Around the Block: Frozen Peaks

The upper reaches of Minecraft’s Overworld are a wonderful place to visit. They’re impressive to look at, rich in resources, and for some reason, they’re also covered in... goats?

But be careful during your mountaineering expeditions – there are risks of falling, and of getting stuck in the snow. And nowhere are these risks more pronounced than in our biome of the month – the Frozen Peaks.

Frozen Peaks were added to Minecraft in the second part of the Caves & Cliffs update, which totally revamped the game’s mountain biomes. During development, they were called “snow-capped peaks”, but were renamed shortly before release.

This mountain biome is rich in snow and ice – you won’t find as much bare stone in these hills as in the other “peaks” biomes. As such, the tops are a little rounder than the pointy jagged peaks biome, and you’ll also find glaciers of packed ice cascading down the sides into the valleys below. Plus the extreme tectonic forces that formed these mountains have also resulted in the formation of valuable emerald ore!

The only remotely friendly creatures you’ll find in these parts are goats (and they’re not all that friendly!). You’ll find plenty of nastier foes, though – spiders, zombies, skeletons, creepers, and even the occasional and highly dangerous pillager outpost.

It’s hard to recommend a frozen peaks biome as a place to set up a home. The lack of resources, poor weather, unfriendly locals, and precipitous drops make it a dangerous place to hang out, despite the incredible views across the Overworld.

But don’t let that stop you from visiting occasionally! A properly equipped and adequately resourced mountaineering expedition never hurt anyooooooooooooooooo...

Duncan was kicked off a cliff by a goat.