Copper isn’t a new resource in Minecraft, but the Copper Age update in version 1.21.9 brings plenty of fresh additions. Alongside many familiar blocks you can now craft from copper instead of iron, two new and essential features have arrived. One of them is the Copper Golem, which didn’t actually make it into the final selection in the former Mob Votes (Minecraft Community Votes 2017–2023: Winners, losers, and the future of updates) . Yet here it is at last—with one of the best quality-of-life features in the game.
We’ll take a closer look at some of the top features in separate articles. For now, this is a quick overview and introduction to everything new added with 1.21.9.
Copper tools as a progression step: From stone to iron in Minecraft 1.21.9
With this drop, copper becomes part of the upgrade chain you progress through in Minecraft. You no longer have to jump straight from wood to stone and then to iron—you can now slot in copper tools between stone and iron. This neatly closes a gap created by the redistribution of iron ore. Since Caves & Cliffs, getting iron quickly has been noticeably harder. Copper, however, is abundant—yet until now there wasn’t much to do with it. Until now!
As a new player or in a fresh world, consider copper a stepping stone before your iron gear to get your first small base going. You can craft armor from it, and you can also find copper horse armor in some Overworld structures.
Decorative copper blocks and oxidation: Lanterns, chains, grates
The Copper Age doesn’t end at tools: many familiar blocks now have a copper variant. That lets you add decorative details to your builds that weren’t possible with iron.
Copper blocks include:
- Grates
- Chains
- Lanterns
- Torches
- Copper chest
- Trapdoors (oxidizable)
- Lightning rod (oxidizable)
Thanks to oxidation, you can get these blocks in four different shades. They behave like regular copper blocks: you can wax them with honeycomb or de-oxidize them with an axe (or a lightning strike). Watching copper shift from orange to turquoise is satisfying—and it gives you four stylistic options for each variant to integrate into your builds.
Copper torches don’t oxidize, of course, but they’re a new light source and a great addition to existing torches (Effective Light Sources for Decorative Building Projects in Minecraft) . You can now craft yellow, red, blue, and green torches and place them throughout your world. Just like in real life, the reaction with copper produces a green flame, which you’ll also see in Minecraft.
Copper Golem and copper chest: Automatic storage and item sorting
Now for the update’s likely star: the Copper Golem. Announced for the Mob Vote 2021, it lost out to the Allay back then. Now it’s making a comeback—with features that make life in Minecraft much easier.
Summoning works similarly to the snow golem or iron golem. Use one iron block and a pumpkin (or a jack-o’-lantern) in the Overworld to bring it to life. Its oxidation level is determined by the block you use.
When the golem spawns, not only does it appear, but a copper chest also generates beneath it. This serves as a kind of buffer and can be used like a normal chest—and it can also be crafted without the golem. In essence, the golem can take up to 16 items from the copper chest and sort them into regular chests if a matching item already exists there. If not, it chooses the nearest chest. It’s basically an automatic storage system that handles block and item sorting for you.
Like all copper blocks, the golem oxidizes over time, eventually becoming immobile. Once fully oxidized, you can keep a Copper Golem as a decorative block. It can assume different poses, which is pretty adorable! You can also repair it so it can keep working.
Shelves in Minecraft: Swap your hotbar, Redstone tricks, and storage tips
The new shelves aren’t strictly part of the Copper Age, but for some players they may even outshine the golem’s functionality. At first glance, they look like better item frames that can hold a block and display it. But shelves can do much more!
There are shelves in every wood type, adding a large set of decorative blocks. You craft them from stripped logs, so they’re inexpensive. With so many wood types, your options are wide.
Shelves can hold and display up to three items. When your hotbar is full, placing an item will swap it with the one in your hand. Unlike frames, a shelf can hold a full 64-stack of items. That makes it a handy temporary storage option without constantly opening chests.
You can also wire shelves up with Redstone to unlock a clever trick. Chain up to three shelves and, with a single click, swap your entire hotbar! It’s super practical when you want to quickly switch between tool and item sets.
Reworked textures: Dyes and spawn eggs in 1.21.9
Lastly, there’s a small change for anyone who appreciates cleaner textures. First, dyes have been adjusted so they look more consistent and are less likely to be confused with other items. You’ll find more details in our guide to color in Minecraft (Minecraft: Complete Guide to Dyes and Automatic Farms) .
Second, spawn egg textures have been updated. They’re now much easier to identify and visually indicate which mob they belong to. Before this update, telling them apart was tough—Creative mode players will love this!
Conclusion: What the Copper Update 1.21.9 brings
With version 1.21.9, Minecraft has officially entered the Copper Age, bridging the gap between stone and iron. Many decorative blocks have been added that are perfect for your builds. Thanks to oxidation, you’ve got even more creative freedom. The Copper Golem is the highlight—with the ability to auto-sort items into chests. But don’t underestimate the new shelves and their option to swap your hotbar.
Play the new update with your friends and rent one of our Minecraft servers now! This drop packs some cool surprises and will meaningfully change certain aspects of the game.
