5 best features in Minecraft snapshot 25w02a

Minecraft snapshot 25w02a is here. The first experimental build of 2025 introduces a host of unique features and much-needed items in the game. While some of these changes add new elements for players to explore, others improve the overall gameplay experience while you enjoy the massively popular title.

This article lists the five best features in Minecraft snapshot 25w02a that you should look out for.

Note: This list is solely based on the writer's opinions and is in no particular order.

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What are the best features in Minecraft snapshot 25w02a?

1) Falling leaves

Falling leaves are one of the highlights of the Minecraft snapshot 25w02a (Image via Mojang Studios)

Falling leaves are one of the coolest features added to Minecraft in recent times. This change to the behavior of leaves greatly enhances the immersiveness of the gameplay and adds another touch of realism to the world. Players used to rely on mods to achieve this effect, but this update brings native support for it.

Minecraft snapshot 25w02a adds a stunning visual effect that can be enjoyed in all kinds of leaves, such as oak, birch, spruce, and more.

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2) New pig variants

The Minecraft snapshot 25w02a introduces the hot and cold pigs, giving a much-needed expansion to the popular mob (Image via Mojang Studios)

One of the highlights of the Minecraft snapshot 25w02a was the introduction of two new variants of the pig, one of the oldest mobs in the game. The build added hot and cold pigs in accompaniment to the default, temperate ones.

Similar to frogs, these new variants spawn based on the biome they are located in. They bring diversity to the game and add to the ever-expanding list of mobs and variants.

These new pigs can be found in specific hot and cold biomes such as savanna, jungle, taiga, snowy taiga, and more. However, they drop the same loot as their temperate (default) counterparts.

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3) Wildflowers

The Minecraft snapshot 25w02a introduces a new kind of flower and adds to the ever-expanding list of flora (Image via Mojang Studios)

Minecraft snapshot 25w02a also introduces a new flower variant called the wildflower, adding to the host of new flora in the game. The plant can be located in wooded biomes such as the Birch Forests, Old Growth Birch Forests, and the Meadows.

Apart from being a visual enhancement, the wildflower can also be used to craft yellow dye in the game and possesses unique properties. Players can place up to four wildflowers in the same block space and in four orientations.

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4) Leaf Litter

The latest snapshot adds leaf litter and enhances the immersiveness of the forest biomes (Image via Mojang Studios)

The leaf litter is a new decorative block introduced as part of the latest Minecraft snapshot. It is found in biomes such as Forests, Dark Forests, and Wooded Badlands.

The leaf litter essentially replicates a collection of fallen leaves in a pile, adding to the immersiveness of the forest biomes. It can have different amounts of leaves in one block, similar to real life. Additionally, players can stack it on top of existing piles to increase the amount.

A leaf litter can be crafted by smelting any type of leaf block. Apart from being a visual addition, it can also be used as fuel for smelting and has unique block sounds when walking or traveling over it.

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5) New lodestone recipe

Minecraft snapshot 25w02a adds a new way to craft lodestone in the game (Image via Mojang Studios)

Lodestone is an important functional block in Minecraft that has the power to make compasses point toward it, essentially acting as a kind of landmark in the game. Earlier, players needed to craft a netherite ingot, which required a lot of effort since it can only be obtained after locating ancient debris, a block that is notoriously difficult to find.

However, the Minecraft snapshot 25w02a introduces a rather simple alternative recipe for this important block. Players can now also craft a lodestone using one iron ingot encased within a shell of eight chiseled stone bricks, making it significantly easier to craft.

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