Mojang released the long-awaited Minecraft 1.9 - Combat Update today.

The Minecraft 1.9 - Combat Update features a lot of changes, with the most notable being improvements made to the combat mechanics to make fighting more interesting. Players can now hold shields, dual wield, and attacks now have a cool down delay, making it important to time attacks properly. Swords can now make a sweep attack, while axes are able to deliver a crushing blow attack.

Here’s a complete list of changes that have been made to Minecraft with today’s update:

• 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

Today's update comes just a few days after the Minecraft 1.9 pre-release patch was made available. The pre-release patch introduced various bug fixes, increased durability of shields, and crystals in the end being protected by cages again.