1.4.2 - The Pretty Scary Update

Java Edition version history
◄ 1.3.1 • 1.4.2 • 1.5 ►

1.4.2, the first release of the Pretty Scary Update, was an update for Minecraft: Java Edition, released on October 25, 2012,^[1] which added four new mobs (witches, bats, zombie villagers, and wither skeletons), wearable and placeable heads, a new boss (The Wither), the command block, three new foods (potatoes, carrots, and pumpkin pies), carrots on sticks to control pigs, and new decoration items.

As a play on words, this update included several new pretty utility-type additions, and several scary-themed mobs.

There were 15 snapshots and two pre-releases for 1.4.2.

Additions[]

/difficulty – changes difficulty
- /difficulty 0 = peaceful
- /difficulty 1 = easy
- /difficulty 2 = normal
- /difficulty 3 = hard
/clear – clears a player's entire inventory or remove only one block/item from it
/spawnpoint – sets the player's own or other players' spawn point to where they are standing or to specified coordinates
- /spawnpoint [player] [<x> <y> <z>]
/w – an alias for /tell
/weather – changes the current weather and optionally sets the duration for the new weather in seconds.
- /weather <clear/rain/thunder> [duration in seconds]
/gamerule <gamerule> <true/false>

- doFireTick – whether fire should spread. Defaults to true.
- doMobLoot – whether mobs should drop item. Defaults to true.
- doMobSpawning – whether mobs should naturally spawn. Defaults to true.
- doTileDrops – whether blocks should have drops. Defaults to true.
- keepInventory – whether the player should keep their inventory items upon death. Defaults to false.
- mobGriefing – whether creepers, endermen, withers and villagers should be able to change blocks. Defaults to true.
Added command target selectors
- @p - closest player
- @a - all players
- @r - random player

Villagers have a chance of turning into zombie villagers after being killed by a zombie in Hard difficulty.
Zombie spawn eggs have a chance to spawn zombie villagers.
Zombie Villagers can naturally spawn.
Zombie Villagers can be cured, turning into regular villagers.
New "villages.dat" file in the data file of world saves.
Villagers now react positively on new trades, and negatively if harmed by a player.
Added an unused particle effect of a villager's face with an angry expression.
Villagers will no longer remove trades, but making a new trade may be required to renew old ones.
Zombies, skeletons, and zombified piglins sometimes spawn wearing equipment such as enchanted weapons and any armor, depending on the level of difficulty.
Added a zombie attack animation when it holds a weapon.
Iron Golems now attack slimes and magma cubes.
Sheep from spawn eggs can now spawn naturally-colored sheep (white, gray, brown, pink, etc.).
Mobs can go through portals.

Fixed /me command only working for ops.
Fixed /tell command.
/xp can now give and take entire experience levels by appending "L" to the number.
/tp works with relative coordinates.
Items spawned with /give are picked up almost instantly now.

The attribution of the quote at the end of the credits changed from "Mark Twain" to "Unknown".
Easier to adjust maps.
F3+P will toggle the auto-pause when the window loses focus (for debugging).
F3+H will toggle detailed item descriptions (for debugging).
Tweaked the "hidden feature".
Superflat world type is now customizable and made of layers specified with block ID, data value, and height.
- Biome can be changed now.
- Generation settings are stored in a preset, which is shareable and re-usable.
- Terrain can now be decorated and structures other than villages can spawn.
- 8 default presets.

Released on November 14, 2012, 1.4.4 added the "Wait" music disc and the /enchant command.^[2]^[3]

There was one pre-release for 1.4.4.

Released on November 19, 2012, 1.4.5 fixed some bugs and crashes from 1.4.4.^[4]

There was one pre-release for 1.4.5.

Released on December 20, 2012, 1.4.6 added enchanted books, firework stars, firework rockets, and the Thorns enchantment.^[5]

There were three snapshots for 1.4.6.

Released on January 9, 2013, 1.4.7 fixed some bugs and crashes from 1.4.6.^[6]

There was one pre-release for 1.4.7.

Java Edition Updates
Classic	Survival Test
Infdev	Seecret Updates
Alpha	Halloween Update
Beta	Beta 1.7 • Adventure Update
Official Release	1.0 • 1.1 • 1.2.1 • 1.3.1 • 1.4 • 1.5 • 1.6 • 1.7 • 1.8 • 1.9 • 1.10 • 1.11 • 1.12 • 1.13 • 1.14 • 1.15 • 1.16 • 1.17^(upcoming)
April Fools' Updates	Minecraft 2.0 (2013) • 15w14a (2015) • 1.RV-Pre1 (2016) • 3D Shareware v1.34 (2019) • 20w14∞ (2020)