You can fly in Survival Mode using the Elytra, a wearable item that lets you glide through the air
Flying in Survival Mode is not the same as Creative Mode flight. You cannot hover or move freely in any direction. Instead, you use the Elytra, a pair of wings you equip in your chest armor slot, to glide downward from a high point. You gain speed as you fall, and by angling your view upward, you can slow your descent and travel long distances horizontally. With rockets in your inventory, you can boost yourself higher and stay airborne longer.
The Elytra is found only in the End dimension, inside item frames in End Ships. Once you have it, you can use it anywhere in the Overworld or Nether. Flying with Elytra is the closest Survival Mode gets to true flight, and it is one of the most useful late-game tools in the game.
Key Takeaways
- Elytra is a wearable item found in the End dimension inside End Ships that you equip in your chest armor slot to glide.
- You set up Elytra by jumping from a high place and pressing the jump key again while falling to deploy the wings.
- Firework rockets launched from your hand propel you upward and forward, letting you stay airborne and climb higher.
- You can find End Ships by defeating the Ender Dragon and traveling outward from the main island in the End.
Finding and Equipping the Elytra
The Elytra spawns only in the End dimension, specifically inside End Ships. End Ships are small structures that float near the outer islands of the End. To reach them, you must first defeat the Ender Dragon on the main island. After the dragon dies, a portal opens that takes you to the End Poem and then back to the Overworld, but you can also use an Ender Pearl to climb back up and explore the outer islands.
Once you are on the outer islands, look for End Ships floating in the void. They are made of purpur blocks and have a central mast. Inside each ship, you will find an item frame holding the Elytra on one of the walls. Break the item frame or use shears to collect it without damaging the item. Equip the Elytra by opening your inventory and placing it in the chest armor slot, just like you would wear a chestplate.
The Elytra has durability and will break after extended use. You can repair it on an anvil using phantom membrane, which drops from phantoms that spawn when you do not sleep for several nights. Alternatively, you can combine two damaged Elytra on an anvil to create one with more durability.
How to Deploy and Control the Elytra
To start flying, you need to be at least two or three blocks above the ground. Jump off a cliff, a tall building, or a tower you have built. While falling, press the jump key a second time to deploy the Elytra. Your character will spread the wings and begin gliding. You are now in a controlled fall rather than true flight.
Control your direction by moving your mouse to look up or down. Looking upward slows your descent and lets you glide farther horizontally. Looking downward speeds up your fall and makes you descend faster. Use the forward, backward, and strafe keys to adjust your horizontal direction while gliding. The longer you glide without hitting anything, the more horizontal distance you cover.
You will eventually lose altitude and must land or use rockets to stay airborne. Landing is straightforward: touch the ground and your glide ends. If you are still high enough, you can jump again to redeploy the Elytra and continue gliding.
Using Firework Rockets to Boost and Climb
Firework rockets are the key to staying airborne longer and climbing higher with Elytra. Craft them by combining paper, gunpowder, and a dye in a crafting table. The simplest recipe is one paper, one gunpowder, and one dye arranged in a column. You can also add a firework star to the recipe for more complex effects, but the basic three-ingredient rocket works fine for flight.
While gliding, hold a firework rocket in your hand and use it (right-click on Java Edition, left trigger on Bedrock). The rocket launches and propels you forward and upward. You can use multiple rockets in quick succession to climb higher or travel faster. Each rocket gives you a burst of speed, and the timing of when you use them affects how high you climb.
The most efficient technique is to glide downward to build speed, then use a rocket to launch yourself upward. Once you reach the peak of that climb, glide again to regain speed, and use another rocket. This cycle lets you travel vast distances and reach high altitudes. Rockets are consumable, so craft plenty before long flights.
Building a Launch Platform for Practice
If you are new to Elytra flight, build a tall platform to practice from. A tower made of dirt or wood blocks works well. Make it at least 20 blocks tall so you have enough altitude to glide and test your controls. Jump from the top, deploy the Elytra, and practice angling your view to control your descent.
Once you are comfortable with basic gliding, add firework rockets to your hotbar and practice using them mid-flight. Start with one rocket at a time and learn how it affects your trajectory. As you improve, you can use rockets more aggressively to climb and travel faster. Building a practice platform in a safe area near your base lets you experiment without the risk of getting lost or falling into lava.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The most common mistake is jumping from a platform that is too low. You need at least two blocks of height to deploy the Elytra before hitting the ground. If you jump from a one-block-high surface, you will not have time to set up the wings. Always jump from at least a two-block-high platform, or better yet, a much taller one.
Another mistake is looking downward too much while gliding. This speeds up your descent and wastes altitude. Instead, look slightly upward to maintain altitude and glide farther. You should be descending slowly, not diving toward the ground.
Running out of rockets mid-flight is also common. Always carry more rockets than you think you will need. Craft stacks of them before you leave your base. If you do run out of rockets, glide downward to find a safe landing spot or a tall structure to climb and jump from again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fly in Survival Mode without finding the Elytra?
No. Elytra is the only way to fly in Survival Mode, and it is found only in the End dimension. Creative Mode has free flight, but Survival Mode requires you to obtain the Elytra first. There are no other items or commands in vanilla Survival Mode that let you fly.
What happens if my Elytra breaks while I am in the air?
Your Elytra will break when its durability reaches zero, and you will fall. You cannot deploy broken Elytra. Always repair it on an anvil using phantom membrane before it breaks completely, or carry a spare Elytra in your inventory if you have one.
Do I need to aim firework rockets at myself to use them?
No. straightforward hold the rocket in your hand and use it while gliding. The rocket will launch from your position and propel you forward. You do not need to aim it; it activates automatically when you use it.
Can I fly with Elytra in the Nether?
Yes, you can use Elytra in the Nether just like in the Overworld. However, the Nether is more dangerous because of lava, fire, and hostile mobs. Be careful when gliding near lava lakes or through tight spaces. Firework rockets work in the Nether too, but watch for fire blocks that might ignite them.
How do I get phantom membrane to repair Elytra?
Phantoms spawn when you do not sleep for three in-game days. They appear at night and attack you. Kill them and they drop phantom membrane. Collect the membrane and use it on an anvil with your damaged Elytra to repair it. You need one membrane per repair point.