Ice Caves in Minecraft: What They Are and How to Find Them

What are ice caves in Minecraft?

Ice caves are a new cave biome. In the words of the official “Minecraft Live: September 2026 Recap” on minecraft.net:

“We’re going underground into ice caves, a new cave biome like the dripstone, lush, and sulfur caves.”

That makes ice caves an underground biome, the same kind of addition as the cave biomes already in the game. It’s not a new dimension. Ice caves are coming in Minecraft’s next game drop.

For context, cave biomes are areas underground with their own blocks and features. Dripstone caves are known for pointed dripstone, and lush caves for moss, azaleas and glow berries.

What’s inside ice caves?

According to the official recap, ice caves are freezing, filled with ice, calcite blocks, and the new icicles and ice crystals:

• Icicles grow naturally on the ceiling.
• Ice crystals grow on the ground and emit a soft light.
• Calcite blocks appear alongside the ice.

What new mob comes in the same game drop?

The drop that brings ice caves also adds a new frozen zombie variant. Mojang has confirmed this mob doesn’t have an official name yet. According to the recap:

• When it hits you, it doesn’t only deal damage but also a freezing effect.
• Some of them even throw ice balls.

Other details, such as the mob’s stats, drops and spawn rules, and how icicles and ice crystals are obtained, haven’t been officially announced.

How do you find ice caves in your world today?

The new ice cave biome isn’t in the game until the next game drop. Until then, these are the places in Minecraft Java & Bedrock where you’ll find the most ice.

Where are Frozen Peaks?

Frozen Peaks are high mountain peaks covered in packed ice and snow. Look for the tallest mountains in cold regions of your world.

• Java: /locate biome minecraft:frozen_peaks
• Bedrock: /locate biome frozen_peaks

Where are Ice Spikes?

Ice Spikes is a rare snowy biome full of tall spikes made of packed ice.

• Java: /locate biome minecraft:ice_spikes
• Bedrock: /locate biome ice_plains_spikes

Where do icebergs and blue ice generate?

Icebergs made of packed ice and snow generate in frozen oceans and deep frozen oceans. Some icebergs contain blue ice, and icebergs are the main natural place to find it.

• Java: /locate biome minecraft:frozen_ocean or /locate biome minecraft:deep_frozen_ocean
• Bedrock: /locate biome frozen_ocean or /locate biome deep_frozen_ocean

How do you use the /locate command?

Cheats must be turned on in your world. Type the command for your edition, and the game replies with the coordinates of the nearest matching biome. Some biome IDs differ between Java and Bedrock, so if a command doesn’t work, type /locate biome and pick from the suggestions.

How do you collect ice without breaking it?

• Ice, packed ice and blue ice drop nothing when mined normally. Use a tool with Silk Touch to collect them as blocks.
• Regular ice can melt near bright light sources such as torches. Packed ice and blue ice don’t melt.
• If you break regular ice without Silk Touch while there’s a block underneath it, it turns into water.

When are ice caves coming to Minecraft?

Ice caves are coming in Minecraft’s next game drop. Game drops are Minecraft’s smaller, more frequent updates. An exact release date for ice caves hasn’t been officially announced.

For the dates we do have, including The Sift’s arrival in Minecraft Java & Bedrock in 2027, see when The Sift is coming to Minecraft.