The exploration update for Minecraft contains cartographers, llamas, and more

At Minecon back in September, Mojang announced a plethora of additional content for Minecraft (as if the block punching simulator didn’t already have enough to do). Are you tired of messing around in your own self-built city? Do you feel like your pixelated persona is just wasting away, with no real purpose in their digital life? Well, it’s time to pack your bags and fly the coop, because the exploration update has finally arrived!

As the name implies, the exploration update is all about getting off that square ass and seeing the world. Want to hunt treasure? Ride a llama? Face the might of the new illager enemies? Good, because 1.11 has all of that, and more (via PC Gamer):

1.11 introduces the Cartographer, a new type of Villager who will exchange your spare emeralds for a map, marking the spot of certain treasure caches. But these locations won’t give up their bounty so easily! Some maps may point you to mysterious Ocean Monuments, patrolled by spiny Guardians, others to Woodland Mansions – a new location, inhabited by the Villagers’ creepy cousins: the Illagers!

These mean and miserly folk do not welcome interlopers: watch out for spells which summon toothsome traps from the floor, or conjure nasty impish foes called Vexes. Survive that, and you’ll find that the Woodland Mansion contains a rather powerful prize: the Totem of Undying. With this trinket to hand, you can face any peril without fear. Fall, and the Totem of Undying will bring you back from the abyss of death itself! Phew!

But how will you transport all your amazing loot? Perhaps saddled to a llama! These noble ruminants will form a caravan train that you lead across the land, and can be decked out with snazzy drapes. They’re pretty feisty, too, and chase off menaces with a hail of spitballs. Cool! Also, ew! Cewl?

If their inventory is not enough to accommodate your needs, consider packing your chattels into a Shulker Box – a special chest that retains its contents even when knocked down. Handy!

Where has the Totem of Undying been my whole life? I haven’t played Minecraft for years, but when I did, most of my deaths were the result of cliff diving (or casual downward tunnel digging) gone horribly wrong. That little undying trinket would’ve made a world of difference for me!

Anyhow, apparently the above isn’t all that can be found in the exploration update. According to Mojang, “There’s loads more to discover”. I wonder if this new patch actually contains Herobrine? I don’t see anything in the 1.11 notes, but I’m sure he’s out there… somewhere.

Last Updated: November 15, 2016