Quick answer: To unlock What Goes Around Comes Around in Minecraft Java Edition 26.4 Snapshot 5, deliver the final hit to a Frostbite using a thrown Ice Ball. The safest approach is to collect Ice Balls from one Frostbite, create space, then throw one at another Frostbite until the projectile gets the kill. A sword, bow, or other damage source can weaken the target first—but the final blow must come from the Ice Ball.
Updated October 27, 2026 · By Shivam Das
Mojang added the new Adventure advancement in Java Snapshot 5 for 26.4, released October 20. It is a small challenge with one important catch: you cannot finish the mob with your usual weapon and expect the advancement to count. Here is a practical, low-risk way to get it, plus the mistakes most likely to waste a trip into the Ice Caves.
What the advancement requires
The official requirement is straightforward: kill a Frostbite using an Ice Ball. Frostbites are hostile zombie variants that can switch between melee attacks and ranged Ice Ball throws. Their melee hits can apply the Freezing effect, so letting one get close is riskier than fighting a regular zombie.
- Edition: Java Edition, in the 26.4 development snapshot that includes the advancement.
- Target: A Frostbite—not a regular zombie, stray, or another mob.
- Finishing hit: A player-thrown Ice Ball must cause the Frostbite’s death.
- Best plan: Bring spare food, armor, a shield, and a clear retreat route; use the Ice Ball for the final hit.
Snapshot features are still in testing and can change before a full release. Back up important worlds before opening them in a snapshot. For Mojang’s complete change list, read the official Minecraft 26.4 Snapshot 5 notes.
Step-by-step: unlock it with less risk
1. Find Frostbites in a cold area
Look in an Ice Cave or another suitable cold environment. Snapshot 5 fixed a spawn issue that allowed Frostbites to appear in ordinary caves beneath cold biomes, so do not assume every regular cave under snowy terrain will be a reliable hunting spot. Ice Caves remain the more relevant target for this challenge.
2. Let a Frostbite throw, then collect its Ice Balls
Frostbites use Ice Balls as ranged projectiles and can drop them when defeated. Keep an eye on the ground after a fight and collect any Ice Balls you can safely reach. Do not rush straight into melee range just to force a drop; the mob’s close-range attack can apply Freezing, and the effect can become dangerous if you stay exposed.
3. Separate the next target from other mobs
Before you throw, pick one Frostbite and make sure you can see it clearly. Use a doorway, a corner, or a short retreat to avoid being surrounded. A shield and solid cover can help you survive while you line up the attempt, but remember that cover is also useful for preventing other mobs from interrupting the final hit.
4. Weaken the Frostbite—but stop before it dies
Use a conventional weapon to reduce its health if needed. The goal is to leave it alive long enough for an Ice Ball to finish the job. There is no need to make the fight harder by relying on Ice Ball damage for every hit; the key condition is the killing blow. If you are unsure how much health remains, stop attacking and switch to the Ice Ball.
5. Throw the Ice Ball for the final hit
Equip the Ice Ball and aim at the weakened Frostbite. Because projectiles can miss or lose effectiveness with distance, try from a short, clear range rather than across a cavern. If the mob survives, reassess its health and throw again. When the Ice Ball causes the kill, the advancement should trigger.
Why the advancement sometimes fails
- You used the wrong projectile: A snowball is not the same item as an Ice Ball. Make sure the item in your hotbar is the Ice Ball dropped by a Frostbite.
- Your sword or arrow got the kill: Damage from another weapon is fine for weakening the target, but do not land another hit after switching to the Ice Ball.
- The projectile missed: Move closer, get a clear line of sight, and throw again. Avoid shooting through tight gaps or around corners.
- The target was not a Frostbite: Confirm the mob before spending your limited Ice Balls.
- You are playing a version without the feature: This advancement was announced for Java 26.4 Snapshot 5. Snapshot and Bedrock Preview feature sets are not always identical, so check the version notes for your edition.
Safety tips for Ice Cave runs
Ice Caves can make a simple mob fight more complicated because of uneven ground, cold-themed hazards, and other hostile mobs. Carry blocks to seal a doorway or create a quick barrier, keep food ready, and avoid fighting beside a drop or narrow crevasse. If your armor is weak, retreat and recover instead of trying to force the advancement in one attempt.
Leather armor is useful against the freezing behavior described in Mojang’s earlier Frostbite notes, but it does not make every encounter harmless. Keep moving, use cover, and leave yourself room to retreat. In a testing build, unexpected behavior and bugs are also possible.
Does the advancement need a special setup?
No special structure, enchantment, or potion is listed as a requirement. The defining condition is the Ice Ball kill on a Frostbite. You can make the attempt easier by reducing the target’s health first and fighting in a controlled space, but avoid using commands or changing the world state if your goal is to complete it through ordinary survival play.
Frequently asked questions
What unlocks “What Goes Around Comes Around” in Minecraft?
Kill a Frostbite with an Ice Ball. The Ice Ball must deliver the final hit; weakening the mob with another weapon beforehand is a practical strategy.
Can I use a snowball instead of an Ice Ball?
No. The advancement specifically calls for an Ice Ball, which is the projectile associated with Frostbites in this update.
Where should I look for Frostbites?
Try Ice Caves in the 26.4 snapshot. Mojang’s Snapshot 5 notes say a bug that let Frostbites spawn in ordinary caves beneath cold biomes was fixed.
Does this work in Bedrock Edition?
The named advancement is documented in the Java 26.4 Snapshot 5 notes. Bedrock Preview has its own feature track, so do not assume that the same advancement is available there just because Ice Balls are being tested.
What if the advancement does not appear?
Check that you are on the correct Java snapshot, that the target was a Frostbite, and that an Ice Ball caused the final hit. If all three conditions were met, try another attempt and report a reproducible issue through the official feedback or bug-reporting channels.
Official sources and related guides
Start with Mojang’s Minecraft 26.4 Snapshot 5 release notes for the advancement requirement and current snapshot changes. The official Snapshot 3 notes explain Frostbite behavior and Ice Balls, including the Freezing effect.
For more from Minecraft News, see our guides to Minecraft Switch 2 upgrade eligibility and what Vibrant Visuals changes for survival players.
Bottom line: Collect Ice Balls, weaken a Frostbite without killing it, then make sure the Ice Ball delivers the finishing hit. That is the simplest repeatable route to “What Goes Around Comes Around” in Java Snapshot 5.
