Minecraft, with its expansive worlds and limitless possibilities, offers players the exhilarating ability to take to the skies. Whether you’re aiming to swiftly navigate your terrain or simply enjoy the panoramic views, flying in Minecraft provides a significant advantage and a thrilling experience. This guide will walk you through the different methods of achieving flight in Minecraft, catering to both Creative and Survival players.
Soaring Through the Skies in Creative and Spectator Modes
For players in Creative or Spectator mode, flight is readily accessible and designed for effortless exploration and building. These modes grant you god-like abilities within the game, and flight is just one aspect of this freedom.
Initiating flight in Creative or Spectator mode is incredibly straightforward. Simply double-tap the jump button. On most computers, this is the spacebar, while on consoles it’s typically the A button on Xbox or the X button on PlayStation.
Once airborne, you’ll find the controls intuitive. Holding down the jump button will propel you upwards, allowing you to gain altitude effortlessly. Conversely, holding the crouch button will cause you to descend. For a burst of speed while flying, simply press and hold the sprint button to traverse the landscape even faster than running on foot.
Creative mode allows for rapid and unrestricted flight.
To disengage flight and return to the ground, just double-tap the jump button again. In Creative and Spectator modes, fall damage is disabled, so you can descend from any height without fear of harm. However, be mindful of falling into the void, especially in dimensions like The End. Falling into these areas of nothingness will still result in death and respawn, even in Creative mode.
Achieving Flight in Survival Mode: Mastering the Elytra
For those who thrive on the challenges of Survival mode, flying is a more rewarding but initially more demanding endeavor. In Survival, you earn the ability to fly by acquiring a rare item called the Elytra. This coveted item allows you to glide through the air, transforming your gameplay and exploration possibilities.
Obtaining the Elytra: Embarking on an End-Game Adventure
The Elytra is exclusively found within End Ships, which are located in the outer islands of The End dimension – the very realm where you face the formidable Ender Dragon. To reach the End Ships and claim your Elytra, you’ll first need to venture into The End and defeat the Ender Dragon.
Each time you successfully defeat the Ender Dragon, two gateways will generate. One portal serves as your exit, leading back to the Overworld after the credits roll. The other portal is your gateway to the outer End islands, the location of End Cities and the elusive End Ships.
Using an Ender Pearl to access the outer End Islands portal.
To traverse the portal to the outer islands, you’ll need to use an Ender Pearl. Throw the Ender Pearl into the portal to teleport yourself to these uncharted territories.
Alternatively, for players who prefer a more gradual approach or wish to explore the End without initially facing the Ender Dragon, constructing a bridge from the main End island to an outer End city is possible. However, be warned that this is a monumental undertaking, as the nearest islands can be over 1000 blocks away, requiring substantial resources and time. If you choose this path, setting a spawn point near your End portal with a bed is highly recommended to mitigate the risk of death from falling.
Upon reaching the outer End islands, your primary objective is to locate an End City. Once you’ve found an End City, look for an End Ship. Approximately half of all End Cities are accompanied by these unique, floating vessels.
Spotting a floating End Ship in an End City.
Inside the End Ship, navigate to a level constructed with black Obsidian blocks. Here, you will discover the Elytra displayed in an item frame. The Elytra is typically flanked by two chests filled with valuable loot and guarded by a Shulker. To claim the Elytra, simply break the item frame. While defeating the Shulker is not mandatory, doing so will make looting the chests and acquiring the Elytra considerably easier.
Claiming the Elytra from the item frame in an End Ship.
Mastering Elytra Flight: Gliding and Boosting
Flying with the Elytra in Survival mode operates differently from Creative mode flight. Instead of free and unlimited flight, the Elytra allows you to glide, simulating wings. However, with a clever trick involving fireworks, you can effectively extend your flight duration and even gain altitude.
To use the Elytra, equip it in your character’s chestplate armor slot, replacing any existing chest armor. Find a high vantage point, jump off the edge, and press the jump key once while falling to deploy the Elytra and begin gliding.
While gliding, remember that Elytra flight is subject to in-game physics. Attempting to fly at too steep an angle can cause you to stall and plummet. Similarly, colliding with the ground or solid objects at high speed while gliding can result in significant damage or even death.
Pay close attention to your character’s leg animations while gliding. When your character’s legs begin to wobble or flail, it indicates that you are losing altitude and will soon descend. To counteract this and prolong your flight, equip firework rockets to your hotbar. Activating a firework rocket while gliding will provide a substantial speed boost, propelling you upwards and allowing you to maintain or even gain altitude. By strategically using fireworks, you can, in theory, fly indefinitely as long as you have fireworks available.
Using firework rockets to boost Elytra flight and gain altitude.
Keep in mind that the Elytra has durability and will gradually degrade with use. To repair a damaged Elytra, you can combine it with phantom membranes at an anvil or combine two damaged Elytra together.
With practice and mastery, flying in Minecraft, whether through Creative mode’s effortless flight or Survival mode’s rewarding Elytra gliding, opens up a new dimension of exploration and adventure within the game. Soar through your Minecraft worlds and experience the game from a breathtaking new perspective.
