Terralith Biomes¶
Terralith adds 95+ new biomes to the Overworld while keeping every vanilla biome intact (and often enhancing them). This page organizes the new biomes into categories so you can find what you are looking for -- or figure out what you just stumbled into.
How to identify a biome
Press F3 to open the debug screen. The biome name appears on the left side, prefixed with terralith: for Terralith biomes (e.g., terralith:lavender_valley). Vanilla biomes still show as minecraft:.
Forest & Woodland Biomes (14)¶
Lush, tree-heavy biomes ranging from temperate woodlands to magical groves.
Full list of Forest & Woodland biomes (click to expand)
| Biome | Description |
|---|---|
| Alpine Grove | High-altitude conifer forest nestled between mountain peaks. Spruce and fir trees grow in tight clusters with mossy undergrowth. Found at moderate elevations. |
| Birch Taiga | A cold-climate twist on birch forests. Tall birch trees mix with spruce over a snowy floor. Wolves and foxes spawn here. |
| Cloud Forest | Dense, misty highland forest with towering trees and thick leaf canopy. Sits at high elevations, often wreathed in fog. |
| Lavender Forest | Rolling hills blanketed in purple-tinted grass and allium flowers. One of Terralith's most iconic biomes -- you will smell it before you see it. |
| Lavender Valley | A flatter, more open variant of the Lavender Forest. Great for building among the flowers. |
| Moonlight Grove | A mystical forest bathed in pale blue tones. Tall dark oak and birch trees create a canopy dotted with glowberries. Spawns at night-themed terrain. |
| Moonlight Valley | Open meadow counterpart to Moonlight Grove. Flat terrain with scattered luminous trees under open sky. |
| Sakura Grove | Cherry blossom trees (built from pink-tinted blocks) carpet hillsides in soft pink. A community favorite for screenshots. |
| Sakura Valley | Flat lowland variant of the Sakura Grove. Wide open spaces between cherry trees, perfect for villages or farms. |
| Siberian Grove | Frigid, sparse conifer forest. Short spruce trees struggle through deep snow. A lonely, atmospheric biome. |
| Siberian Taiga | Denser than the Grove variant with taller trees and occasional frozen rivers cutting through. |
| Snowy Cherry Grove | Cherry blossom trees dusted in snow. A striking visual contrast between pink petals and white ground cover. |
| Snowy Maple Forest | Deciduous maples (crafted from orange and red-tinted blocks) standing in ankle-deep snow. Gorgeous in any light. |
| Wintry Forest | A frozen mixed forest with ice patches, bare-branch trees, and heavy snowfall. Hostile mob spawning is slightly elevated here. |
Mountain & Highland Biomes (17)¶
Terralith's mountains are not gentle hills. These biomes feature peaks reaching Y=290, sheer cliffs, and dramatic geological formations.
Full list of Mountain & Highland biomes (click to expand)
| Biome | Description |
|---|---|
| Alpine Highlands | Broad, grassy plateaus above the treeline. Sparse vegetation, strong winds, and sweeping views. Great for mountaintop bases. |
| Arid Highlands | Sun-baked elevated terrain with cracked earth, terracotta outcrops, and minimal water. Borders desert regions. |
| Basalt Cliffs | Dark, jagged coastal cliffs made of basalt and blackstone. Waves crash against sheer walls. Treacherous to climb. |
| Emerald Peaks | Towering green mountains veined with emerald ore. Ore generation is boosted here -- bring a Fortune pickaxe. |
| Forested Highlands | Heavily wooded mountain slopes. Dense spruce and oak forests blanket the terrain up to moderate elevations. |
| Frozen Cliffs | Sheer ice-covered cliff faces. Packed ice and blue ice make up the walls. Extremely dangerous without Frost Walker boots. |
| Granite Cliffs | Exposed granite cliff faces with layered sedimentary patterns. Often found along coastlines and river gorges. |
| Haze Mountain | Tall peaks shrouded in a persistent fog effect created by dense leaf canopy and mist-like particle placement. |
| Painted Mountains | Multicolored terracotta peaks reminiscent of real-world painted hills. Striped layers of white, orange, red, and yellow. |
| Rocky Mountains | Classic high-altitude stone peaks with exposed ore veins, scattered gravel, and alpine meadows at lower slopes. |
| Scarlet Mountains | Red-tinted mountain range rich in copper and iron ore. The reddish palette comes from terracotta and granite. |
| Stony Spires | Needle-thin stone pillars jutting up from mountain ridges. Dramatic silhouettes against the skyline. |
| Volcanic Crater | A massive caldera with lava pools, obsidian floors, and magma blocks. Hostile mobs spawn frequently. Ore generation is boosted. |
| Volcanic Peaks | Active volcanic mountains with flowing lava streams down the slopes. Extremely dangerous but visually stunning. |
| White Cliffs | Towering chalk-white cliffs (built from calcite and diorite) that line ocean coastlines. Inspired by the White Cliffs of Dover. |
| Windswept Spires | Tall, eroded stone pillars on exposed ridgelines. Constant wind-exposed terrain with minimal vegetation. |
| Yosemite Cliffs | Massive granite cliff faces inspired by Yosemite Valley. Waterfalls cascade down sheer vertical drops hundreds of blocks tall. |
Ore hunting in the mountains
Emerald Peaks, Scarlet Mountains, and Volcanic Crater all have boosted ore generation for their thematic ores. If you are hunting emeralds, copper, iron, or want to strip-mine near lava, seek out these biomes specifically.
Desert & Arid Biomes (12)¶
Hot, dry biomes with unique geological features. Terralith's deserts go far beyond flat sand.
Full list of Desert & Arid biomes (click to expand)
| Biome | Description |
|---|---|
| Amethyst Canyon | A deep canyon with exposed amethyst geode clusters embedded in the walls. Purple-tinted and crystal-filled. Great for amethyst farming. |
| Ancient Sands | Vast, windswept desert with partially buried ruins poking through the dunes. Husk spawning is increased. |
| Bryce Canyon | Tall hoodoo formations (thin spires of terracotta and sandstone) inspired by the real Bryce Canyon. One of Terralith's most photographed biomes. |
| Desert Canyon | Deep cuts through sandstone layers with narrow passages and overhanging walls. Watch for falls. |
| Desert Oasis | A lush pocket of water, sugar cane, and palm-style trees surrounded by sand on all sides. Rare and valuable for desert survival. |
| Desert Spires | Sandstone pillars rising from flat desert floor. Similar to Monument Valley in the American Southwest. |
| Gravel Desert | A barren expanse of gravel and coarse dirt. Few resources, fewer mobs. Desolate and empty. |
| Lush Desert | A semi-arid biome with scattered greenery, flowering cacti, and patches of grass among the sand. |
| Red Oasis | Similar to Desert Oasis but set in red sand and terracotta terrain. Water pools surrounded by warm-toned vegetation. |
| Sandstone Valley | A broad valley with layered sandstone walls. Smooth terrain good for travel and building. |
| Warped Mesa | A mesa biome with twisted, warped rock formations in unusual colors. Slightly eerie atmosphere. |
| White Mesa | Bleached white terracotta plateaus. Stark, alien-looking terrain under bright sunlight. |
Grassland & Steppe Biomes (7)¶
Open, flat-to-rolling biomes with abundant grass, flowers, and gentle terrain. Ideal for farming, ranching, and large builds.
Full list of Grassland & Steppe biomes (click to expand)
| Biome | Description |
|---|---|
| Blooming Plateau | An elevated flatland covered in wildflowers. Bees are abundant here. |
| Blooming Valley | A low-lying version of the Blooming Plateau with even denser flower coverage and gentle streams. |
| Brushland | Semi-arid grassland with scattered shrubs and small trees. A transition biome between forests and deserts. |
| Lush Valley | Rich green valley with tall grass, berry bushes, and gentle rolling hills. One of the best biomes for passive mob spawning. |
| Shield | A Canadian Shield-inspired biome with exposed bedrock, lichen-covered stone, and sparse boreal vegetation. |
| Steppe | Flat, windy grassland stretching to the horizon. Short grass and few trees -- wide open spaces. |
| Valley Clearing | A small, flat clearing surrounded by forested hills. Feels like a natural amphitheater. |
Special & Rare Biomes¶
These biomes are uncommon or have unique generation rules. Finding one is an event worth celebrating.
Rare means rare
Some of these biomes -- especially Mirage Isles -- may require thousands of blocks of exploration to find. Do not expect them near spawn. The journey is part of the fun.
Special biomes (click to expand)
| Biome | Description |
|---|---|
| Skylands | Floating islands suspended high above the ocean. Comes in 4 seasonal variants (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter), each with different vegetation and color palettes. One of Terralith's most spectacular biomes. |
| Alpha Islands | Small islands generated with terrain reminiscent of Minecraft Alpha-era world generation. A nostalgic throwback with simple, chunky terrain. |
| Mirage Isles | Extremely rare tropical islands that shimmer with unusual colors. Many players never find one. Considered the rarest Terralith biome. |
| Yellowstone | Geothermal terrain with hot springs, geysers (built from bubble columns), and mineral-stained ground. Inspired by Yellowstone National Park. |
| Caldera | A massive volcanic depression filled with a warm lake. Magma blocks line the lakebed and steam rises from the water. |
Cave Biomes (11)¶
Terralith adds 11 new underground biomes that replace or augment vanilla cave generation. Each has a distinct block palette and atmosphere.
Full list of Cave biomes (click to expand)
| Biome | Description |
|---|---|
| Andesite Caves | Caverns lined with andesite and polished andesite. Cobwebs and gravel patches are common. |
| Diorite Caves | White-walled caves with diorite and calcite formations. Brighter than most caves due to the light-colored stone. |
| Granite Caves | Warm-toned caverns of granite and polished granite. Often found beneath mountain biomes. |
| Tuff Caves | Dark, rough-textured caves made primarily of tuff. Deepslate transitions happen earlier here. |
| Fungal Caves | Underground mushroom forests with giant fungi, mycelium floors, and ambient spore particles. |
| Ice Caves | Frozen caverns with packed ice pillars, blue ice floors, and strays replacing normal skeletons. Bring warm gear. |
| Infested Caves | Silverfish-heavy caves with infested stone blocks throughout. Watch every block you mine. |
| Thermal Caves | Geothermally active caves with magma blocks, lava streams, and warm water pools. |
| Underground Jungle | Lush caves taken to the extreme -- dense vines, moss, glow berries, and tropical vegetation underground. |
| Crystal Caves | Sparkling caverns filled with amethyst clusters and crystal-like formations. A visual feast. |
| Frostfire Caves | A contradiction in a cave -- ice formations alongside soul fire and soul sand. Blue-tinted and otherworldly. |
Finding cave biomes from the surface
Many Terralith cave biomes leave surface indicators that hint at what lies below:
- Andesite boulders on the surface often indicate Andesite Caves underneath.
- Diorite patches or white stone outcrops suggest Diorite Caves below.
- Granite outcrops on hillsides may mark Granite Caves beneath.
- Tuff deposits near the surface point to Tuff Caves.
- Mycelium patches in non-mushroom biomes can indicate Fungal Caves.
- Frozen ground or ice patches in unexpected areas hint at Ice Caves.
- Magma blocks or steam vents on the surface suggest Thermal Caves below.
When you spot these clues, dig down -- you are likely standing on top of something interesting.
Ore Distribution¶
How does Terralith affect ore spawning?
Terralith does not change the base ore distribution from vanilla Minecraft. Diamond, iron, gold, copper, lapis, redstone, and coal all generate at their standard Y-levels and frequencies.
However, a few biomes receive thematic ore boosts:
- Emerald Peaks -- Increased emerald ore generation throughout the mountain.
- Scarlet Mountains -- Boosted copper and iron ore, fitting the reddish terrain.
- Volcanic Crater -- Higher ore density overall due to the exposed deep stone layers and magma-adjacent generation.
For general mining, your Y-level strategy from vanilla still works. For targeted ore farming, these three biomes give you an edge.