The Minecraft 1.21.6 Official Release, titled “Chase the Skies”, introduces one of the most imaginative updates in recent Minecraft history, with a major focus on sky-based movement, multiplayer coordination, and creative automation. This version brings a whole new rideable mob line, starting from the Dried Ghast to the majestic Happy Ghast, which allows up to five players to fly together through the skies. Alongside this, the update adds major usability improvements, including the long-requested saddle crafting recipe, the Player Locator Bar, built-in visual shaders, and enhanced vibration mechanics for sculk systems.
Designed to expand both adventure gameplay and technical creativity, Minecraft 1.21.6 opens the door to new sky travel systems, Redstone automation with the Crafter block, immersive multiplayer experiences, and visual upgrades all while preserving the game’s familiar feel.
Features:
Ghast Evolution System
- Dried Ghast
- Crafted using 8 Ghast Tears + 1 Soul Sand
- Place in water to trigger a timed 3-stage transformation process (~20 minutes)
- Ghastling
- The intermediary phase between Dried Ghast and Happy Ghast
- Emerges mid-transformation and eventually evolves further
- Happy Ghast
- A rideable flying mob that can carry up to 5 players at once
- Wearable saddle with aviator goggles for visual flair
- Supports controlled flight across the Overworld
- Fixed major bugs involving block collision and dismount desync (MC-298633, MC-297275)
Player Locator Bar
- A new interface element replacing the XP bar when active
- Displays nearby player positions in multiplayer and Realms
- Players can hide their location by crouching, becoming invisible, or wearing a mob head
- Resolves post-respawn position bug (MC-298658)
Saddle Crafting (New Recipe)
- Craft a saddle using:
- 3 Leather
- 2 Glass Blocks
- 1 Wool Block
- Previously only obtainable through loot or trade
- Adds convenience and lore-inspired accessibility to mob riding
Vibrant Visuals (Built-in Shaders)
- Adds built-in shader-like effects to Java Edition
- Includes:
- Dynamic lighting
- Enhanced shadows
- Reflections in water surfaces
- Inspired by popular shader mods, optimized especially for Bedrock Edition visuals parity
Crafter Block
- Enables automated item crafting using Redstone
- Essential for Redstone engineers and technical players
- Complements automation alongside the vibration frequency system
Vibration Frequency Additions
- New vibration outputs added for use with sculk sensors:
- Dried Ghast Block change = Frequency 11
- Shearing saddle/armor/carpets = Frequency 6
- Unequip actions = Frequency 4
- Improves sensor logic and compatibility for technical builds
Audio & Interface Improvements
- Dried Ghast ambient sound now adjustable under the Blocks volume slider
- Player Head model updated for better performance (MC-296458)
- Realms UI redesigned, enhancing server visibility and usability
- Added Quick Actions Dialog for smoother in-game menus
Screenshots:
Requires:
How to install:
- To install the Official Release, open up the Minecraft Launcher and enable snapshots in the “Launch Options” tab.
- Official Release can corrupt your world, please backup and/or run them in a different folder from your main worlds.
Why use Minecraft 1.21.6 – Chase the Skies?
Minecraft 1.21.6 marks a creative turning point, inviting players to think vertically—not just horizontally. The Happy Ghast introduces a whole new way to travel and interact with others in the world, while automation tools, Locator Bar, and shader effects make this update more immersive, functional, and visually appealing.
- Adds the first-ever evolution-based flying mount with multiplayer support
- Introduces the Player Locator Bar, solving multiplayer coordination
- Fulfills a long-requested saddle recipe, making mob taming easier
- Integrates Redstone automation via the Crafter Block
- Offers a built-in shader experience without needing mods
- Fixes major bugs across movement, rendering, and multiplayer syncing
Whether you’re exploring, building, automating, or just playing with friends, this update adds something for every kind of Minecraft player.
FAQs
How do I obtain a Happy Ghast?
You must craft a Dried Ghast using 1 Soul Sand and 8 Ghast Tears, place it in water, and wait through three transformation stages. The final result is a Happy Ghast.
Can multiple players ride the Happy Ghast?
Yes, up to five players can ride a single Happy Ghast, making it ideal for multiplayer travel.
Is the saddle finally craftable?
Yes! Minecraft 1.21.6 adds a new saddle recipe using 3 leather, 2 glass blocks, and 1 wool block.
What does the Player Locator Bar do?
It replaces the XP bar and shows the location of nearby players on servers or Realms. You can hide from it using sneaking, invisibility, or mob heads.
Are the new visuals performance-heavy?
The Vibrant Visuals shaders are optimized for performance and do not require external shader packs. They enhance reflections, lighting, and shadows natively.
Download links
- Java Client:download Download file
- Java Server:download Download file
