Get the Best Water Reflections in Oceans, Rivers and Lakes

Set up the right conditions

This shader improves water reflections so that oceans, rivers and lakes look realistic. Reflections show best when there is plenty of sky and light to reflect.

1. In Settings > Video, raise Render Distance as far as your device handles comfortably. This lets distant sky and terrain appear on the water.

2. Keep Beautiful Skies and Fancy Graphics on if your device allows it, so the sky being reflected looks its best.

3. Head to open water with a wide view, such as a large ocean or a long, straight river.

Find great reflection spots

• Icebergs on a clear day. The pack's own screenshots show icebergs rising from the water with sun reflections. Frozen ocean biomes are a great first stop.
• Sunset over the ocean. Ice mountains across the water at sunset, with bright light spreading across the surface, make a standout scene.
• Calm lakes near forests. The trees and sky mirror nicely on smaller bodies of water.

For a quick test in a world with cheats enabled:

• Use /weather clear to remove rain.
• Use /time set sunset or /time set noon to compare how reflections change with the sun's angle.
• Look at the water at a low angle, close to the horizon. Reflections are usually strongest there.
• Then look straight down to see how the surface changes as you tilt your view.