The beginning of the summer months is always exciting for Minecraft players, as it usually means a new update is on the horizon! After several months of snapshots, the latest version 1.21.6 has finally been released, known as the “Chase the Skies” update. Soar to new heights with the new happy Ghast, craft an item that’s been available in the game for 15 years, and enjoy many visual adjustments that give Minecraft a slightly different look.
Happy Ghast as a New Flying Experience
The biggest novelty is, of course, the happy Ghast, which can be used as a new means of transportation. It is the first mob that allows you to soar high into the skies, giving you a whole new perspective on your world. We will delve into the exact mechanics in a following article, but the happy Ghast is a wonderful way to cover large distances, build on high places, or even transport animals, boats, or minecarts with chests! You only need a harness, and you’re good to go.
One of the best things about the flying Ghast is that you can use it with up to three other players. For multiplayer, it’s an extremely practical solution if you want to travel together from point A to point B. The player who mounts the Ghast first controls it, while the others sit on the three other sides and can enjoy the view.
Adjustments in Animal Taming and Transport
There have also been some exciting updates for interacting with animals, making it easier to transport and handle them. For one, the recipe and usage for leads have been adjusted. You no longer need a slimeball to craft them, which is great for the early hours of the game! Leads can now be attached to two animals, have a longer range, and the physics have been improved. You can detach the lead with scissors instead of a right-click. And as mentioned, you can also transport animals and boats through the air with a happy Ghast using leads.
For veteran players, this change might be surprising, but yes, we can now FINALLY craft a saddle! You need three leather and an iron to do so. This feature has been long-awaited, and now it’s finally officially available in Minecraft. Previously, saddles could only be found in structures, which was cumbersome. As a result, they have been removed from all loot tables and replaced with leather. It’s a shame you can’t find saddles in dungeons anymore, but it’s cool that they now have their own recipe after over 15 years! Like leads, you can now remove saddles with scissors, making them even better!
There has also been a small change to taming horses, donkeys, and mules, as they can now be tamed with carrots as well as apples. This is something that should have been in the game from the start.
New Music and Audio Settings
The update doesn’t lack new music either. In line with the theme of the version, there is now a new music disc, directly related to the Ghast. To obtain it, you must kill it with its own fireball, similar to the “Return to Sender” achievement. The white music disc “Tears” (created by Amos Roddy) plays an ominous melody mixed with Ghast sounds and hip-hop.
Additionally, five more background tracks have been added, also composed by Amos Roddy. These play in some of the new biomes from recent updates. You can also adjust the frequency of the music in the options, so you don’t have to wait forever for the lovely tunes to start. You can also enable the option to display the current song, making it easier to find online.
Graphical Improvements and Visual Updates
Minecraft’s graphics are also being refined to get the best out of the game and incorporate small improvements. The first thing you’ll probably notice is the new menu panorama, which now features the new update and the happy Ghasts.
In the game, the clouds might catch your eye first, as they have received a new pattern. This is a change that updates a feature over 15 years old and might feel new for older players. The cloud pattern is now more realistic and might hold a few Easter eggs.
Both versions have received graphical improvements:
Fog (Java): There has always been some fog in Minecraft to mask the transition between rendered and unrendered chunks. Now, the fog has been adjusted and better integrated, reminiscent of the fog from the beta days. It also gets foggier during precipitation, which is a great addition!
Vibrant Visuals (Bedrock): With 1.21.6, Bedrock has received arguably the better graphical updates as you can now activate directly implemented shaders! These “Vibrant Visuals” enhance the graphics for most Bedrock versions, though not yet for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Java is expected to receive this update eventually, but you can always install unofficial shader packs (Installing and Using the Best Minecraft Shaders) .
Further Improvements and Changes
Finally, let’s look at some smaller adjustments that don’t fit anywhere else. This includes the new tracking bar, which shows you the direction of other players in the XP bar at the bottom. This feature is super handy for servers to avoid losing sight of each other. You can hide by sneaking or wearing a pumpkin on your head!
Lastly, there is a change to the effect of splash potions. The duration of the effect now depends on the distance from the centre of the throw. The further you are in the cloud, the longer the effect lasts.
Conclusion
With “Chase the Skies,” Minecraft has received surprisingly many new features that, while not fundamentally changing the gameplay, do bring noticeable adjustments. Multiplayer players, in particular, benefit from the improvements, including the Ghast for four players or the new tracking bar. So rent your own Minecraft server with us and try out some of these cool new features! And crafting a saddle alone makes the update absolutely worthwhile; it’s still a surprise to long-time players that this is now possible.
