What’s the Best Thing to Give an Allay in Minecraft? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer? It depends entirely on what you want your Allay to do! There’s no single “best” item, as the Allay’s utility lies in its ability to collect specific items for you. The ideal item is the one that best suits your current needs in the game. Whether it’s mass-collecting resources, automating farms, or simply keeping track of that precious diamond you accidentally dropped, the “best” item is entirely contextual.

Understanding Allay Behavior

Before we dive into specific item recommendations, let’s recap how Allays function. Allays are un-tameable but loyal mobs that follow players who give them an item. They will then search for more of that item within a 32-block radius and bring them back to the player (or a Note Block if one is playing nearby). Crucially, Allays only pick up items that are already dropped on the ground. They cannot mine, break, or extract items from containers. This makes their role purely one of collection and delivery.

Top Item Candidates for Maximum Allay Utility

Here are some of the most effective items to give your Allay, depending on your objectives:

• Dirt: Sounds mundane, but dirt is incredibly useful for mass collection during excavation projects. Mining large areas inevitably leads to scattered dirt blocks. An Allay tasked with collecting dirt can significantly speed up cleanup.

• Seeds: Perfect for automating crop farms. Allays can be used to quickly gather dropped seeds after harvesting, replanting becomes easier, and more efficient.

• Specific Crop (Wheat, Carrots, Potatoes, Beetroot): Similar to seeds, Allays excel at collecting harvested crops. This allows for semi-automatic farming systems where the player harvests, and the Allay gathers the produce.

• Wool: For sheep farms, an Allay can collect sheared wool, streamlining the shearing and wool production process. This makes wool collection much faster.

• Raw Meat (Chicken, Beef, Pork, Mutton, Rabbit): Ideal for mob farms. Allays can collect the dropped meat from mob grinders, automating the post-slaughter collection.

• Eggs: Chicken farms become more efficient when Allays are tasked with collecting laid eggs. This reduces the need for player intervention and increases egg yield.

• Arrows: During skeleton spawner or general combat situations, Allays can collect dropped arrows. This ensures you rarely run out of ammunition, especially in high-intensity battles.

• Experience Orbs: While Allays don’t directly “hold” XP, they are attracted to it if given an item near the orbs. If you put an item on the ground near the experience orbs, it can effectively “collect” experience orbs by staying close to it, which reduces XP despawning. This can be helpful near endermen farms and the Games Learning Society suggests considering using this item.

• Glowstone Dust: For Wither Skeleton farms, Glowstone Dust is one of the most useful items for the Allay to collect as it picks up other blocks in the Nether.

• Amethyst Shard: When near a playing jukebox, giving an Allay an amethyst shard, it will breed and duplicate itself giving you two Allays for the price of one.

• Specific Tools (Pickaxes, Swords, Shovels, Axes): If you accidentally break a tool and it falls on the ground, giving an Allay that tool, it will bring other similar tools.

• Diamonds/Emeralds/Netherite Scraps: If you accidentally drop rare items like diamonds or netherite, an Allay is perfect for quickly locating and returning them. Be cautious, though, as other players in multiplayer can relieve the Allay of the item.

Advanced Allay Applications

Beyond simple item collection, Allays can be used in more complex setups:

• Item Sorting Systems: By using multiple Allays, each assigned to a different item, you can create rudimentary item sorting systems. They can deposit their items near specific Note Blocks, triggering different redstone mechanisms based on the item type.

• Remote Collection: Allays can be used to collect items from dangerous or hard-to-reach areas. For example, they can collect items from a creeper farm while the player remains at a safe distance.

• Decorative Purposes: While not their primary function, Allays carrying visually appealing items (flowers, glowstone dust, etc.) can add a touch of whimsy to your base.

Considerations for Choosing an Item

When deciding what item to give your Allay, consider the following:

• Availability: Choose an item that is readily available in the quantity you need. Using a rare item for a common task is inefficient.

• Stackability: Stackable items are generally better, as the Allay can carry more of them.

• Purpose: Clearly define the task you want the Allay to perform before selecting an item.

• Location: Where will the Allay be collecting items? Choose an item that is relevant to that location.

• Safety: Ensure the Allay is not exposed to unnecessary dangers while performing its task (lava, hostile mobs, etc.).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can Allays find diamonds for you?

No, Allays cannot mine or break blocks. They can only pick up diamonds that are already lying on the ground. If you accidentally drop a diamond, giving the Allay another diamond will allow it to search for the dropped one.

2. How do you breed Allays?

As of Minecraft 1.19.1, you can breed Allays by playing a jukebox and giving each Allay an amethyst shard.

3. Can Allays teleport with you?

In Bedrock Edition, Allays can teleport with you through an end portal if they are holding an item and are near you as you teleport.

4. Can you tame a Vex into an Allay?

No, you cannot. Vexes are summoned by Evokers and are hostile mobs. There is no known method to transform a Vex into an Allay.

5. What are Allays attracted to?

Allays are primarily attracted to the item they are holding. They will search for more of that item. They are also attracted to Note Blocks that are playing music and will drop off collected items near them.

6. Can Allays put items in chests?

No, Allays cannot interact with chests or any other containers. They can only drop items near the player or a Note Block.

7. Do Allays eat anything?

No, Allays do not eat anything. They are ghost-like beings and do not require sustenance.

8. Can you lose your Allays?

Yes, it’s easy to lose Allays, especially over long distances or in the Nether. They can only follow you within a limited range (64 blocks), and other players can take their item and reassign them.

9. How do I bring my Allay back to base?

The best way to ensure an Allay returns to base is to give it an item and then travel back slowly, keeping it within a 64-block radius. Using a Lead can also help, but Allays cannot keep up with Elytra flight, and they cannot go into the nether.

10. Can you take items away from Allays?

Yes, you can take back the item you gave the Allay by interacting with it while holding an empty hand.

11. Can Allays follow you with Elytra?

No, Allays cannot keep up with Elytra flight, even with a Lead.

12. Will Allays follow me through the Nether?

It is not advisable to bring an Allay through the Nether. They cannot go through portals, and they may not be able to follow you, so Allays are very likely to get lost.

13. Do Allays pick up enchanted items?

Yes, if an Allay is given an enchanted item, it will collect more of that specific enchanted item, if it exists on the ground.

14. What happens if you give an Allay a diamond?

If you give an Allay a diamond, it will search for other diamonds that are already on the ground. It will not mine or create diamonds.

15. Will Allay follow you forever?

No, Allays will not follow you “forever.” They will follow you until another player relieves them of their item.

Conclusion

The Allay is a versatile and helpful mob in Minecraft, but its effectiveness depends entirely on how you utilize it. Choosing the right item to give it is crucial for maximizing its potential. By understanding the Allay’s behavior and considering the specific needs of your gameplay, you can transform these adorable creatures into valuable assistants in your Minecraft world. Remember to visit GamesLearningSociety.org for more on the educational aspects of gaming!