How to change the depth of a flat world in Minecraft Xbox One

A default superflat world.

Superflat JE or Flat BE is a world type or a vanilla world preset replacing the normal varied terrain of the Overworld, with customizable layers.

In Java Edition, superflat can also refer to a dimension's generator type, with which the completely flat terrain can be generated in a specific dimension. See also Custom dimension and Custom world preset.

Structure[]

In the default Superflat world, the terrain consists of one layer of bedrock, two layers of dirt, and one layer of grass blocks. Because the entire world is a plains biome by default, in Java Edition, villages generate relatively frequently; strongholds are also generated. While in Bedrock Edition no feature or structure generate in Flat worlds.

In the default Superflat world, the surface of the world is completely flat and at Y=-60, except for villages and other structures if they are enabled. Mobs still spawn normally. Because of the low altitude of the world, slimes spawn frequently.

Superflat worlds allow the player to access The Nether and The End in the usual ways, which generates as normal.

Multiplayer[]

In Java Edition, in order to create a Superflat world in a multiplayer server, the level-type flag in server.properties must be flat, instead of default. To alter the layers, biome and structures define generator-settings, which is a string of a JSON object:

• : The root object.

In Bedrock Edition, level-type in server.properties must be "FLAT" to generate a flat world.

Customization[]

This feature is exclusive to Java Edition. 

The Superflat world type button in Java Edition.

In Java Edition, superflat generator defaults to one layer of grass block, two layers of dirt, and one layer of bedrock, in "plains" biome and generating villages and strongholds. These contents can be customized.

Upon selecting "Superflat" in the "World Type" box, a new button appears underneath labeled "Customize". In the customize menu, there are two buttons available to customize Superflat worlds, which include the "Remove Layer" button, used for removing unwanted types of layers, and the "Presets" button, used for preset code string or "superflat level generation presets". There are nine original presets, and you can also use data packs to customize presets, see Custom world preset#Superflat Level Generation Preset.

Note that the default superflat is different from the "Classic" preset, where the default superflat (without using any preset) can generate strongholds, while the classic preset has no stronghold.

If the player can understand the preset code syntax, they can create presets of their own by entering valid information into the preset code box, where these changes can be previewed and applied. Preset code is shareable, which is highlightable and copyable. Similar to how new worlds are shared through seeds, preset code can be entered into this box to use it.

Noted that the preset code currently cannot fully describe a superflat level generation preset. Settings related to features and structures is inaccessable in the preset code. Using the preset code and the "Remove Layer" function to recreate world can only ensure that the blocks on each layer are the same, and cannot guarantee the same settings of the features or structures. When using preset code, the settings for features and structures are based on what preset is selected. If no preset is selected, only villages and strongholds are generated. For example, if typing preset code with the Classic superflat selected, only villages are be generated. If typing it with the Overworld superflat selected, features in Plains biome (except monster rooms) and Pillager Outpost, Village, Stronghold, Mineshaft, Dungeon, and Ruined Portal are generated.

In Bedrock Edition there is no interface for customizing flat worlds. It always uses the default configuration (one layer of bedrock, two layers of dirt, and a layer of grass blocks) even when the Seed Picker is used. However, custom flat worlds are possible internally, and can be used by modifying FlatWorldLayers in the world's level.dat file using an external editor.

Vanilla superflat level generation presets[]

Preset code format[]

The preset code is a string of numbers, semicolons(;), colons(:), commas(,), and asterisks(*). Each code has three main parts, divided by semicolons. They are:

• a list of one or more block IDs;
  • The block list is a comma-separated list of block IDs, ordered from layer -64 up; if the entry for a given block has an "*", the number before the "*" is the number of layers to be generated, and the string after is the block ID.
  • A block can also be repeated over multiple layers simply by repeating the block's ID, e.g. minecraft:glass,minecraft:glass,minecraft:glass,minecraft:glass would give the same result as 4*minecraft:glass.
• a valid biome ID;
• (optional, not after 1.16) a list of feature generation options.
  • Feature generation options (described below) may have additional parameters, for example village(size=0 distance=9) (in 1.13+ they have no effect).
  • It is important to remember that multiple parameters are separated by spaces, rather than commas or semicolons.

Feature generation options[]

This section describes content that exists only in outdated versions of Java Edition. 

This feature used to be in the game but has since been removed.

Feature generation options

Note that several criteria must be satisfied before some features can appear:

• The biome ID must be correct. For example, at present villages can appear only in biome IDs plains, desert, taiga, savanna, snowy_taiga, and snowy_tundra.
• Structures must be turned on when creating new world. (This does not affect normal features such as trees, flowers, mushrooms, and giant mushrooms.)
• There must be suitable terrain for the structure to appear on or in. This applies to most features except for mineshafts and strongholds.
  • Villages are a partial exception; they do not form in mid-air, but can form provided there is at least one solid block layer.
    • Villages always spawn at least 2 blocks above the void.

For example, to have an 'End' superflat world with obsidian pillars, the biome ID must be the_end, and the top surface block must be End Stone. In this particular case 'Structures' does not need to be turned on in the world options.

Attempting to use an incorrectly formatted preset code causes the game to default to the Classic preset.

Preset code example[]

Consider the following preset code:

It consists of the following elements:

• minecraft:mossy_cobblestone,250*minecraft:air,minecraft:obsidian,minecraft:snow — comma-separated list of block IDs.
  • minecraft:mossy_cobblestone — one layer of mossy cobblestone on layer -64.
  • 250*minecraft:air — 250 layers of air, from layer -63 to layer 186.
  • minecraft:obsidian — one layer of obsidian, on layer 187.
  • minecraft:snow — one layer of snow, on layer 188.
• minecraft:plains — biome ID, in this case Plains.

History[]

Issues[]

Issues relating to "Superflat" are maintained on the bug tracker. Report issues there.

Trivia[]

• Superflat was first conceived at the first MineCon and was intended for creative builds.[6]

Gallery[]

• 

  Slimes spawning in a superflat world.

• 

  An image tweeted by Jeb of a village spawned in a superflat world.[7]

• 

  A village spawned in the original superflat world type.

• 

  A map of a superflat world.

• 

  Some of the original superflat preset world types.

• 

  Overview of the old superflat world options.

• 

  One of many things possible with the superflat generator options.

• 

  A grassland village naturally generated in a 1-block-deep bedrock superflat world.

• 

  A desert village under similar conditions.

• 

  Superflat world with the biome set as The End

• 

  Part of the usual world that was not properly deleted staying in a superflat world.

• 

  Tunnelers´ dream in 1.15.2

• 

  2 villages close to each other on superflat world

• 

  A midair mineshaft in a superflat world.

• 

  A superflat world with the biome changed to nether wastes.

See also[]

• World preset
• World type
• A guide to surviving in a Superflat world
• Biome

Notes[]

References[]

1. ↑ https://www.mojang.com/2014/02/minecraft-snapshot-14w08a/
2. ↑ MC-123228, "Superflat generator strings no longer contain generator version" resolved "Working As Intended"
3. ↑ MC-243152 – resolved as "Fixed"
4. ↑ MC-239708 – resolved as "Fixed"
5. ↑ "Hey modders, what about sand flatworlds? Hint- this is a thing in the next build: 'game_flatworldlayers:[7, 12,12,12]'" – @_tomcc (Tommaso Checchi) on Twitter, June 18, 2014
6. ↑ "Superflat was added after speaking to Deadmau5's Mau5ville manager (?) at the first MINECON. This was intended for creative mode builds, but playing it in survival mode is a fun challenge." – @jeb_ (Jens Bergensten) on Twitter, March 23, 2022
7. ↑ https://twitter.com/jeb_/status/157390390788489216

Environment