What is the Blue Ghost in Woodland Mansion? The Enigmatic Allay of Minecraft
The “blue ghost” often found in Woodland Mansions isn’t a ghost at all, but rather a friendly mob known as the Allay. These small, blue, winged creatures are not inherently spooky but are often found imprisoned within cages inside Pillager Outposts or Woodland Mansions. Once freed, they become incredibly useful companions to the player. Far from being a terrifying entity, the Allay is one of the most helpful mobs added to Minecraft in recent years, cherished for their ability to collect items and their captivating, ethereal appearance. These creatures love music and items, and understanding their unique characteristics can dramatically enhance your Minecraft experience.
Discovering and Freeing Allays
Where to Find Allays
The primary locations to find Allays are Pillager Outposts and Woodland Mansions. Within these structures, Allays are frequently found trapped inside cages, awaiting rescue. Pillager Outposts are relatively common in the overworld, while Woodland Mansions are much rarer structures. When you come across a cage, you will need to break the bars to release the Allay. Once freed, they’ll typically begin to follow the player who broke their cage.
Interaction with the Player
While Allays cannot technically be tamed like wolves or cats, they will follow the player who last interacted with them by giving them an item. If you want an Allay to follow you, simply hold an item in your hand and “use” it on the Allay. It will then follow you and begin to search for more of that same item.
The Functionality of the Allay
Item Collection
The primary function of an Allay is to collect items. Once you’ve given an Allay an item, it will fly around within a 32-block radius of you, searching for additional instances of that item. It will then bring the found items back to you or a specified Note Block. This makes them invaluable for farming resources.
The Importance of Note Blocks
Allays are particularly fond of music, and Note Blocks play a crucial role in automating their item collection. If an Allay hears a Note Block playing, it will return the items it collects to that Note Block. This mechanic allows for the creation of sophisticated sorting systems, enabling players to deposit items in one location, and have them automatically sorted into chests elsewhere.
Allay Limitations
While incredibly useful, Allays do have some limitations. They cannot break blocks to retrieve items, nor can they swim. Furthermore, they are not able to keep up with players traveling at high speed, such as using an Elytra. Additionally, they are susceptible to the usual mob hazards of fire, fall damage, suffocation, and drowning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Allays
Here are 15 commonly asked questions about the Allay, to help you understand this fascinating mob better:
1. Can you tame an Allay?
No, you cannot tame an Allay in the traditional sense. You can’t use a specific item to permanently bind them to you like you would with a dog. However, giving an Allay an item will make it follow you and search for more of that item within its operational area.
2. How do you get an Allay to follow you?
To get an Allay to follow you, hold an item and “use” it on the Allay, rather than dropping it. The Allay will then follow you, searching for more of that specific item.
3. Can Allays put items into chests?
Directly, no, Allays cannot place items into chests. However, they can be guided to deposit items at a Note Block. Then, a player can retrieve items from the ground and place them into a chest. Note Blocks provide the core functionality for Allay automation and sorting systems.
4. What is the range of an Allay’s item searching?
An Allay will search for items within a 32-block cubic radius of the player who gave it the item. It will continue to follow players from up to a 64-block cubic radius away.
5. What happens if an Allay loses its item?
If you take back the item from an Allay by interacting with it with an empty hand, the Allay will return to wandering around. It will no longer be actively following a player or searching for a specific item.
6. Can Allays be harmed?
Yes, Allays can be harmed and killed. They have limited health and are vulnerable to fire, fall damage, drowning, suffocation and hostile mobs.
7. Can you heal an Allay?
There is no direct way to heal an Allay, but giving it a Totem of Undying will make the Allay go out searching for more. If the Allay dies while holding the Totem of Undying, the item will activate and the Allay will be resurrected.
8. Will Allays follow you through Nether portals?
Yes, in Bedrock Edition, Allays will teleport with you through Nether portals, even if they don’t physically enter the portal themselves. This feature ensures they can travel to other dimensions with you.
9. Can Allays be copied?
Yes, Allays can be copied. To do so, you need to bring the Allay near a jukebox that is playing a music disc. The Allay must also hold an amethyst shard. A new Allay will spawn with a similar function to the initial one.
10. What are Allays good for?
Allays are incredibly beneficial for resource gathering and automation. They can be used to farm items, sort materials, and automate complex tasks. They make tasks such as collecting dropped blocks from mining and farming much more efficient.
11. Can Allays find rare items like diamonds?
Allays will collect any items given to them. However, they cannot break blocks, so they cannot find ore or items contained within chests. They will only collect loose items that are dropped on the ground.
12. Do Allays get affected by gravity?
No, Allays do not get affected by gravity. They fly and levitate constantly. They can travel across land, through tunnels, and even up cliffs with no fall damage.
13. What is the range of an Allay’s following distance?
An Allay will follow a player as long as they are within a 64-block cubic radius. If you travel outside that range, they will stop following you.
14. Can Allays keep up with Elytra use?
No, Allays cannot keep up with players using Elytra. They are slow and will be left far behind if the player uses wings to travel quickly.
15. Are Allays related to the Vex?
Allays share a visual similarity with Vex, the hostile mobs summoned by Evokers, but they are not related. Allays are beneficial mobs while Vex are hostile mobs that are summoned to attack.
Conclusion
The Allay, the “blue ghost” of Woodland Mansions, is a valuable addition to Minecraft. Their ability to collect items and interact with Note Blocks brings a new level of automation to the game. Understanding how to free, interact with, and utilize Allays can greatly enhance your Minecraft experience, turning tedious tasks into effortless ones. The next time you come across a cage in a Pillager Outpost or Woodland Mansion, make sure to free the blue ghost within and unlock their incredible potential.