Overview#
Biome Makeover aims to give specific Minecraft biomes a "fresh coat of paint" while maintaining a vanilla-friendly aesthetic. The mod currently focuses on four major biomes: the Dark Forest, Swamp, Badlands, and Mushroom Fields. Each makeover introduces new wood types, atmospheric mobs, unique structures, and complex gameplay mechanics that reward exploration and interaction with the environment.
Biome Makeovers#
Dark Forest
The Dark Forest makeover focuses on mystery and ancient growth. It introduces Ancient Oak trees, which are massive variants of the standard dark oak. The forest floor is covered in Ivy and Itching Ivy, and the air is filled with Moths and Owls. Deep within the forest, players can find Illunite Fissures, glowing cracks in the earth that contain valuable crystals.
Swamp
The Swamp becomes a more vibrant yet treacherous place. It adds Willow and Swamp Cypress trees, along with Cattails and Button Bushes. The waters are home to Dragonflies and Lightning Bugs, while the land is haunted by the Decayed. Players can harvest Peat from the ground, a valuable fuel source.
Badlands
The Badlands are reimagined with a Western theme. New flora includes Saguaro Cacti and Tumbleweeds. The biome features Ghost Towns, abandoned settlements inhabited by neutral Ghosts and hostile Marauders. Players can find Paydirt near water, which can be washed for ores.
Mushroom Fields
This rare biome is expanded with Huge Glowshrooms and underground Mycelium Caves. It introduces the Mushroom Trader, a unique entity found in Mushroom Houses, and Glowfish that illuminate the dark waters. New wood types like Blighted Balsa can be found here.
Mobs#
The mod adds a variety of creatures, ranging from atmospheric passive animals to challenging mini-bosses.
| Mob | Health | Behavior | Drops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjudicator | 100 | Hostile Mini-boss found in Woodland Mansions. | Enchanted Totem of Undying, Illunite Shards |
| Owl | 10 | Passive; spawns in Dark Forests. Can be fed raw rabbit. | Feathers |
| Rootling | 12 | Passive; camouflaged as plants in Dark Forests. | Sticks, Saplings, Bulbus Root |
| Moth | 4 | Passive; attracted to light sources at night. | Moth Scales |
| Stone Golem | 50 | Neutral; can be built or found in mansions. | Cobblestone, Mossy Cobblestone |
| Decayed | 20 | Hostile; a swamp-dwelling zombie that inflicts Slowness. | Rotten Flesh, Decayed Rib |
| Ghost | 20 | Neutral; spawns in Ghost Towns. Can phase through blocks. | Ectoplasm |
| Scuttler | 16 | Neutral; found in Badlands. Can be bred with Cactus. | Scuttler Tail |
| Marauder | 24 | Hostile; a Pillager variant found in Ghost Towns. | Arrows, Emeralds, Badlands Gear |
| Mushroom Trader | 20 | Passive; trades mushroom-related items. | N/A |
| Glowfish | 6 | Passive; glows in the dark. | Raw Glowfish |
| Helmit Crab | 12 | Neutral; can pick up and wear player helmets. | Raw Crab |
Structures#
Woodland Mansion Rework
The vanilla Woodland Mansion is completely overhauled with new rooms, better loot, and the Adjudicator boss. It serves as the primary location to find the Altar and Illunite.
Sunken Ruin
Found in Swamps, these are dilapidated buildings submerged in water or mud. They are inhabited by Witches and contain loot like the Witch Hat and Antidotes.
Ghost Town
Large, procedurally generated settlements in the Badlands. They contain Suspicious Red Sand (in 1.20.1) which can be brushed for Pottery Sherds (Whinny, Refined, Worker) and the Badlands Music Disc.
Mushroom House
Small, cozy structures in the Mushroom Fields where Mushroom Traders reside. They are built from various mushroom blocks and contain fungal loot.
Mechanics#
Witch Quests
By wearing a Witch Hat (dropped by Witches or found in Sunken Ruins), Witches become neutral and will offer quests.
- Quests: Witches request specific items (Common, Uncommon, Rare, or Epic tiers).
- Rewards: Completing quests grants Soul Embers (Blaze Powder alternative), Multipotions, and rare ingredients.
Curse Enchanting
Using the Altar, players can upgrade an existing enchantment by one level (e.g., Sharpness V to Sharpness VI).
- Cost: This process applies a random Curse to the item (e.g., Curse of Decay, Curse of Sickness).
- Fuel: The Altar requires Illunite Shards to function.
Peat & Fuel
Peat is found in Swamps. It can be dried into Peat Bricks and used as a highly efficient fuel source for furnaces.
Poltergeisting
Ghosts and Poltergeist Blocks can interact with the environment by randomly opening doors, flipping levers, and ringing bells within a 5x5x5 radius. This can be disabled with a redstone signal.
Items & Blocks#
Equipment
- Witch Hat: Allows interaction with Witches and increases potion duration.
- Cowboy Hat: Found in Ghost Towns; provides a stylish look and minor protection.
- Cladded Armor: High-tier armor crafted from Cladded Stone. In 1.20.1, it requires the Cladded Upgrade Smithing Template found in Pillager Outposts.
- Illunite Tools: Extremely fast mining speed but very low durability.
Key Blocks
- Altar: Used for Curse Enchanting. Crafted with Mesmerite and Illunite Shards.
- Poltergeist Block: Crafted with Ectoplasm, Phantom Membranes, Soul Soil, and a Cauldron.
- Terracotta Bricks: Available in all 17 colors, providing new building options for Badlands themes.
- Mushroom Bricks: Decorative blocks crafted from various mushroom types.
Food
- Glowshroom Stew: Provides Night Vision.
- Crab Chowder: High saturation food.
- Roasted Bulbus Root: A basic food source found in the Dark Forest.
Configuration#
Biome Makeover is highly customizable via Data Packs. Players can modify:
- Witch Quests: Change requested items, weights, and rewards.
- Loot Tables: Adjust drops for all new mobs and structures.
- World Gen: Configure the frequency of Illunite Fissures, Peat, and new trees.
- Strict Altar Cursing: A config option to prevent the Altar from exceeding vanilla enchantment limits if desired.
