Minecraft throwing disc and Bedrock off-hand revealed

The Minecraft throwing disc arrives in the first drop of 2027, alongside full Bedrock off-hand support and Joy-Con mouse controls in the Switch 2 beta.

FireGhost

November 15, 2026, 02:10 PM5 min read

Contents10 sections

The Minecraft throwing disc is coming in the game's first drop of 2027. Mojang's official November 14 announcement also confirms full off-hand support for Bedrock Edition, closing one of the oldest gaps between the two versions.

Both features debuted at TwitchCon San Diego during Tubbo's live show on November 14. Minecraft has a huge streaming scene, and creator events such as MC Championship draw big audiences. If you have never watched one, our guide on how to watch Minecraft Championship explains the format.

A Minecraft player character holding the new throwing disc — A player holding the throwing disc (Source: Minecraft.net)

How does the Minecraft throwing disc work?

The throwing disc is a new ranged weapon that comes back to you after you throw it. Think of it as a boomerang. Its range is short, but it bounces off hard surfaces, which lets it travel a bit farther.

The standout trick is that it passes through enemies. If mobs line up in its path, the disc hits all of them. That could make it handy against crowds. Dexerto's report from the TwitchCon stream quotes a developer who hopes players will pull off "some cool trick shots" with it.

You will be able to craft the disc in five tiers: copper, iron, gold, diamond and netherite. That gives it the same upgrade path as tools and armor. If you like maxing out your gear, our list of the best pickaxe enchantments in Minecraft is a good place to start.

New Minecraft features at a glance

Feature	Edition	Status
Throwing disc	Java and Bedrock	First game drop of 2027
Full off-hand support	Bedrock	First game drop of 2027
Joy-Con 2 mouse mode	Switch 2 (Bedrock)	In beta 26.70.24, no date
Disc tiers	All	Copper, iron, gold, diamond, netherite

Why does off-hand support matter on Bedrock?

Java players have been able to hold items in either hand since 2016. On Bedrock, the off-hand slot has been very limited. Only a handful of items, such as fireworks, shields or nautilus shells, could go there. Soon Bedrock players will be able to hold a pickaxe or a torch in either hand.

That matters for players on phones, consoles and Windows, where Bedrock is the main version. Mining with a pickaxe in one hand and a torch in the other will finally feel the same as on Java. Mojang also said off-hand support will be testable in the next Preview build.

A Minecraft Bedrock Edition player using the off-hand slot next to a Nether portal — Off-hand support in Bedrock Edition (Source: Minecraft.net)

When are Joy-Con mouse controls coming to Switch 2?

Switch 2 players get something new too. The Minecraft Beta and Preview 26.70.24 release notes list Joy-Con 2 mouse mode support. You can use either the left or right Joy-Con as a mouse and adjust camera and cursor sensitivity. By default, ZL places blocks and ZR breaks them.

For now the feature is beta only, and there is no release date. Nintendo Life also notes that owners of the digital Switch version can upgrade to the Switch 2 edition for free until the end of January 2027. For a sense of how big that audience is, see our report on Switch 2 sales passing 26.35 million.

What does it mean for players?

Minecraft has few ranged weapons today: the bow, the crossbow and the trident. The throwing disc adds a different play style. It could also inspire new ideas for server owners and minigame makers. If you run your own world, our explainer on free Minecraft server hosting with Aternos covers the basics.

On Bedrock, off-hand support may be the most welcome part of the news. Mojang says more details on the first drop of 2027 are coming soon. Until then, you can prepare by stocking up through trades, and our Minecraft villager professions and trading guide shows where to start.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Minecraft throwing disc coming out?

The throwing disc arrives with Minecraft's first game drop of 2027. Mojang has not given an exact date yet.

What does full off-hand support mean for Bedrock Edition?

Bedrock players will be able to hold and use almost any item or block in their off-hand. Until now, only a few items such as fireworks and shields could go in that slot.