Minecraft’s expansive worlds are a wonder to explore, and while walking and building are core to the experience, nothing quite beats the freedom of flight. Soaring above mountains, gliding across oceans, and quickly reaching your destination makes flying one of the most sought-after abilities in the game. Whether you’re in Creative mode with limitless resources or challenging yourself in Survival, Minecraft offers distinct ways to take to the skies.
In Creative mode, flight is readily available, granting you god-like traversal capabilities from the start. Survival mode, however, presents a rewarding challenge. You’ll need to earn your wings by acquiring the Elytra, a rare item that transforms your character with a pair of majestic angel wings.
This comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know about how to fly in Minecraft, regardless of your chosen game mode. Get ready to take off and experience Minecraft from a whole new perspective!
Flying in Creative and Spectator Mode: Instant Aerial Freedom
Creative and Spectator modes in Minecraft are designed to give you unparalleled freedom and control. In these modes, survival is not a concern, and the world is your sandbox to build, explore, and experiment without limitations. Flight is an inherent part of this freedom, allowing you to navigate vast distances and reach incredible heights instantly.
To activate flight in Creative or Spectator mode, simply double-tap the jump button. On most computers, this is the spacebar. On consoles, it’s usually the jump button assigned to your controller.
Once you’ve double-tapped, you’ll notice you’re floating slightly above the ground. You are now in flight mode! Here’s how to control your aerial movement:
- Ascend: Press and hold the jump button to fly upwards and gain altitude.
- Descend: Press and hold the crouch button (Shift key on PC by default) to descend and move towards the ground.
- Faster Flight: While flying, press and hold the sprint button (usually Ctrl on PC or double tap forward) to significantly increase your flight speed. This allows for rapid traversal across the map.
- Stop Flying: To disengage flight mode and return to walking, double-tap the jump button again.
Effortlessly soaring through the Minecraft world in Creative mode.
Remember, in Creative and Spectator modes, fall damage is negated. You can plummet from any height without taking damage. However, be cautious of falling into the void, such as the gaps between islands in The End dimension. Falling into the void will result in death and respawn, even in creative mode. So, while you are invulnerable to typical falls, the game’s boundaries still apply.
Mastering Flight in Survival Mode: The Elytra Adventure
For players who thrive on challenge and progression, Survival mode offers a more rewarding path to flight. In Survival, flying is not immediately available; it’s an earned ability that comes with the acquisition of a special item: the Elytra.
The Elytra is a rare set of wings that, when equipped, allows you to glide through the air. It’s a game-changer in Survival mode, offering a significant advantage in exploration and travel. However, obtaining and utilizing the Elytra requires venturing into the dangerous End dimension.
Obtaining the Elytra: Journey to the End Ship
The Elytra is exclusively found within End Ships, which are structures associated with End Cities in the outer islands of the End dimension. The End dimension is famously home to the Ender Dragon, Minecraft’s primary boss.
To reach the outer End islands and End Cities, you must first defeat the Ender Dragon. Upon defeating the Ender Dragon for the first time, a portal will generate, leading to the outer End islands. Subsequent times defeating the dragon will generate additional exit portals.
Entering the End Portal to begin your quest for Elytra in Minecraft.
To access the outer islands, locate the newly generated portal (often identifiable by its beacon of light). Throw an Ender Pearl into the portal to teleport yourself to the outer End islands.
Alternatively, for players who prefer a building challenge or aren’t ready to face the Ender Dragon yet, a very long and resource-intensive bridge can be constructed from the main End island to an outer island. However, this is a significant undertaking, as the distance can be over 1000 blocks. If attempting this, establish a spawn point near the End portal using a bed to mitigate the risk of void deaths during construction.
Once in the outer End islands, search for End Cities. These tall, otherworldly structures are relatively rare but are the key to finding End Ships. Not every End City will have a ship, but roughly half of them do.
End Ships are visually distinct as they are floating vessels docked some distance away from End Cities. They are typically accessible via a bridge extending from the city, or you may need to use Ender Pearls to reach them.
Locating a floating End Ship in an End City to find the Elytra.
Once aboard an End Ship, navigate downwards to find a level constructed with black Obsidian blocks. In this area, you will find the Elytra displayed in an item frame. It’s typically guarded by a Shulker and accompanied by two chests containing valuable loot.
To claim the Elytra, simply break the item frame. While defeating the Shulker is not mandatory to obtain the Elytra, it will make looting the chests and navigating the ship easier.
Claiming the Elytra from an item frame inside an End Ship in Minecraft.
Utilizing the Elytra for Flight: Gliding and Fireworks
Flying with the Elytra in Survival mode is a different experience compared to Creative flight. It’s more akin to gliding, and it requires momentum and careful control. You also cannot fly indefinitely on Elytra alone. However, clever use of fireworks can overcome this limitation.
First, equip the Elytra in your character’s chestplate armor slot. This replaces your chest armor with the wings.
To initiate Elytra flight:
- Find a high elevation: Jump off a cliff, building, or any significant height.
- Jump again mid-air: As you fall, press the jump key once more. This will deploy the Elytra, and you will begin to glide.
While gliding, be mindful of physics. Steep angles can cause you to stall and lose altitude rapidly. Colliding with terrain or walls at high speeds can cause significant damage or even death. Practice gliding in a safe area to get a feel for the controls.
To gain bursts of upward momentum and extend your flight, use firework rockets. Equip fireworks to your hotbar. While gliding, select the fireworks and use the item (right-click on PC, or the use item button on consoles). This will propel you forward and upwards, giving you a significant speed boost and regaining altitude.
Using firework rockets to boost your Elytra flight in Minecraft Survival mode.
By strategically using fireworks, you can, in theory, fly for as long as you have rockets available, effectively overcoming the gliding limitations of the Elytra and achieving sustained flight in Survival mode.
Keep in mind that Elytra has durability. Flying and taking damage while gliding will reduce its durability. To repair Elytra, you can use an anvil to combine it with phantom membranes or combine two damaged Elytra to restore its durability.
Flying in Minecraft opens up incredible possibilities for exploration, building, and adventure. Whether you choose the instant freedom of Creative mode or the rewarding challenge of Elytra flight in Survival, mastering the skies will undoubtedly enhance your Minecraft experience.
