Minecraft 1.20.5 update encourages players to explore the world with and for wolves

Minecraft 1.20.5 update was recently released by Mojang Studios. Though it is considered a minor update, it added several major features to wolves which the community craved for quite some time. Ever since 2023, when Mojang Studios introduced a few features related to wolves, the player base eagerly waited for them to be added.

Not only do these features encourage players to take their wolves on journeys more often, they also urge them to explore more Overworld areas to find new pets.

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.

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How Minecraft 1.20.5 features inspire players to head out with their wolves

Protection for wolves

Wolf armor can protect players from all kinds of attacks coming from hostile mobs (Image via Mojang Studios)

There have been several instances when a player plans to head out on an adventure in the Overworld but decides not to take their wolf with them. While many would take their horse since it can be ridden and has armor protection, they would be reluctant to take their wolves, simply to save them from getting hurt or dying from a few zombies or skeletons.

To some extent, the new wolf armor introduced in Minecraft 1.20.5 tackles this issue and allays one's fear of losing their pets in battle. Mojang Studios added a new mob called armadillo, whose scutes can be used to craft armor for wolves. Though the armor won't protect a wolf from drowning, burning, freezing, magic, thorns, etc., it will provide ample protection for them to keep fighting and stay alive.

The wolf armor would encourage players to bring their pets on adventures more often.

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New wolves in the wild

Eight new wolf variants have been added to the 1.20.5 update (Image via Mojang Studios)

The wolf mob was added in March 2011, several months before Minecraft's official release. Since then, only one type of wolf has existed in a Minecraft world. Though the mob received several features over the years, gradually making it one of the favorite pets, variety was missing.

With the 1.20.5 update, Mojang Studios added eight new wolf variants to Minecraft. After 14 years, the Overworld realm would have various kinds of wolves roaming around, waiting to be found and tamed. Here is a list of all the wolves and where they will spawn:

• Ashen wolf will spawn in the snowy taiga.
• Black wolf will spawn in the old-growth pine taiga.
• Chestnut wolf will spawn in the old-growth spruce taiga.
• Rusty wolf will spawn in the sparse jungle.
• Snowy wolf will spawn in the grove.
• Spotted wolf will spawn in the savanna plateau.
• Striped wolf will spawn in the wooded badlands.
• Woods wolf will spawn in the forest.

The addition of these new wolves that are scattered in different biomes will also encourage players to roam around the Overworld.