GUIDE · END CITIES · END SHIPS
How to Get Elytra
To get Elytra in Minecraft, defeat the Ender Dragon, go through an End gateway to the outer islands, and find an End city with an End ship. The Elytra hangs in an item frame on the ship. Here’s the full path, step by step.
Free guide for Java and Bedrock, written for Minecraft 1.21 and newer.
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About This Guide
Elytra are wings that let you glide across the world, and with firework rockets you can fly. They’re the best travel item in the game, and there’s only one way to get them: from End ships in the outer End. Each ship has exactly one Elytra, so most players visit a few cities.
What You Need
- Defeat the Ender Dragon first
- Ender Pearls (at least 5)
- Blocks for bridging
- Slow Falling potions or a stack of food
- Good armor, a bow, and a pickaxe
Step 1: Defeat the Ender Dragon
Get to the End through a stronghold portal, destroy the end crystals, and kill the dragon. If you haven’t been to the End yet, read our guide on how to get to the End.
Step 2: Find an End Gateway
After the dragon dies, a small End gateway portal appears near the edge of the main island. Each time you kill the dragon again, another gateway opens.
Step 3: Throw an Ender Pearl Into the Gateway
The gateway is too small to walk into, so throw an Ender Pearl at it. You’ll teleport to the outer islands, about 1,000 blocks away.
Step 4: Find an End City With a Ship
Paste your seed into the End city finder to get the closest cities. Look for one with an End ship floating next to it. Not every city has a ship.
Step 5: Grab the Elytra
The Elytra is in an item frame inside the ship, guarded by a shulker. Break the frame to take the Elytra, and grab the dragon head from the ship’s front too.
Flying With Elytra
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| Jump, then press jump again in the air | Opens the Elytra |
| Use firework rockets | Boosts your speed |
| Look down slightly | Glide farther |
| Add Unbreaking and Mending | Elytra have 432 durability |
| Repair with phantom membranes | Use an anvil |
Shulker Safety
Shulkers shoot projectiles that make you float with Levitation. When it wears off, you fall. Fight away from edges and keep Slow Falling potions ready.
Related Minecraft Tools
Free tools that help with this guide:
- Minecraft Seed Map: the full map with every biome and structure
- End City Finder: End cities and Elytra by seed
- Stronghold Finder: Find the End portal by seed
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get Elytra without killing the dragon?
Practically no. The gateways to the outer islands only open after the dragon dies.
How many Elytra are in the End?
One per End ship, and there are many ships across the outer islands.
Do Elytra break?
They stop working at 1 durability but don’t disappear. Repair them with phantom membranes or Mending.
Can I find Elytra on Bedrock?
Yes. The steps are the same on Bedrock.
Final Thoughts
Elytra are the reward for beating the Ender Dragon. Open a gateway, pearl through, head for the nearest End city with a ship, and take off.
