I’ve learned a lot about Minecraft since lockdown. I haven’t played it myself, but my kids love it and talk about it all the time. When the recent update came out they were so excited — I had to pretend to share their enthusiasm even when I had no idea what “crying obsidian” was. So here’s a short guide for parents to help you understand what your children are talking about.
The latest release is called the Nether Update. The features kids were most excited about include blue soul torches, Netherite armour, crying obsidian, new blue vines, and two new wood types: warped planks and crimson planks.
Planks are the wooden blocks used for building, and now come in different colours. Warped planks are blue and crimson planks are purple. Planks are used to craft a crafting table, which you need to make tools, armour and other items. Vines are used for climbing or decoration and can be collected with shears.
Ore is what you mine underground — like diamonds — and crying obsidian is another block you can find. Crying obsidian is black and purple. If lava and water meet they produce cobblestone or obsidian; obsidian is very strong and can only be mined with a diamond pickaxe. Think of it as hardened, cooled lava.
Netherite armour is protective gear made from materials found in the Nether. You can craft a full suit to help protect your character from threats in the game.
Basic tools you’ll need are a sword, axe, pickaxe and shovel. Swords are used to fight mobs and gather food from animals. Axes help chop wood and can also be used in combat. Pickaxes are for mining ores like diamond, iron, coal or Netherite. Shovels let you dig sand, gravel and dirt faster. Shears are useful for cutting vines and similar items.
All this mining and crafting lets you build — houses, underground bases, hidden rooms — whatever your child imagines. Blue soul torches are a new blue light source that players can use to brighten their houses and bases.
Isla says: “You can learn new things, like different ores and materials. You can also build cool houses.” Tip from her: when you get the upgrade, use an iron door — zombies can’t break it.
Noah sums it up as: “Build, craft and survive.” His tip: if you place blue grass and set it on fire it becomes blue fire. Putting blue vines on blue grass makes them grow faster. Red vines are rarer in the Nether.
In short, new ores and blocks give players more options for building and exploring, which means better houses, bases and secret areas. Try the kids’ tips — they’ll help make building easier and more fun. I hope this quick guide to Minecraft for parents helps you feel a bit more confident next time your children start talking about the Nether Update.
