With November being scheduled as the “official” release of Minecraft the team at Mojang are hard at work putting together Minecraft’s 1.9 update. This is possibly the last update before the release and like the 1.8 adventure update will be packed full of new features, crafting recipes and other stuff. Details at this point are scarce, but from the information that’s out there here are some of the things that could be included in the new 1.9 update.

1. Snowmen 

Snowmen are rumoured to be a new friendly and get this craftable creature that will help you. Apparently this new creature will seek out hostile mobs and throw snowballs at them; this won’t do any damage but might be a good way to lure mobs into a trap or give you time to get away. There also rumoured to spread snow blocks where they walk and will melt when in hot biomes like deserts.

Right now one of the new Enderman’s traits is to move blocks around randomly. This isn’t limited to just random dirt or sand, but also whatever buildings you create leaving holes in walls or floors that other mobs could get into to. This change has forced many players to rethink how the build in the game to protect their creations. However that might not be for long as Notch has decided to eventually remove this trait.

As for Ender Pearls which were released in 1.8 they will have some sort of use, what exactly that use is going to be isn’t clear.

Originally the adventure update was going to have villages full of NPC’s or non playable characters, these were either going to be some sort of pig men or regular people. For whatever reason they were delayed but should be in the 1.9 update.

The Nether has been in Minecraft for awhile but hasn’t seen any changes since its initial release. That’s about to change in a big way with the new 1.9 update. Some of the new things being planned for the Nether include

New Nether stone (possibly more then one type)

Possibly new Nether mobs 

Nether strongholds and structures

In 1.9 players will somehow have the ability to breed animals rather then having to constantly track them down.

Another big change will be with the armour you can craft in the game. After 1.9 armour will last longer and take more damage then what it does now.

Currently in the game strongholds are rare, the number of strongholds is rumoured to go up between 3 to an unlimited number per world. There’s also rumours that strongholds will now have some sort of boss mob, what that is yet hasn’t been confirmed yet. 

Some of new biomes rumoured for 1.9 include some kind of snowy biome and mushroom full of giant mushrooms and some sort of mushroom cow. It’s also rumoured that volcano’s will be added as well.

The experience bar will finally have a purpose. Apparently when players gain experience they’ll be able to level up and upgrade their characters. This means being able to run faster, break blocks faster, last longer underwater, and stronger attacks. It’s rumoured that when you die you also loose any upgrades you gained.