How to Get an Elytra in Minecraft — Step by Step

The Elytra is one of Minecraft's most iconic items — a pair of wings that lets you glide across the Overworld, the Nether, and the End. It is not craftable, and it cannot be bought or traded for. There is exactly one reliable way to obtain it, and it takes you to the far edge of the game's progression: the End dimension.

If you have ever asked how to get an Elytra and been told "just go to the End," this step-by-step guide breaks that vague advice into a real checklist. We will cover the gear you need, how to find a stronghold, how to activate the End portal, how to defeat the Ender Dragon, and how to locate the End City ship where the Elytra reportedly waits inside an item frame.

Because Minecraft is a sandbox game by Mojang Studios with no codes or redemption system, everything here is earned through gameplay. There are no shortcuts — but there are efficient routes.

What the Elytra Actually Is

The Elytra is a wearable item that occupies the chestplate slot. When equipped, it allows the player to glide through the air rather than fall. It is a core part of late-game mobility, and it is closely tied to the End dimension's endgame content.

A few important truths before you start:

• The Elytra is not craftable. There is no recipe for it in the crafting recipes system.
• It is found in the End dimension, specifically in End City structures.
• It reportedly spawns inside an item frame aboard the End Ship, a rare floating structure that generates alongside some End Cities.
• Because it occupies the chest slot, you cannot wear a chestplate and an Elytra at the same time.

That last point matters for your survival odds. Once you equip the Elytra, your chest armor is gone, so plan your trip accordingly.

Step 1: Prepare Your Gear

You cannot rush the End. The journey involves a stronghold, a portal, a boss fight, and a long void-crossing flight. Before you leave, stock up.

Recommended preparation:

• Diamond or netherite armor for the head, legs, and boots — since the chest slot will eventually hold the Elytra.
• A strong sword and bow, ideally enchanted. Our best sword enchantments guide covers the ideal setup.
• Blocks — a full stack or more. You will need them for bridging and for reaching the End City.
• Food, plenty of it, plus golden apples if you have them.
• Ender pearls for emergency repositioning.
• A bed or respawn anchor is not usable in the End, so set your spawn safely in the Overworld first.

If you are still gearing up, start with our beginner guide and work forward through the progression guide.

Step 2: Find a Stronghold

The End portal is not something you build. It generates naturally inside a stronghold, a sprawling underground structure found in the Overworld.

To locate one:

1. Craft Eyes of Ender by combining an Ender Pearl with Blaze Powder.
2. Throw an Eye of Ender into the air and follow the direction it drifts.
3. Repeat until the eye dives downward — that indicates the stronghold is beneath you.
4. Dig down carefully and explore until you find the portal room.

Strongholds contain a portal room with a ring of frame blocks. Some frames already contain Eyes of Ender; others are empty. You will need to fill every empty frame with an Eye of Ender to activate the portal.

Bring more Eyes of Ender than you think you need. Breaking or losing them mid-search is a common frustration.

Step 3: Activate the End Portal

Once you are standing in the portal room, place an Eye of Ender into each empty frame block around the ring. When the final eye is placed, the interior of the ring fills with the portal's starry surface.

Jump in. You will be transported to the End — specifically to the central island where the Ender Dragon circles.

Note that the End is a hostile, void-surrounded dimension. Falling off the edge means losing your items unless you have already set things up to recover them. Move deliberately.

Step 4: Defeat the Ender Dragon

The Ender Dragon is the boss guarding the central End island. You cannot reach the outer islands — where End Cities and the Elytra are found — until the dragon is defeated, because the exit gateway only opens afterward.

The fight involves:

• Destroying the End Crystals atop the obsidian pillars, which heal the dragon.
• Attacking the dragon when it perches on the central portal.
• Avoiding its breath attack and its knockback charges.

For a full breakdown of the encounter, see our dedicated Ender Dragon guide. It is the single most important fight in the game, and it gates your access to the Elytra.

Step 5: Reach the Outer End Islands

After the dragon dies, a portal appears at the center of the island. Jumping into it does not send you home — it launches you to the outer End islands, the region where End Cities generate.

From here, the real search begins. The outer islands are vast, separated by void gaps, and End Cities are scattered across them. You will need to travel — often a long way — to find one.

Two practical approaches:

• Bridge across the void with blocks, moving from island to island.
• Use Ender pearls to throw yourself across gaps, though this is riskier.

Either way, bring far more blocks than you think you need. The outer islands can stretch for thousands of blocks.

Step 6: Find an End City and the End Ship

End Cities are tall, purple-toned structures built from purpur blocks. They generate on the outer islands and contain valuable loot, including enchanted gear.

The Elytra, however, is not in the city itself. It is reportedly found aboard the End Ship — a separate, boat-shaped structure that floats near some End Cities. Not every End City has one, so you may need to search multiple cities.

Inside the End Ship, look for an item frame mounted on the wall. The Elytra hangs there. Break the frame or take the item directly to claim it.

Our End City guide walks through the structure's layout, loot, and how to navigate its towers safely.

Step 7: Equip and Learn to Fly

Once you have the Elytra, equip it in your chest slot. To glide, jump from a height and press the jump key again while airborne. You will begin to fall slowly and steer with your movement keys.

Key tips for new flyers:

• You cannot take off from flat ground without help. You need height, a jump boost, or a firework rocket.
• Firework rockets propel you forward while gliding. Use them to sustain flight.
• Avoid flying into walls at speed — collision damage is real.
• Keep spare rockets in your inventory at all times.

The Elytra transforms how you explore. Suddenly the Nether becomes a highway, and long Overworld journeys shrink to minutes.

FAQ

Can you craft an Elytra in Minecraft? No. The Elytra has no crafting recipe. It must be found in the End dimension, reportedly inside an item frame aboard an End Ship.

Do you have to beat the Ender Dragon to get an Elytra? Yes. The exit portal that leads to the outer End islands only opens after the Ender Dragon is defeated, so the boss fight is a required step.

Where exactly is the Elytra found? It is reportedly located aboard the End Ship, a floating structure that generates near some End Cities on the outer End islands. Not every End City has one.

Can you wear armor with the Elytra? The Elytra occupies the chestplate slot, so you cannot wear a chestplate at the same time. You can still wear a helmet, leggings, and boots.

Is there another way to get an Elytra? In standard survival gameplay, no. It is tied to End City loot. Any other method would fall outside normal progression.

Pro Tips

• Bring extra Eyes of Ender. Losing one mid-search means a long trip back to gather more materials.
• Set your spawn before entering the End. If you die in the void, you want a safe respawn point.
• Carry a stack of blocks for bridging. The outer islands are separated by void, and running out of blocks is dangerous.
• Search multiple End Cities. End Ships are not guaranteed, so plan for a long expedition.
• Stock firework rockets before you fly. An Elytra without rockets is a slow descent, not true flight.
• Enchant your gear first. A well-enchanted sword and bow make the dragon fight far less punishing — see our enchanting guide for the essentials.
• Consider a shulker box. End Cities contain shulker boxes, which give you portable storage for the trip home.

Getting an Elytra is one of Minecraft's true milestone moments. It marks the transition from surviving to truly exploring. Follow these steps in order, prepare properly, and the wings will be yours.