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If you haven't heard yet, the next big release (1.18) will have a very big change to the hostile mob spawning mechanics - mobs will only spawn in light level zero. In other words, the presence of any light, no matter how faint will mob-proof.

First off, why?

The area in which mobs can spawn around the player is kind of a hollow sphere. They can't spawn too close and they can't spawn too far away. If you're on a flat surface with no spawnable areas above or below, you can think of it like a giant doughnut around the player.

Imagine moving through a long, straight cave, maybe 3 or 4 blocks wide. You're moving through the dark and not dropping torches. As seen from above, the doughnut is around you but since only the open cave is spawnable, there's only a small slice of the doughnut in front and one in back where mobs might appear. This is the current Minecraft.

In the coming update, we'll be seeing MUCH larger caves. The kind of places where you might be standing in the center of a giant cave and the entire doughnut will be within the cave. This will mean a TON of mobs coming from every direction. Too many. And since many of these caves will be more difficult to traverse, with underground lakes and steeper terrain, the slower movement will only provide more opportunities for mobs to spawn.

So we get the light level change to balance things out. Previously mobs would spawn in light level 7 or below, meaning dropping a torch (light level 14) on he ground would protect 6 blocks in any straight direction. New rules means that same torch will protect 13 blocks in any straight direction. In a one wide strip mine, you could mob-proof it by dropping a torch on he ground every 26 blocks.

Also balancing things out will be the natural light sources. Existing things like lava and torches in mineshafts will keep away mobs more than before AND the new light sources such as glow lichen and glowberries will also keep you safe. The Lush Cave biomes with glowberries hanging should be a nice peaceful spot. The Deep Dark biomes will not be a peaceful spot.

All in all, I'm guessing these things will balance out nicely to give us the usual amount of monsters in caves with pockets of more and less by design.

Progress on the underwater end portal room. This portal was so easy to find - the portal room was exposed at the bottom of the ocean and you could swim right up and look through the windows!