Brr! The first glimpse of Minecraft’s upcoming Winter game drop has arrived, and it’s absolutely frosty. Minecraft 26.4 Snapshot 3 für Java-Ausgabe, released on October 6, 2026, adds a brand-new underground biome, a shivering new hostile mob, and a dangerously cold status effect that will change how you gear up for winter adventures.
“Brr! Does it feel colder all of a sudden? Minecraft LIVE revealed the first look at our next game drop – and it’s frosty. Explore ice caves filled with glittering icicles and ice crystals, plus meet a not-so-chill new hostile mob! This frozen zombie variant is well adapted to colder conditions and can freeze players with its attacks.”
— Java Team, official Minecraft blog
What Exactly Is a Snapshot?
If you’re new to testing early versions, a snapshot is a pre-release build Mojang puts out to let players try upcoming features and help squash bugs before the official update drops. Snapshots are only available for Java-Ausgabe. You can install this one right now by opening the Minecraft Launcher, heading to the Installationen tab, and enabling Snapshots. Always back up your worlds before loading them in a snapshot — things can break!
The Ice Caves Biome: A Frozen Underground Wonderland
The headline feature is the Ice Caves biome, which generates deep underground in cold and icy regions. Think of it as a glittering crystal cavern, but with a serious chill. The walls are lined with icicles dangling from the ceiling and ice crystals jutting out from the floor and walls, creating a magical (and perilous) atmosphere. This biome adds a fresh reason to dig deep in snow biomes, and it’s packed with dangerous new inhabitants.
New Blocks: Icicles and Ice Crystals
Both icicles and ice crystals are purely decorative for now, but they bring a lot of atmosphere to any winter build. Icicles hang from cave ceilings, while ice crystals sparkle on the ground. They don’t emit light, so bring torches — you’ll need them to spot the new mob lurking in the dark.
Meet the Frostbite: A Freezing Zombie Variant
Die Frostbite is a new hostile mob, a zombie adapted to the coldest climates. It spawns naturally in the Ice Caves and other freezing biomes. Unlike its shambling cousins, the Frostbite has both melee and ranged attacks:
- Melee hits apply the new Freezing effect, slowing you down and dealing damage over time.
- Fernkampfangriffe lob Ice Balls that deal 4 damage, pack a punch of knockback, and shatter on impact with blocks or entities.
The Frostbite isn’t just a cold-weather threat — it’s also a transforming one. If a Frostbite stays underwater for long enough, it reverts to a regular Zombie. Conversely, if a normal Zombie or Husk steps into Pulverschnee, it will freeze into a Frostbite. That means snow-covered biomes can now spawn these ice zombies from unexpected places. When defeated, a Frostbite drops Rotten Flesh und Ice Balls.
The Freezing Effect: Danger in Every Hit
Freezing is a new status effect that makes your screen shake and, if left unchecked, eventually damages you. It’s similar to the tick damage you get from standing in Powder Snow, but this one comes from mob attacks. Leather armor offers some protection against Freezing damage, but it won’t prevent or cure the effect once it’s applied — so you’ll still need to watch your health. Even stronger gear won’t save you from the shivering.
Some mobs are particularly vulnerable to the cold: creatures that are naturally warm or fiery take five times the normal damage from the Freezing effect. Mooshrooms and Striders, beware!
Ice Balls, Potions, and Arrows of Freezing
The Ice Ball is a throwable projectile (similar to snowballs, but deadlier) that deals direct damage and knockback. You can farm them from Frostbite drops, then use them to brew Potions of Freezing in a brewing stand. Once you’ve got a Lingering Potion of Freezing, place it in the center of a crafting table surrounded by 8 arrows zum Handwerk Arrows of Freezing. These arrows will apply the Freezing effect to whatever they hit — perfect for slowing down a pursuing Creeper or turning a blaze into an ice cube.
How to Try Snapshot 26.4 Right Now
This snapshot is available only for Minecraft: Java Edition (version 26.4 Snapshot 3). To jump in:
- Öffnen Sie die Minecraft-Startprogramm.
- Click the Installationen tab at the top.
- Check the box for Snapshots (if it’s not already enabled).
- Klicken Sie auf Neue Installation, choose Latest Snapshot from the version dropdown, and give it a name.
- Launch the game and create a new world (or load an existing one at your own risk).
As with any test version, keep a backup copy of your favorite worlds so you don’t lose progress to a bug.
What’s Next?
This is only the first snapshot of the Winter game drop, so expect more frosty features (and likely some balancing tweaks) in the coming weeks. The Ice Caves and Frostbite are shaping up to be a game-changer for survival players who love a chilly challenge. Check out the official Minecraft blog post for the full changelog, or try our guide on surviving the first night in frozen biomes if you plan to explore the new caves unprepared!
