Java Edition Combat Tests

The Combat Tests are a series of snapshots released in 2019 and 2020 for Java Edition with changes related to combat.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Currently, nine snapshots, the latest being Combat Test 8c, have been released exclusively on Reddit, and are forks of what was the latest version of Java Edition at the time of their release, with nearly half of them being forks of 1.16.2. Changes and additions from the Combat Tests were stated to be intended to be added to the base game once the new combat system had been finalized.[2]

It was stated by Jeb in 2020 that development is planned to be done in two phases, with the currently released Combat Test versions being a part of phase 1. When phase 2 begins, the focus will shift from combat system changes to changes related to mob balance and difficulty.[6][9][10]

The latest Combat Test, Combat Test 8c, was released in August 2020. For subsequent developer statements on the Combat Tests, see developer statements.