How to Make Your Elytra Last Almost Forever in Minecraft
Want to soar through the Minecraft skies indefinitely? While “forever” might be a slight exaggeration, you can certainly maximize your elytra’s lifespan and keep it in tip-top flying condition. The secret lies in a strategic combination of enchantments, repair methods, and careful flying techniques. Let’s dive into the details.
Essential Strategies for Elytra Longevity
The goal is simple: minimize damage and repair efficiently. Here’s how:
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Mending Enchantment: This is the most crucial enchantment. Mending uses experience orbs you collect to repair the elytra’s durability. As long as you are gathering XP while flying, your elytra is essentially healing itself. Always prioritize this enchantment.
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Unbreaking III Enchantment: This enchantment significantly reduces the chance that your elytra loses durability with each passing second of flight. At level III, it drastically extends the time before repairs are needed, complementing Mending perfectly.
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Strategic Flying: Don’t just blindly launch yourself into the air. Plan your routes to avoid unnecessary collisions. Collisions cause damage, plain and simple. Also, understand the mechanics of firework rockets.
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Firework Rocket Management: Plain firework rockets (gunpowder and paper only) are your best friends. Fireworks crafted with firework stars deal damage upon use, negating the benefit of continuous flight. Also, use the minimum number of rockets required to maintain flight and speed. Constantly boosting when unnecessary only increases durability loss.
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Regular Repairs: Don’t wait until your elytra is on its last legs to repair it. Keep an eye on the durability bar. Use phantom membranes at an anvil to repair the elytra, and if you can’t repair it, then consider using a second elytra. Doing so can transfer enchantments and give you a fully repaired elytra.
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Avoid Combat While Flying (if possible): While protection enchantments can help mitigate damage from behind, getting hit while flying will damage your elytra. Try to avoid fights in the air, or at least be prepared to land quickly if a battle ensues.
FAQs: Elytra Durability and Usage
1. How much durability does an elytra have?
An elytra starts with 431 durability points. Every second of flight consumes one durability point.
2. How much durability does each phantom membrane repair?
Each phantom membrane restores approximately 25% of the elytra’s maximum durability.
3. Can you put protection enchantments on an elytra?
Yes, you can! However, protection enchantments only provide protection from damage coming from behind the player when wearing an elytra. This is because the game treats the elytra like a backplate when applying protection enchantments.
4. Does fall damage affect elytra durability?
No, elytra do not take durability damage from fall damage or kinetic energy. You’re safe to glide to a soft landing without worrying about further wear and tear.
5. Where can I find more elytra?
Elytra are exclusively found within End Ships located in End Cities. You’ll need to venture through the End portal after defeating the Ender Dragon to access them. Luckily, if your Minecraft world uses an infinite world generator, there are infinite End Cities in the End dimension.
6. Can I craft an elytra?
No, elytra cannot be crafted. They must be found in End Ships.
7. What’s the best combination of enchantments for an elytra?
The ideal combination is Mending and Unbreaking III. This offers the best balance of durability extension and automatic repair.
8. What happens when an elytra reaches 0 durability?
When an elytra’s durability reaches 1, it will continue to allow you to glide. When the elytra runs out of durability while flying, it will no longer give you the gliding effect.
9. Do fireworks with firework stars damage the elytra?
No, fireworks with firework stars do not directly damage the elytra, however, they deal damage to you. Plain rockets made with gunpowder and paper are the only way to avoid taking damage while flying.
10. How far can I fly with an elytra enchanted with Unbreaking III?
Theoretically, with continuous rocket boosts, an elytra enchanted with Unbreaking III could travel over 57,000 blocks. This is, of course, dependent on consistent rocket use and optimal conditions.
11. Can elytras despawn?
Enchanted elytras will despawn instantly after dying in the nether, while unenchanted elytras do not. To reproduce, enchant a set of elytras with Mending I and Unbreaking III, go into the nether and die by any means that wont destroy the item like in lava.
12. What is the “infinity” enchantment on the Elytra?
While there isn’t an official “infinity” enchantment on the Elytra in standard Minecraft, some mods propose this enchantment to allow for rockets flight not consuming fireworks. This would need to be balanced out by not allowing it to have infinity and Mending on at the same time.
13. How do you get Unbreaking 3 on Elytra?
Unbreaking I, Unbreaking II, and Unbreaking III can be acquired using an enchanting table, by fishing, finding an enchanted book in dungeon chests, and by trading with a librarian villager.
14. Does elytra lose durability when you get hit?
Each damage point dealt to the elytra affects it as if it affects armor. If the elytra would reach 0 durability from damage, it instead sets durability to 1. Elytra do not take durability damage from fall damage or kinetic energy, nor do they take durability damage when not being used.
15. Is Elytra Unbreakable?
The elytra are the forewings of a beetle, which are hardened into wing cases to protect the fragile hind-wings which are used for flight. They are tough, but they aren’t unbreakable. These kinds of strategic decisions about resources and crafting within games can promote problem-solving skills and creative thinking. The Games Learning Society explores the many benefits of this type of learning at GamesLearningSociety.org.
By following these tips and understanding the mechanics of flight, you can keep your elytra soaring for vast distances and enjoy the freedom of aerial exploration in Minecraft. Happy flying!