In many cities across the western world, the most dreaded day on the calendar is October 31st – Halloween night. On this night, all manner of creatures come to life: vampires, ghosts, werewolves, zombies, and other beings fill the streets, knocking on doors in search of candy!
However, in Sweden, where our beloved game Minecraft Pocket Edition was developed, things are a bit different. Here, the time for these creatures coincides with Easter. They take up a kettle and broom and wander through the city, knocking on every door. Their goal is to fill their vessel with sweets. In return, they might offer drawings or paintings. After the festivities, they head to the special island of Blokula in the Baltic Sea.
Paying homage to Swedish traditions, let’s explore one of the spookiest blocks in Minecraft PE – the dark oak block.
The dark oak tree was introduced in the distant version 1.7.2 of Minecraft, alongside acacia trees. This type of tree can only spawn in one biome – the dense forests with dark canopies. The biome is notable for its tightly packed trees, which create a dimly lit environment conducive to spawning hostile mobs.
These trees have significantly thicker trunks compared to others, measuring 2×2 blocks. You may also encounter challenges when trying to grow this type of tree, as it requires specific knowledge. To cultivate a dark oak tree, you need to plant four saplings in a 2×2 grid and wait! Fortunately, oak trees grow much faster than other types.
It’s clear why this material was chosen for constructing woodland mansions, which can only be found in roofed forest biomes. Keep in mind that these structures contain numerous eerie, dark, and peculiar rooms, along with the highly valuable item, the Totem of Undying.
If we attempt to compare dark oak in Minecraft PE with real-life wood, it likely resembles the species Quercus velutina – the eastern black oak, predominantly found in the eastern regions of North America. Although its bark is dark, as suggested by its name, the pigment quercitron, derived from the wood, has been widely used for yellow dyeing!
So if you ever wish to acquire a new mansion, we highly recommend considering North America! Besides the beautiful nature, lush green grass, and tall trees, you’ll also encounter some very charming animals. And not just charming ones…
