Minecraft might be one of the most popular games in the world yet despite that prestigious title it wasn't updated as often as one would expect.

However, the long streak between meaningful patches has now been broken as Mojang has released the biggest update in Minecraft's history - Update 1.9, titled simply as the "Combat Update". Here are the patch notes:

Added shields

Attacking now has a “cool-down” delay, making it more important to time your attacks

You can now hold items in both hands (default quick key to swap items is ‘F’)

Swords have a special sweep attack

Axes have a special crushing blow attack

Added the elytra

New mob: Shulker

Expanded The End

Added Chorus plants

New Purpur blocks

New End Rod block

Added dragon head block

Ender Dragon can be resummoned

Added beetroot and beetroot soup (from MC:PE)

Added grass path block

Added igloos

Armor protection values have been lowered

Added tipped arrows

Added spectral arrows

Added Frost Walker enchantment and frosted ice block

Added a whole bunch of new sound effects

Added sound effect subtitles

Brewing Stand now requires Blaze Powder to activate

Added skeleton riders

We believe we’ve fixed MC-10 and a whole bunch of other issues

Removed Herobrine

With the majority of the focus in this update being put on combat I'm hoping this means that we're due for a survival mode update in the near future because right now the only thing you need to survive is boredom as enemies and hunger pose almost no threat.

Either way, I'm glad Minecraft is once again being updated. Its too great of a concept to simply let it wallow in mediocrity instead of trying to make it the best game it could possibly be.