Ghasts have long been an established hostile mob in Minecraft, found in the Nether. They stand out due to their unique form and farm, and have certainly claimed the lives of many 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 very useful! Today, we’re taking a closer look at the Ghast and exploring 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, specifically added with Alpha 1.2 and the Halloween Update at the time – along with the entire Nether. It is a flying mob and looks a bit 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 because they can fly, you’ll encounter them almost everywhere in the Nether. Its name likely derives from the English word “ghastly,” an old-fashioned term for “terrible” or “gruesome.”
And the Ghast can be quite nasty, as you never know where it might be hiding. Often it sees you before you see it, and then it shoots its fireballs at you. These not only damage you but also set all the blocks around you on fire. They can also destroy your builds if they are made of poor materials, and they can extinguish a Nether portal, so always carry a flint and steel. 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 required for crafting an End Crystal and is needed for the new Happy Ghast – more on that shortly!
A cool feature that earns you a new achievement and an item is shooting a fireball back directly at the Ghast. This kills it instantly and gives you the “Return to Sender” achievement and, with the 1.21.6 update, a new music disc called “Tears”. You can also bring a regular Ghast to the Overworld, which is another achievement. The description even suggests that the Overworld is the actual 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?
With the 1.21.6 update, a new variant of the Ghast was added, which 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 own 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-out Ghast. This is a small and shriveled version of the Ghast that couldn’t survive in the Nether. It was probably just too hot!
You can find such a dried-out 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-out 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 revitalized, and its face and color will become much friendlier. Once it has refreshed, the dried-out Ghast transforms into a little “Ghastlein” – probably the cutest mob in all of Minecraft! The baby Ghast also needs another 20 minutes to grow. You can speed up the process with snowballs.
Using the Happy Ghast: Construction Projects and Travel
The Happy Ghast is an extremely useful mob and offers many opportunities to explore the verticality of your Minecraft world. Of course, you can primarily use it for flying. To do this, craft a harness from leather, glass, and colored wool. There are all 16 different Minecraft colors, which allows you to distinguish multiple Ghasts. The harness is like a giant saddle and gives the Happy Ghast a stylish pair of glasses! You can ride the Ghast with up to three other players. Although it is not particularly fast, this travel method is unique.
If you dismount in mid-air, you can also use a Happy Ghast as a kind of platform. It will remain stationary in the air and only move again when you mount it once more and control it. This is especially useful for construction projects and a great addition to scaffolding made from bamboo, for example.
The last cool feature of the Happy Ghast is that you can transport various entities with it. It is particularly handy for long distances and much more pleasant than traveling overland. You can transport chest boats or animals that fit in boats. But you can also attach 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 confronting the fiendish spirits and trying to shoot back their fireballs. The new Happy Ghast, on the other hand, is much friendlier and can serve as a means of transportation and construction platform. Rent your own Minecraft server with us and ride the Happy Ghast with four people to explore your world! It’s a lot of fun and a wonderful way to travel with multiple players simultaneously.
