As exciting as the swamp changes joining Minecraft in the Wild Update, the new Deep Dark biome really looks set to steal the show. It’s not every day that Minecraft gets an entirely new biome, especially one found only underground, but the Deep Dark looks like a worthy addition. This spooky new region will pit players against the nigh-unstoppable Warden in a test of stealth while providing Redstone fans with some exciting new Sculk Blocks that interact with vibration in special ways. Besides, Minecraft players who dig deep enough can find spooky ancient cities made up of deep slate and filled with hidden items.
When Mojang first announced the Deep Dark biome and its ancient cities, it didn’t reveal the types of items players would find there. Instead, it focused on emphasizing the challenge of the director and the atmosphere of the towns. For a while it wasn’t clear what Minecraft players would actually avoid going to an ancient city, but it’s now clear that Mojang has a good variety of loot in mind. Some of the towns exclusive items are very practical, while others contribute a lot to the spooky aesthetic of the biome. All in all, Ancient Cities certainly seems worth the player’s time.
Minecraft loot in ancient cities
Minecraft players discovering ancient cities can pick up plenty of niche but practical items when doing so. Sculk sensors, which emit redstone signals when they detect vibrations, are obviously valuable for redstone fans. Chests in Ancient Cities also have Iron Leggings with an exclusive enchantment: Swift Sneak, which increases the player’s movement speed while sneaking. Swift Sneak seems extremely useful for bypassing the Guardian while exploring the Deep Dark. Players can also find Echo Shards, which can be transformed into a recovery compass that points to where the player recently died, helping fans recover lost gear.
Ancient cities also have a few elements that just add personality. music lover Minecraft fans may recall that Mojang added a new music disc called Otherside in 1.18 Minecraft updated, but the disc has a very low spawn rate and can only be found in Strongholds and Dungeons. Fortunately, Otherside will also spawn in Old Towns, and in slightly higher numbers than elsewhere. Ancient Cities also offers a new exclusive item called Disc Fragments. Players who get nine of these shards can turn them into a new music disc called 5. Music discs might not be particularly utilitarian items, but they are fun. Minecraft collectibles that give music lovers a good reason to seek out the Deep Dark biomes.
Reward Minecraft players for their efforts
It’s good to see that so many special items can be found in ancient cities. The towns themselves are certainly breathtaking, but if the only valuable loot they offered was diamonds and enchanted books, then Minecraft players are better off searching for abandoned mine shafts and other common structures, rather than bothering to sneak past deadly guardians in search of treasure. With all the exclusive loot found in Ancient Cities and the Deep Dark biome, fans are getting material rewards for looking into this new setting.
Since there is no release date for the Wild update yet, a lot could still change regarding Ancient Towns. Mojang could cancel some of its exclusive loot or offer entirely different items to add to loot tables. For now, however, Ancient Cities seem to be heading in a solid direction. Not only are they aesthetic additions to Minecraft, but their special mechanical characteristics make them valuable for survival enthusiasts looking for treasure. Ancient cities are perhaps just one of the strongest features of the Wild update.
Minecraft is available now for PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox One.
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