Minecraft 1.20.5 «Armored Paws»: Full Update Review

The day has finally come! Mojang developers have delighted us with the long-awaited 1.20.5 update for Java Edition, aptly named «Armored Paws». This release is not just another bug-fixing patch but a full-fledged content expansion that radically changes how we interact with our four-legged companions. Get ready to brush armadillos, hunt for rare wolf breeds, and try out new gear for them.

Let’s dive into why this update is so important for gameplay and what exactly has changed in our blocky world.

Why is this update so important?

For years, the gaming community has been asking for more attention to pets. Wolves, tamed early in the game, often stayed at home because taking them on dangerous journeys was too risky. One creeper explosion or an unlucky fall into lava — and your loyal friend was gone forever.

The 1.20.5 update aims to solve this problem. Mojang focused on making wolves more durable and unique, while the world feels more alive with new interaction mechanics. The introduction of the armadillo, the mob vote winner, was a great opportunity to tie new biomes to useful crafting. Now, exploring savannas and badlands is not just tourism but a necessity for those who want to protect their pets.

Main Additions

Armadillo: Shy Savanna Resident

Meet the new passive mob — the armadillo! These adorable creatures inhabit savanna and badlands biomes. But don’t rush to them headlong: armadillos are shy. If you run, ride, or if undead are nearby, they will immediately curl up into a protective ball.

How to interact with them:

Archaeologist’s Brush: This is your main tool. Gently brush the armadillo to obtain a valuable resource — the Armadillo Scute.

Favorite Treat: Armadillos love spider eyes. Use them for breeding or to help babies grow faster.

Protection Mechanic: When curled up, the armadillo’s shell significantly reduces incoming damage and completely blocks weak attacks.

Wolf Armor: Safety First

By collecting enough Armadillo Scutes, you can craft the long-awaited wolf armor. This is a true «game changer» for dog owners.

Reliable Protection: The armor absorbs damage from most sources until it breaks. This means your pet can survive explosions and skeleton attacks.

Customization: Like leather armor, wolf gear can be dyed! Now you can easily distinguish your pets in the heat of battle by coloring their armor in different shades.

Repair: If the armor gets damaged in battle, simply use Armadillo Scutes on the wolf to repair it.

New Wolf Breeds

Gone are the days when all wolves looked the same. Now, your companion’s appearance depends directly on the biome where you found it. The game has added 8 new variants, plus the classic one:

Pale Wolf: The classic variant from the taiga.

Woods Wolf: The most common type, found in regular forests.

Ashen Wolf: A resident of the cold snowy taiga.

Black Wolf: A stealthy inhabitant of old pine forests.

Chestnut Wolf: Found in old spruce forests.

Rusty Wolf: Hides among vines in the jungle.

Spotted Wolf: A savanna plateau dweller. Large packs!

Striped Wolf: A resident of wooded badlands.

Snowy Wolf: A rare loner from the grove biome.

Players now have a new collection goal — to earn the «Full Pack» achievement by taming all variants.

Technical Changes and Optimization

Besides the adorable creatures, Mojang has done serious work «under the hood». One of the most significant changes concerns spawn chunks.

Previously, the game constantly kept a large area around the world’s spawn point loaded (with a radius of 10 chunks), consuming a lot of memory and CPU resources. In version 1.20.5, this radius has been reduced to 2 chunks by default (though it can be adjusted via game rules). For most players, this means noticeable performance improvements and faster world loading.

Additionally, the health of tamed wolves has been increased — they now have 40 health points (20 hearts) instead of the previous 20. This makes them much more durable even without armor.

Impact on Gameplay

The «Armored Paws» update changes the approach to world exploration. Players now have a real motivation to travel across different biomes, not just for resources but also to find unique companions. Wolf armor makes the PvE aspect more comfortable: you’ll no longer fear taking your dog on a raid against a pillager outpost or into caves.

Moreover, the technical changes make Java Edition more friendly to players with low-end PCs, which is great news.

Have you updated your worlds yet? Which wolf variant is your favorite, and do you plan to dye your pets’ armor? Share your impressions and screenshots of your packs in the comments!