the player.
- Wither skeletons will not inflict the wither effect when hit by them.
- Burning zombies will not set the player on fire.
- Mobs with axes will now disable the shield if they attack a blocking player.
|
| Attack indicator
|
- When in crosshair mode, the weapon is fully cooled, and a mob or entity is in range of attack, the attack indicator will be visible and will include a small plus sign (+) underneath the crosshair.
|
Enchantments[]
New[]
Changed[]
| Name |
Changed
|
| Mending and Infinity
|
- Are no longer compatible with each other on bows when trying to apply them with an anvil or when using the
/enchant command.
|
| Anvils
|
Anvils will no longer apply enchanted books to items, if the result has no effect
- This can occur if all enchantments on the book are incompatible with existing enchantments on the item.
- This can also occur if the enchanted book has no enchantments.
|