Ghasts have long been a hostile mob in Minecraft that you can encounter in the Nether. They stand out due to their unique form and have likely killed more than a few players. However, with the latest update 1.21.6 “Chase the Skies,” a new variant of the flying monster has been added. Unlike their counterparts, they are lovable and even quite useful! Today, we’ll take a closer look at the Ghast and see how both sides of the species can be utilized in the game.
Understanding the Ghast: Origin and Characteristics
The Ghast has been in the game for a long time, having been introduced with Alpha 1.2 and the Halloween Update along with the entire Nether. It is a flying mob and looks somewhat like an oversized, white jellyfish or a flying marshmallow with small tentacles. A monster that is definitely unique! They can spawn in only three of the five Nether biomes, but since they can fly, you will essentially encounter them everywhere in the Nether. Its name likely comes from the English word “ghastly,” an old-fashioned word for “horrible” or “dreadful.”
And the Ghast can be quite mean, as you never know where it is hiding. Often, it sees you faster than you can see it, and then it shoots fireballs at you. These not only harm you but also set all blocks around you on fire. Additionally, they can destroy your structures if they are made of poor materials. They can also extinguish a Nether portal, so you should always have a flint and steel with you. Your best weapon against a Ghast is a bow and a good shot.
Surprises from the Nether: Ghast Loot and Easter Eggs
Ghasts drop gunpowder and ghast tears. The tears are necessary for some recipes, including brewing regeneration potions. A ghast tear is also needed for crafting an end crystal and is also required for the new Happy Ghast – more on that shortly!
A cool feature that gives you both a new achievement and an item is shooting a fireball back at the Ghast. This kills it instantly and awards you the “Return to Sender” achievement and, with the 1.21.6 update, a new record called “Tears”. You can also bring a normal Ghast to the Overworld, which is another achievement. The description even says that the Overworld is the true home of the Ghasts … the new Happy Ghasts might explain this lore further.
A small but very amusing detail is the sounds of the Ghasts. The composer C418, responsible for much of the early music, explained in a Reddit interview that the sounds come from his sleeping cat. Definitely one of the strangest fun facts for Minecraft!
What Makes the Happy Ghast So Special?
The 1.21.6 update introduced a new variant of the Ghast that is much less aggressive and might also explain some aspects of the lore. This Happy Ghast is not directly at home in the Nether but feels much more comfortable in the Overworld! At the same time, it is a new mob that you can indirectly tame and use for your purposes. Ghasts have long been one of the most popular monsters in the game, and now you can have your own Ghast as a “pet”!
Steps to Tame Your Own Happy Ghast
To obtain your own Happy Ghast, you must first find a dried Ghast. This is a small and shriveled version of the Ghast that couldn’t survive in the Nether. Presumably, it was simply too hot!
You can find such a dried Ghast in three ways:
In the Soul Sand Valley next to a Nether fossil
Through bartering with Piglins for gold (2.13% chance)
As a crafting recipe with eight ghast tears and one soul sand
You just need to refresh this dried Ghast with water. Place the Ghast in the Overworld and leave it in a water source for 20 minutes. Gradually, the little Ghast will be rejuvenated, and its face and color will become much friendlier. Once refreshed, the dried Ghast transforms into a small Ghastling – probably the cutest mob in all of Minecraft! The baby Ghast also needs another 20 minutes to grow. Snowballs can speed up the process.
Utilizing the Happy Ghast: Building Projects and Travel
The Happy Ghast is an extremely useful mob and gives you many opportunities to explore the heights of your Minecraft world. Naturally, you can primarily use it for flying. Craft a harness from leather, glass, and colored wool for this purpose. There are 16 different Minecraft colors available, allowing you to distinguish multiple Ghasts. The harness is like a giant saddle and gives the Happy Ghast stylish goggles! Up to three additional players can ride the Ghast. While it is not particularly fast, this travel option is unique.
If you dismount in mid-air, you can also use a Happy Ghast as a sort of platform. It remains stationary in the air and only moves again when you sit on it and steer. This is especially useful for building projects and a great addition to, for example, bamboo scaffolding.
The last cool feature of the Happy Ghast is that you can use it to transport various entities. It is especially convenient for long distances and much more pleasant than traveling over land. You can transport chest boats or animals that fit into boats. But you can also tether larger animals like camels, sniffers, or horses to the Ghast and transport them over long distances. To attach the leashed object to the Happy Ghast, sneak and click with the lead on the underside of the Ghast.
Conclusion: Continue Your Adventures in the Nether
Anyone traveling in the Nether will likely not escape Ghasts. We recommend facing the nasty spirits and trying to deflect their fireball back at them. The new Happy Ghast, on the other hand, is much friendlier and can serve as a means of transportation and a building platform. Rent your own Minecraft server with us and ride with four players on the Happy Ghast to explore your world! It’s a lot of fun and a wonderful way to travel with multiple players simultaneously.
