The beginning of the summer months is always exciting for Minecraft players because that’s when a new update usually awaits us! 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 cheerful Ghast, finally craft an item that’s been available in the game for 15 years, and enjoy many visual adjustments that now make Minecraft look a little different.
Cheerful Ghast as a New Flying Experience
The biggest novelty is, of course, the cheerful Ghast, which can be used as a new means of transport. It is the first mob that allows you to rise high into the skies, giving you a whole new perspective on your world. We will look at the exact mechanics in detail in a following article, but the cheerful Ghast is a wonderful way to cover large distances, build in high places, or even transport animals, boats, or minecarts with chests! All you need is 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 from A to B together. The player who mounts the Ghast first also controls it. All others sit on the other three 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. Great for the first few hours in the game! Leads can now be attached to two animals, and the range is longer, with improved physics. You can detach the lead with scissors instead of a right-click. And as mentioned, you can also use leads to transport animals and boats through the air with the cheerful Ghast.
For long-time players, this innovation will be surprising, but yes, we can now finally craft a saddle! You’ll need three leather and one iron. This feature has been long-awaited, and it’s finally officially available in Minecraft. Previously, saddles could only be found in structures, which was cumbersome. Consequently, 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 finally have their own recipe after over 15 years! And like leads, you can now remove saddles with scissors, making them twice as good!
There has also been a small change for taming horses, donkeys, and mules, as they can now be tamed with carrots as well as apples. It’s 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 version’s theme, there’s a new record directly associated with the Ghast. To obtain it, you must kill it with its own fireball, similar to the “Return to Sender” achievement. The white record “Tears” (created by Amos Roddy) plays an ominous melody mixed with Ghast sounds and hip-hop.
Additionally, five more background songs have been added, also composed by Amos Roddy. These play in some of the new biomes from recent updates. You can now also adjust the frequency of the music in the options and no longer have to wait forever for the lovely tunes to start. You can also enable a feature to display the current song directly to search for it 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 likely notice is the new menu panorama, which now showcases the new update and the cheerful Ghasts.
In the game, you might first notice the clouds, as they have received a new pattern. This change updates a feature that’s over 15 years old and will be new, especially for older players. The cloud pattern is now more realistic and might hold a few Easter eggs.
Both versions have received a graphical improvement:
Fog (Java): There has always been some fog in Minecraft to obscure the transition between rendered and yet-to-be-rendered chunks. The fog has now been adjusted and better integrated, reminiscent of the fog from the beta days. It also gets foggier during precipitation, which is a great adjustment!
Vibrant Visuals (Bedrock): With 1.21.6, Bedrock has received what is arguably the better graphical update, as you can now activate built-in shaders directly in the game! These “Vibrant Visuals” enhance graphics for most Bedrock versions, but not yet for the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Java is also 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 in the XP bar at the bottom which direction other players are in. This feature is super practical for servers to avoid losing sight of each other. You can hide with crouching or a pumpkin on your head!
Lastly, there’s a change to the effectiveness of splash potions. The duration of the effect now depends on the distance from the center of the throw. The further you stand in the cloud, the longer the effect lasts.
Conclusion
With “Chase the Skies,” Minecraft has received a surprising number of new features that, while not fundamentally changing the gameplay, bring noticeable adjustments. Multiplayer players, in particular, benefit from the improvements, including the Ghast for four players or the new tracking bar. Rent your own Minecraft server with us and try out some of these cool new features! And simply being able to craft a saddle makes the update worthwhile, still a surprise for long-time players that it’s now possible.
