Mob
Wither and Wither Skeletons
The Wither is a boss you build from Soul Sand and three Wither Skeleton Skulls, which Wither Skeletons can drop. Defeating it gives a Nether Star.
Minecraft 1.4.2 “Pretty Scary Update”
Released on 25 October 2012, Minecraft Java Edition 1.4.2 is the Pretty Scary Update. It adds the Wither boss, Wither Skeletons, Witches and Bats, plus the Beacon, the Anvil, Item Frames, Flower Pots, carrots and potatoes. Zombies can now infect villagers, and zombie villagers can be cured.
Released 25 Oct 2012
Key takeaways
- New mobs: the Wither boss, the Wither Skeleton, the Witch and the Bat.
- New blocks: Beacon, Anvil, Item Frame, Flower Pot, Cobblestone Walls, wooden buttons, the Command Block and mob heads that can be placed.
- Farming: Carrots and Potatoes, Pumpkin Pie, and the Carrot on a Stick to steer a pig you are riding.
- Zombie villagers: zombies now infect villagers, and the infected villagers can be cured.
- Commands: /difficulty, /spawnpoint, /weather, /gamerule and /clear, plus target selectors.
Headline features
The changes you will notice first, with the pages that go deeper.
Blocks
Beacon and Anvil
The Beacon is crafted with a Nether Star and grants powers to nearby players. The Anvil repairs items, combines enchantments and renames items.
Items
Carrots and potatoes
Two new crops for farmland, with Baked Potatoes and Golden Carrots. A Carrot on a Stick lets you steer a saddled pig.
Official video
Published by Mojang on the official Minecraft YouTube channel.
Clicking loads the video from YouTube (youtube-nocookie.com).
What changed
GameplayAdventure mode now allows placing and removing blocks, but only with the correct tools.
GameplayNether portals can now transport items and mobs.
ItemsLeather armour can be dyed, and maps start more zoomed in and can be extended.
RedstoneRedstone Repeaters can be set to a locked position.
InterfacePress 1 to 9 over an item to move it to the hotbar, and pick block clones items in Creative mode.
WorldsSuperflat worlds can be customised, and the world generator got minor additions.
ServersImproved server list, and spawn protection is turned off automatically when no admins are defined.
Mods & loaders for 1.4.2
Mods must be rebuilt for each version. Counts from the files published on Modrinth and CurseForge, in our catalog.
| Loader | Mods with a 1.4.2 file | Latest build |
|---|---|---|
| Forge | none yet | 6.0.1.355 |
Popular mods OptiFine · Not yet
1 mods in our catalog have a 1.4.2 file → 11 texture packs and 1 maps in our catalog support 1.4.2.
How to play 1.4.2
- 01
Open the Minecraft Launcher and select Minecraft: Java Edition.
- 02
Go to Installations, create a new installation and choose version 1.4.2.
- 03
Back up your worlds before opening them in a new version.
From first snapshot to release
2 snapshots, 0 pre-releases and 0 release candidates over -25 days.
- 1.418 Nov 2012
- 1.4.122 Nov 2012
- 1.4.225 Oct 2012
Minecraft 1.4.2 FAQ
When was Minecraft 1.4.2 released?
On 25 October 2012. It is the first release of 1.4, the Pretty Scary Update. Fixes followed in 1.4.4 on 14 November and 1.4.5 on 20 November 2012, and 1.4.6 added fireworks on 20 December 2012.
How do you summon the Wither in 1.4.2?
Place four Soul Sand blocks in a T shape and put three Wither Skeleton Skulls on top. Wither Skeletons, the new skeleton type of 1.4.2, can drop the skulls.
What does the Beacon do?
It grants powers to nearby players, such as speed or haste. It is crafted with a Nether Star, the drop of the Wither, and needs a pyramid of iron, gold, emerald or diamond blocks.
Which Java version does Minecraft 1.4.2 need?
The official launcher runs 1.4.2 with its own Java 8 runtime, so you do not need to install Java yourself.