Can Allays Find Diamonds in Minecraft? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, Allays can indeed “look” for diamonds in Minecraft, but with a crucial caveat. They won’t magically unearth diamonds from the earth. Instead, if you hand an Allay a diamond, it will diligently search within loaded chunks for diamonds that are already dropped on the ground as items. So, think of them as item retrieval assistants, not mining companions.
Understanding the Allay’s Item Retrieval Capabilities
The Allay is a helpful mob introduced to Minecraft that specializes in collecting items. They don’t mine, craft, or break blocks. Their sole purpose is to seek out and gather items that match the one you’ve given them. This makes them incredibly useful for automating certain tasks, but their functionality is limited to items that already exist as item entities – those tiny icons floating above the ground.
How Allays Operate
When you give an Allay an item, it scans the surrounding area (loaded chunks) for the same item. If it finds any, it picks them up and returns them to you or a designated note block location. The Allay has a small inventory that can hold one stack of the given item type (e.g., 64 cobblestone). After delivering its collected items, it pauses for a short time (about 3 seconds) before resuming its search.
Limitations of the Allay’s Abilities
It’s crucial to understand the Allay’s limitations. They can’t:
- Mine or break blocks.
- Craft items.
- Teleport beyond the range specified in single-player without a nether portal (64-block radius of player in Java, but can be much further away in Bedrock).
- Keep up with players using Elytra, even with a lead.
Leveraging Allays for Diamond Collection (The Right Way)
While Allays can’t directly mine diamonds, you can utilize them to streamline your diamond collection process in specific scenarios:
- Post-Mining Cleanup: After a mining session, dropped diamonds can be scattered around. An Allay can efficiently gather these stray diamonds, saving you time.
- Automatic Farms: Allays excel at collecting drops in automatic farms. If you have a setup where diamonds are somehow dropped (though rare), the Allay could gather them efficiently to a hopper.
- Item Sorting: Allays are the simplest way to sort non-stackable items. For example, they can be used in raid farms to sort the totem of undyings, or drowned farms to sort the tridents. By placing a hopper near an activated note block, everything the Allay throws toward the note block will be picked up by the hopper, making it easier for the player to gather.
- Multiplayer Worlds: In multiplayer, another player may leave dropped diamonds behind. An Allay could be used to find these diamonds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Allays and Diamonds
Here are 15 FAQs to further clarify the capabilities and limitations of Allays concerning diamond collection and general usage:
1. Can Allays mine diamond ore?
No, Allays cannot mine any ore, including diamond ore. They can only pick up items that are already in item form.
2. Will Allays collect diamonds from chests?
No, Allays cannot interact with chests or other storage blocks. They only pick up items lying on the ground. However, you can use both Allay and Hopper to build a more efficient automatic farm, where the Allay collects dropped items and drops them at the hopper, where they get stored inside a chest.
3. How far can Allays travel to find diamonds?
In Java Edition, Allays follow the player from up to a 64-block cubic area and seek items up to a 32-block cubic area from the player. The distance can be much further in Bedrock Edition.
4. Do Allays despawn if I leave them alone?
No, Allays will not despawn under normal circumstances. However, they can get lost if you travel too far away or if they encounter obstacles.
5. How can I prevent my Allay from getting lost?
You can “assign” an Allay to a specific note block. If an Allay hears a note block, it will prioritize delivering items to that block, making it stay near it, instead of the player. Be careful if you travel too far though, after about 30 blocks they give up trying to follow you, so even running can mean they get lost. On top of that, if you’re in a multiplayer world your hardwork can be claimed by another player very easily.
6. Can Allays pick up other ores besides diamonds?
Yes, Allays can pick up any item you give them, including other ores, blocks, tools, or any other obtainable item. The process is the same, regardless of the item.
7. What happens if an Allay picks up a damaged tool?
The Allay will pick up damaged tools just like any other item. However, it cannot repair the tools.
8. Can Allays be hurt?
Yes, Allays can take damage from various sources, including lava, fire, explosions, and hostile mobs. Fortunately, they have health regeneration.
9. Are Allays immune to lava?
No, Allays are not immune to lava. They will take damage from lava, but they have health regeneration, which can help them survive brief encounters.
10. Can I use a lead to keep an Allay with me?
Yes, you can use a lead to tether an Allay. However, if you travel too far, the lead may break, and the Allay may become separated from you.
11. Do Allays need to eat?
No, Allays do not need to eat. They do not have a hunger mechanic.
12. How do I find Allays in Minecraft?
Allays can be found in Pillager Outposts and Woodland Mansions. Look for cages within these structures; the Allays are usually imprisoned there.
13. Can Allays be duplicated?
Yes, Allays can be duplicated by giving them an amethyst shard when they are near a jukebox playing music. This will cause them to duplicate.
14. Can Allays wear armor?
After giving allay an item, it recieves a tag CanPickUpLoot: 1b, which allows it to equip armor. Place a dispenser with a piece of armor next to it.
15. Do allays teleport to you?
Exclusive to the Bedrock Edition, Allays can teleport through a Nether portal. It can teleport through the End portal too, but only if players give it an item beforehand, and must be close to the player while teleporting.
Conclusion
While Allays won’t replace your trusty pickaxe in the quest for diamonds, they are valuable companions for automating item collection and sorting. Understanding their limitations and utilizing them strategically can significantly enhance your Minecraft gameplay experience. They’re particularly helpful for cleaning up after mining sessions or managing drops from automatic farms, making them a welcome addition to any player’s arsenal.
Remember, the key to using Allays effectively is to work within their capabilities and leverage their strengths. Happy crafting!
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With their item gathering prowess, Allays can be an asset to your Minecraft world.