Chase the Skies, The Next Minecraft Drop Takes Flight

Get ready for takeoff. Minecraft's next major update 1.21.6 is called Chase the Skies, and it’s bringing a brand-new flying mount to the game: the happy ghast. This exciting drop invites players to explore the skies, craft new items, and enjoy fresh visual updates across the Overworld.

🐲 Fly with the Happy Ghast

💀 Discover the Dried Ghast

To get your new flying companion, you’ll need to visit the Nether. In this fiery dimension, dried ghasts can be found near fossil structures or obtained through bartering with piglins. You can also craft them using ghast tears and soul sand. But be careful, getting these ingredients won’t be easy.

💧 From Ghastling to Happy Ghast

Once you return to the Overworld, place the dried ghast in water. It will slowly transform into a ghastling. Feed it snowballs, and with enough care, it will evolve into a happy ghast. When fully grown, this mount can carry you and up to four friends through the skies of Minecraft.

🧭 Navigate with the Player Locator Bar

🎯 Track Your Friends Easily

The Player Locator bar appears where the XP bar usually is and displays colored dots showing your friends’ locations. It also indicates whether they’re higher or lower in elevation. Players can crouch to hide from the bar if they prefer not to be tracked.

This feature makes exploring and coordinating in multiplayer worlds much more convenient.

🎒 What to Pack for Your Sky Adventure

🔗 New Leashing Mechanics

Leads are now easier to craft, requiring only string. With the new leashing system, you can:

1. Leash multiple mobs together

2. Create caravans for long trips

3. Attach boats or mobs to your happy ghast for mid-air cargo

You still can’t leash players, but the Player Locator bar keeps your group together.

🐴 Craftable Saddles and Improved Shears

You can now craft saddles using 3 leather and 1 iron ingot. Shears have also received new functionality:

1. Detach specific leads without undoing the entire knot

2. Remove saddles from mobs with a single click

These changes offer more flexibility and control over your mounts and companions.

🎵 Souvenirs to Remember Your Journey

🔥 New Music Disc and Ambient Tracks

Defeating a standard ghast might earn you a brand-new music disc. Additionally, five ambient tracks by Amos Roddy will now play across various Overworld biomes:

1. Lilypad

2. Below and Above

3. O’s Piano

4. Broken Clocks

5. Fireflies and Tears

These songs are also available now on Spotify and other music platforms.

🌅 Vibrant Visuals, A Stunning Overhaul

Players on compatible Bedrock Edition devices will enjoy Minecraft’s biggest official visual refresh: Vibrant Visuals. This update includes:

1. Reflective water

2. Dynamic shadows

3. Glowing fog and realistic lighting

4. Enhanced detail in all biomes

Gameplay remains unchanged, so you can still play with friends regardless of whether they use Vibrant Visuals. Add-ons, Skins, and Persona items are supported, though Worlds and Texture Packs will not be compatible at launch.

Support for Java Edition is also planned in a future update.

✅ Final Boarding Call

Whether you're taming a ghast, tracking your friends, or enjoying breathtaking views, Chase the Skies is one of the most ambitious Minecraft updates to date. Prepare your tools, gather your party, and get ready to explore the skies like never before.

New adventures are just around the corner. Are you ready to fly?