What Can Allays Do in Minecraft? A Comprehensive Guide

Allays are incredibly useful mobs in Minecraft, acting primarily as item collectors. When you give an Allay an item, it will fly around and gather more of that same item within a certain radius, bringing them back to you or a designated note block. They can’t mine or craft anything themselves, but their ability to automate item collection makes them invaluable for farms, resource management, and overall streamlining of gameplay.

Understanding the Allay’s Core Functionality

The Allay’s core function is item retrieval. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

1. Give an Item: Approach an Allay and “use” an item on it. This isn’t done by dropping the item, but by right-clicking (or using the equivalent action on your platform) while holding the item and looking at the Allay. The Allay will then hold the item.

2. Item Search: The Allay will begin searching for loose instances of the item it’s holding within a 32-block radius of the player who gave it the item. It doesn’t mine, break blocks, or open chests. It only picks up items that are already lying on the ground.

3. Item Delivery: Once the Allay finds the designated item, it picks it up and brings it to the nearest note block that has been played recently, or to the player who gave it the item if no note block is available. This creates a simple, yet powerful, automation system.

4. Note Block Association: Playing a note block near an Allay “links” it to that note block. The Allay will then consistently bring items it collects to that note block. If the note block is destroyed or the Allay can’t reach it, it will revert to bringing items to the player.

5. Range Limitations: The Allay will only follow the player who gave it the item within a 64-block radius. If the player moves beyond that range, the Allay will eventually stop following.

Maximizing the Allay’s Potential

To truly maximize the Allay’s usefulness, consider these applications:

• Farm Automation: Allays are fantastic for automating farms, especially those that produce non-stackable items. For example, in a raid farm, an Allay can be used to collect Totems of Undying. In a Drowned farm, Allays can sort tridents, greatly improving the efficiency of the farm.

• Resource Gathering: When mining or exploring, an Allay can collect any dropped resources you might miss, or simply be too busy to pick up. This ensures you don’t leave valuable materials behind.

• Item Sorting: Combine Allays with hoppers to create basic item sorting systems. The Allay delivers the item to the hopper, which then deposits it into a chest. This is particularly useful for sorting through large quantities of resources.

• Remote Item Retrieval: Place a note block at a remote location and send an Allay with an item. Then, drop the item you want the Allay to collect from afar. The Allay will retrieve the item and deliver it to the note block.

The Allay’s Limitations

While Allays are powerful, they do have limitations:

• No Block Breaking: Allays cannot mine or break blocks. They can only collect items that are already dropped.
• Limited Range: The Allay’s search radius is limited to 32 blocks, and its following range is limited to 64 blocks.
• Vulnerability: Allays have relatively low health and can be easily killed by mobs or environmental hazards.
• Speed: Allays aren’t particularly fast and can’t keep up with players using Elytra.

Finding and Obtaining Allays

Allays are found in two locations:

• Pillager Outposts: Allays can be found trapped in cages at Pillager Outposts.
• Woodland Mansions: Allays can also be found trapped in jail cells within Woodland Mansions.

Freeing the Allays from these locations is necessary to utilize their abilities.

Allay Behavior and Interactions

Allays have distinct behaviors that impact how you interact with them:

• Following Behavior: The Allay will follow the player who last gave it an item.
• Item Holding: An Allay will hold only one type of item at a time. If you give it a different item, it will drop the previous one.
• Duplication: Allays can be duplicated by playing a jukebox with a music disc and then giving the Allay an amethyst shard.
• Teleportation: In Bedrock Edition, Allays can teleport through Nether and End Portals, provided certain conditions are met.

Allays and Education

The uses of Allays can also translate into educational opportunities. The automated collection that is granted by the Allay and the use of note blocks for item return can be a useful tool to teach students about sorting algorithms and logic. As educators learn more about applying games to learning, it can become an essential part of lesson planning. More information about the intersection of games and learning can be found at the Games Learning Society, or GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Allays

1. Can you tame Allays in Minecraft?

No, you cannot tame Allays in the traditional sense. They follow the player who last gave them an item, but this is servitude, not taming.

2. Will Allays follow you forever in Minecraft?

Allays will follow you as long as you remain within a 64-block radius and they retain the item you gave them. If you take the item back, they will wander off.

3. Can Allays give you diamonds?

No, Allays cannot mine or break blocks. They can only pick up items that are already dropped. Therefore, they cannot directly provide you with diamonds or any other mined resource.

4. Will Allays fly away Minecraft?

If you take the item from an Allay, it will no longer be bound to you and will wander around freely.

5. Can you turn a Vex into an Allay?

No, it is not possible to turn a Vex into an Allay. They are distinct mobs with different behaviors and origins. The idea of using slowness and a cookie to transform a Vex is a false rumor.

6. Do tamed Allays teleport to you?

In Bedrock Edition, Allays can teleport through Nether and End portals. For the End portal, they must be given an item beforehand and be close to the player while teleporting.

7. Will Allays follow you with elytra?

No, Allays cannot keep up with players using Elytra, even with a lead. They are not fast enough.

8. Can Allays be pets?

While you can’t “tame” them, Allays effectively function as pets due to their item-following behavior. They accompany you and assist with resource gathering.

9. What is the best use of Allays?

The best use of Allays is in automating farms and sorting items. Their ability to collect specific items and deliver them to a designated location (a note block or player) makes them invaluable for automating tasks.

10. What are the blue angels in Minecraft?

The “blue angels” are Allays. They are small, blue, winged creatures that collect items for the player.

11. Why do I keep losing my Allays?

You might lose Allays because you are moving too far away (beyond 64 blocks), another player takes their item and gives them a new one (in multiplayer), or they die from hazards like fire or mobs.

12. What kills Allays in Minecraft?

Allays can be killed by most damage sources, including mobs, fire, drowning (staying underwater for too long), and suffocation within blocks. They have low health, so they are relatively fragile.

13. What do you breed Allays with?

You duplicate Allays, rather than breed them. This is done by playing a jukebox with a music disc nearby and giving the Allay an amethyst shard. After a short time, the Allay will duplicate.

14. How do you tame a blue ghost in Minecraft?

You cannot tame an Allay, which is sometimes referred to as a blue ghost. Instead, you give it an item to have it follow you and collect more of that item.

15. Can you use Allay to farm?

Yes, Allays are excellent for farming. They can collect dropped items from farms, particularly useful for farms that produce non-stackable items.

Conclusion

The Allay is a unique and valuable mob in Minecraft, offering players a simple yet powerful way to automate item collection. By understanding their abilities, limitations, and behaviors, you can leverage Allays to significantly improve your efficiency and resource management in the game. They serve as a testament to the evolving complexities and possibilities within Minecraft’s ever-expanding world.