Minecraft 1.3.1 – Trading & Emeralds Update (2012)

Released on August 1, 2012, Minecraft 1.3.1 was a game-changing update that introduced villager trading, emeralds, writable books, and adventure mode, making survival and exploration more rewarding.

Key Features of Minecraft 1.3.1

1. Villager Trading & Emeralds

  • Emeralds were introduced as a new currency.
  • Villagers could now trade with players, offering items like food, tools, and enchantments.
  • Each villager profession had unique trades (farmers, blacksmiths, librarians, etc.).

2. Writable Books – First Steps Toward Storytelling

  • Players could write and edit books using Book and Quill.
  • This allowed for in-game journals, custom stories, and adventure maps.

3. New Adventure Mode

  • Adventure Mode was added, preventing players from breaking blocks unless using the correct tools.
  • This was designed for custom maps, challenges, and RPG-style gameplay.

4. Desert Temples & Jungle Temples – New Structures

  • Desert Temples spawned in deserts, containing hidden loot chests and TNT traps.
  • Jungle Temples spawned in jungles, featuring traps and puzzles.

5. New World Generation & Cheats for Singleplayer

  • Singleplayer and multiplayer were merged (singleplayer now ran on a hidden server).
  • Players could use commands in singleplayer mode for the first time (/gamemode, /tp, etc.).

6. Other Notable Additions

  • Ender Chests were added, providing secure, linked storage across worlds.
  • Tripwire Hooks enabled new redstone contraptions like traps.
  • Cocoa Beans now grew on jungle trees, making cookies craftable.
  • Golden Apples were reworked, adding different tiers of effects.

This update greatly expanded survival mechanics and exploration, setting up future updates like 1.4.2 (Pretty Scary Update with the Wither Boss).

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