Perhaps the most underrated change in version 1.9 was the introduction of the via the off-hand slot (the shield slot in the inventory).
(released February 29, 2016), marked a massive shift in how players survived and explored the world. Here is a short story centered around the major features of that era. The Glide of the Great Beyond version 1.9 minecraft
This was made possible by the system. For the first time, players could hold an item in their off-hand. While you couldn’t punch with a sword in your left hand, you could hold a shield, a map, food, or a torch. This allowed players to eat while holding a sword or block incoming fire while navigating treacherous terrain. It was a quality-of-life feature that revolutionized exploration just as much as combat. Perhaps the most underrated change in version 1