Table of Contents
Who this is for: Minecraft players curious about game history and phantom mob mechanics.
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Phantoms Were Added in the Aquatic Update
Phantoms were officially added to Minecraft in Java Edition 1.13 on July 18, 2018, as part of the massive Aquatic Update. This hostile flying mob was actually the winner of the first-ever Minecraft mob vote at MINECON Earth 2017, where players chose between the phantom, the great hunger, the hovering inferno, and the barnacle.
Bedrock Edition Timeline
For Bedrock Edition players, phantoms arrived slightly later in version 1.6.0 on August 7, 2018. The delay was typical for cross-platform updates, as Mojang needed time to ensure the mob worked properly across all supported devices and platforms.
What Made Phantoms Special
Phantoms introduced a completely new gameplay mechanic that hadn’t existed before. These undead mobs only spawn when players haven’t slept for three or more in-game days, creating a natural consequence for avoiding beds. They’re essentially the game’s way of encouraging players to maintain a sleep schedule.
Key Phantom Features
- Spawn only at night when players are sleep-deprived
- Attack by swooping down from above in groups
- Drop phantom membranes used for brewing and repairing elytras
- Burn in sunlight like other undead mobs
- Can be prevented entirely by sleeping regularly
Community Reception and Impact
The phantom’s addition sparked mixed reactions from the Minecraft community. While some players appreciated the new challenge and the useful phantom membrane drops, others found the sleep requirement annoying, especially during long building projects or exploration sessions.
Despite the controversy, phantoms became an integral part of Minecraft’s survival experience, adding strategic depth to nighttime activities and making beds more valuable than ever. If you’re looking to experience phantoms and other Minecraft adventures firsthand, there are plenty of ways to dive into this blocky world.
TL;DR
Phantoms were added to Minecraft Java Edition 1.13 on July 18, 2018, and Bedrock Edition 1.6.0 on August 7, 2018, as the winning mob from the first community vote.
