Around the Block: Jungle

Hey you! Yes, you. The one with the confused look on your face. Are you looking for a new place to live? A new biome to call home? Of course you are. The grass is always greener on the other side – unless, that is, you’re moving from a forest to a badlands biome.

What if I told you there’s a place in Minecraft with an unlimited supply of chocolate, melons, and parrots? A place where you can explore ancient ruins and climb to the canopy of the tallest trees in the game? A place that even has a built-in creeper defence system? Does that sound good? Then read on, as we explore the verdant depths of Minecraft’s jungle biome.

Jungles became a part of Minecraft in early 2012 as part of the Adventure Update, though they were preceded by rain forests in an earlier version of the game. It’s pretty easy to tell when you’re in one – there are a lot of very tall trees, and the ground is thick with bushes and other vegetation.

Minecraft’s jungles are home to flora and fauna that can’t be found anywhere else in the game. As well as herds of sheep, pigs, chickens, and cows, you’ll also find parrots, pandas, and ocelots roaming through the undergrowth – each of which are well worth having around. 

Parrots can alert you to the approach of hostile mobs, including creepers, by imitating their sounds. Ocelots will repel both creepers and phantoms, though they do attack chickens and baby turtles, so keep them away from your farm. And pandas? Well, pandas are useless, but adorable. Which by the way I think is the only reason Mojang keeps me around, so I’m not going to knock it.

Then there are the culinary delights of the jungle. Cocoa pods and melons spawn exclusively in jungles, making them a great place to explore for a tasty treat. You’ll also find bamboo there, which is a crucial ingredient in scaffolding – one of the handiest blocks for keen builders to have around.

Survival in the jungle has its ups and downs. On the one hand, you’ll probably never run out of wood, so that’s nice. But on the other hand, it’s sometimes tough to travel through, and easy to get lost in, the undergrowth. Clearing out an area large enough for a house can take a while.

Instead, consider building upward instead of outward. Jungles are the perfect biome to build a treehouse in, letting you expand through the canopy instead of mucking out a living at ground level like some sort of villager. Just don’t look down...