Mojang Studios has released Minecraft Snapshot 25w16a, introducing game-changing leash mechanics that allow players to connect mobs together and attach them to entities like boats. This update enables creative transportation solutions like desert camel caravans and airlifting treasure chests with Happy Ghasts, making villager relocation significantly easier.
Revolutionary Leash Mechanics Transform Transportation
The standout feature in this snapshot is the complete overhaul of Minecraft's leash system. Leashes are now twice as thick to match Bedrock Edition and feature improved physics for more stable connections, particularly when entities aren't on solid ground. Players can now use sneak-interact to leash mobs together, creating chains of creatures for easier transport.
Perhaps most exciting is the ability to create special four-leash configurations between Happy Ghasts and boats or large mobs like horses and camels. This enables aerial transportation of resources, treasures, and even villagers across challenging terrain. The Happy Ghast leash is notably longer, with a free roaming distance of 10 blocks and snapping at 16 blocks, compared to the standard 12-block snapping distance for regular leashes.
What's New with Leash Functionality?
The update introduces several quality-of-life improvements for leash management. Players can now cut leashes using shears (including via dispensers), and entities being pulled will orient themselves toward whatever is leading them. Using firework rockets while flying with leashed entities will break connections, preventing unexpected behavior during elytra flight.
Interaction with leash knots and fence blocks has been refined. When interacting with these objects, any player-leashed entities in range will automatically attach to them. Sneak-interacting will only result in attaching player mobs to fences, while using shears or punching a leash knot will break all connections.
Visual and Gameplay Enhancements
Beyond leash mechanics, the snapshot brings two notable visual improvements. Clouds now render infinitely to the horizon, creating more immersive skyscapes during flight. Additionally, elytra mechanics have been tweaked so fireworks only provide a boost when gliding, even if placed on a block, making flight control more predictable.
Interestingly, Mojang reverted their fix for the MC-101556 bug related to Nether Portal teleport range. The developers noted: "After consideration, we have decided to revert this change as it came in quite late in the snapshot cycle and unintentionally broke some functionality that our community were relying on."
Technical Updates and Bug Fixes
For technical users, the snapshot updates the Data Pack version to 73 and Resource Pack version to 57. These changes include modifications to uniform blocks in core shaders, removal of inline variants acceptance for painting/variant Item Components, and allowing block model rotations beyond 22.5-degree increments.
The update also addresses over 40 bugs, including fixes for Happy Ghast movement issues, rendering problems with enchantment glints, and Nether portal interaction inconsistencies. Players experiencing issues with the previous update's Nether Portal mechanics should find relief with the reversion of MC-101556.
Snapshot 25w16a is available now through the Minecraft Launcher by enabling snapshots in the "Installations" tab. As with all test versions, Mojang recommends backing up worlds before testing, as snapshots can potentially corrupt existing saves.