Elytra in Minecraft Fast starts with one goal: reach an End City that has an End Ship. Instead of exploring the outer End randomly, use coordinates, a locate command, or an End City Finder to shorten the search and reach a ship much faster.
This guide explains the quickest survival route, command method, End City Finder strategy, required gear, Shulker risks, and what to do after finding Elytra so you can return safely and start flying sooner.
Where Do You Get Elytra in Minecraft?
Elytra is found inside an End Ship in the outer End islands.
Finding an End City alone is not enough because not every End City generates with an End Ship. You specifically need a city with a floating ship beside it.
Mojang confirms that Elytra can only be found on End Ships. After reaching the ship, head inside and collect the Elytra from its display area.
This means the basic route is:
Stronghold → End Portal → Ender Dragon → End Gateway → Outer End Islands → End City → End Ship → Elytra
If your goal is speed, the most important part is reducing the time spent searching for an End City with a ship.
Fastest Ways to Get Elytra in Minecraft
The best method depends on whether you allow commands or external seed tools.
| Method | Speed | Cheats Required | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| End City Finder | Very Fast | No in-game cheats | Seed-based searching |
/locate command | Very Fast | Yes | Cheats-enabled worlds |
| Manual End City search | Moderate | No | Traditional Survival |
| Elytra-based exploration | Very Fast | No | Finding additional Elytras |
For your first Elytra, using an End City Finder or /locate command can save the most time.
If you want a completely traditional Survival experience, you can still make the process faster by exploring the outer islands systematically instead of moving randomly.
How to Get Elytra in Survival Mode
Step 1: Find a Stronghold
Your first objective is reaching the End.
Use Eyes of Ender to locate a stronghold and find its End Portal room.
Fill any missing portal-frame slots with Eyes of Ender and enter the activated portal.
Before entering, make sure you are prepared for both the Ender Dragon fight and the exploration that comes afterward.
Step 2: Defeat the Ender Dragon
Defeat the Ender Dragon on the central End island.
After the dragon is defeated, an End Gateway becomes available around the outer edge of the main island.
This gateway provides the practical route to the outer End islands, where End Cities generate.
Do not immediately leave through the central exit portal if your primary goal is getting Elytra. Prepare for the next part of the journey first.
Step 3: Prepare for End City Exploration
The quickest route is useless if you die before reaching the End Ship.
Useful supplies include:
- Strong armor
- Sword or axe
- Bow and arrows
- Pickaxe
- Ender Pearls
- Building blocks
- Food
- Water bucket
- Ender Chest
- Feather Falling boots
- Potions
- Extra inventory space
An Ender Chest is especially useful because you can secure valuable items before continuing your journey.
Feather Falling boots can also help because Shulkers may cause you to levitate and then fall from significant heights.
Step 4: Enter the End Gateway
Look around the edge of the main End island for a small bedrock structure containing an End Gateway.
One common way to enter it is to throw an Ender Pearl through the gateway.
You will then be transported to the outer End islands.
This is where your search for an End City begins.
Step 5: Record the Gateway Coordinates
Before walking away, save the coordinates of the gateway.
This is easy to forget, but it can save considerable time later.
You can:
- take a screenshot;
- write down the coordinates;
- save them in a note;
- place a visible marker nearby.
Once you begin crossing multiple islands, finding the original gateway again can become difficult.
Use an End City Finder to Get Elytra Faster
If your goal is specifically speed, an End City Finder can remove much of the random exploration.
Instead of wandering across outer islands hoping to see purple towers, you can use your Minecraft seed to identify possible End City locations and travel directly toward useful coordinates.
For your website, your main tool should be linked naturally as:
A typical process is:
- Get your Minecraft world seed.
- Open the End City Finder.
- Enter the seed.
- Choose the correct edition or version if required.
- View End City locations.
- Select a nearby city.
- Record its coordinates.
- Enter the End.
- Travel toward those coordinates.
- Check whether the city has an End Ship.
This approach is especially useful because your actual target is not simply an End City—it is an End City containing an End Ship.
Why an End City Finder Saves Time
Manual exploration can involve:
- crossing large void gaps;
- searching empty islands;
- revisiting explored terrain;
- finding cities without ships;
- traveling thousands of blocks without a clear destination.
An End City Finder gives you a defined destination.
That does not automatically teleport you to the Elytra. You still need to reach and explore the structure, but the search becomes much more focused.
How to Find an End City With Commands
If cheats are enabled, use the locate command.
For current Bedrock documentation, the End City structure identifier is:
minecraft:end_city
The command is:
/locate structure minecraft:end_city
Microsoft documents /locate structure as the command used to find the nearest specified structure in the current dimension and lists minecraft:end_city among the supported structure values. Cheats or the required permissions must be enabled.
Run the command while you are in the End.
The game will return coordinates for a nearby End City.
You can then travel toward those coordinates instead of searching the islands randomly.
Can You Teleport Directly to the End City?
If commands are enabled, you can also use /tp after finding the coordinates.
However, the End contains large void gaps.
Avoid choosing an unsafe Y coordinate or teleporting blindly into an unknown location.
Using the returned X and Z coordinates as a travel target can be safer.
How to Find an End City Without Cheats
If you do not want commands, you have two main choices:
Use an End City Finder
This gives you coordinates based on your seed without enabling Minecraft commands.
Whether an external seed tool counts as cheating depends on your personal rules or multiplayer server rules.
Search Manually
For a traditional Survival experience:
- Enter the outer End islands.
- Save your gateway coordinates.
- Pick one direction.
- Explore large islands.
- Scan the horizon.
- Look for purple structures.
- Continue until you find an End City.
- Check whether it has an End Ship.
The key is to avoid random movement.
How to Search the Outer End Faster
Pick One Direction
Choose a general direction and stick with it.
For example, continue increasing your X coordinate instead of repeatedly changing course.
This reduces the chance of returning to terrain you already explored.
Prioritize Larger Islands
Do not waste too much time inspecting every tiny End island.
Larger islands give you more land to explore and better opportunities to spot distant End Cities.
Scan From High Ground
Before building another bridge, climb to a higher position and inspect nearby islands.
End Cities are tall and purple, making them easier to identify from a distance.
Increase Render Distance When Possible
A higher render distance can help you notice End Cities sooner.
Only increase it as far as your computer or device can comfortably handle.
Poor performance can make End exploration more dangerous.
Carry More Blocks Than You Expect to Need
Outer End islands are separated by void.
Several stacks of blocks can prevent your expedition from ending early.
Use Ender Pearls Carefully
Ender Pearls can speed up short crossings, but poor throws can be deadly.
Use them only when you can clearly see a safe landing area.
How to Know if an End City Has an End Ship
Once you find an End City, look around its upper sections.
An End Ship appears as a floating purple vessel near the city.
It is normally separated from the main structure, so simply entering the first tower does not guarantee you will immediately see the Elytra.
Look for:
- a floating ship shape;
- purpur construction;
- a mast-like structure;
- a dragon head at the front;
- a connection or nearby bridge from the city.
If there is no ship, the city will not provide the Elytra you are searching for.
Continue exploring for another End City.
Does Every End City Have Elytra?
No.
This is one of the most important things to understand when trying to get Elytra quickly.
Elytra is tied to End Ships, not simply End Cities.
Mojang’s official End City information states that the Elytra is found on the ship associated with an End City.
Therefore:
End City without End Ship = No Elytra
End City with End Ship = Elytra available
If your first city does not have a ship, keep searching.
How to Reach the End Ship Safely
Finding the ship is only part of the process.
You still need to get aboard.
Build a Bridge
If the distance is manageable, bridging is one of the safest methods.
Crouch near edges and build carefully.
Never rush while bridging over the void.
Use an Ender Pearl
If you have a clear landing point, an Ender Pearl can save time.
Aim for a large safe area rather than a narrow edge.
Use Levitation Carefully
Shulker attacks cause levitation.
Experienced players may sometimes use levitation to gain height, but relying on it is risky because the effect can end unexpectedly and cause fall damage.
For most players, bridging or using Ender Pearls is safer.
How to Collect Elytra From the End Ship
Once you reach the ship, deal with nearby Shulkers carefully.
Head into the interior of the ship.
The Elytra is displayed inside and can be collected directly.
Mojang’s 2025 End City guide specifically identifies End Ships as the place where Elytra is found.
After collecting it, do not become careless.
Your expedition is only successful once you return safely with the item.
How to Survive Shulkers While Getting Elytra
Shulkers are one of the biggest hazards in an End City.
Their projectiles can cause Levitation, lifting you into the air.
When the effect ends, you may fall and take severe damage.
Useful protection includes:
- Feather Falling boots
- Shield
- Strong armor
- Food
- Water bucket
- Ender Pearls
- Keeping a roof above you when possible
Mojang specifically warns that falling after Shulker-induced levitation is a major danger during End City exploration.
Do not fight multiple Shulkers in an exposed area unless necessary.
What Else Can You Find on an End Ship?
Elytra may be your primary goal, but the End Ship has additional rewards.
One notable item is the dragon head located at the front of the ship.
You may also encounter useful loot while exploring the End City and ship.
If you are carrying an Ender Chest, store valuable items before continuing farther into the End.
What to Do Immediately After Getting Elytra
Put It Somewhere Safe
If you do not need to use it immediately, consider storing it in your Ender Chest.
Falling into the void after obtaining Elytra can turn a successful expedition into a major loss.
Equip It Carefully
Elytra uses the chest armor slot.
That means equipping it removes your chestplate protection.
Keep this tradeoff in mind when fighting Shulkers or other enemies.
Learn Basic Flight Before Taking Risks
Elytra flight takes practice.
Avoid immediately launching over the void if you have never used one before.
Practice in a safer environment first.
How to Use Elytra
Equip Elytra in your chest slot.
Jump from a height and activate gliding while falling.
Your character will begin gliding instead of dropping normally.
Direction and speed depend on where you look while flying.
Once you become comfortable with basic gliding, Elytra can transform exploration by allowing you to travel across terrain much faster.
How to Fly Faster With Elytra
Firework rockets are commonly used to provide additional thrust while gliding.
This makes Elytra dramatically more useful for long-distance travel.
Once you have an Elytra and rockets, returning to the outer End to locate additional End Cities becomes much easier because you can fly between islands instead of bridging every gap.
Best Strategy for Getting Multiple Elytras
After obtaining your first Elytra, the process becomes much faster.
A good strategy is:
- Equip the Elytra.
- Bring firework rockets.
- Return to the outer End.
- Use an End City Finder or coordinates.
- Fly between large islands.
- Locate additional End Cities.
- Check each city for an End Ship.
- Collect additional Elytras.
This can be useful in multiplayer worlds where several players need Elytra.
Common Mistakes That Slow Down Getting Elytra
Assuming Every End City Has a Ship
This is one of the biggest mistakes.
Always verify whether an End Ship exists before spending too much time looting the city if Elytra is your only goal.
Wandering Without Coordinates
Random movement can make your expedition much longer.
Use coordinates or an End City Finder to stay organized.
Forgetting Your Gateway Location
Record your End Gateway coordinates before exploring.
Bringing Too Few Blocks
Running out of blocks can leave you stranded or force you to abandon a promising route.
Ignoring Shulkers
Shulkers can quickly turn a safe climb into a deadly fall.
Deal with them carefully.
Carrying Valuable Loot Without an Ender Chest
An Ender Chest gives you an additional way to secure valuable items during a long trip.
Rushing After Finding Elytra
Do not assume the danger is over.
Getting back safely matters just as much as collecting the item.
End City Finder vs Locate Command for Getting Elytra
| Feature | End City Finder | Locate Command |
| Requires cheats | No | Yes |
| Requires world seed | Usually | No |
| Gives useful coordinates | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for Survival | Yes | Only if cheats are acceptable |
| Helps reduce random searching | Yes | Yes |
| Automatically confirms End Ship | Depends on tool | No |
The /locate command finds an End City, not specifically an Elytra.
You still need to inspect the city and determine whether an End Ship generated there.
An End City Finder can therefore be particularly useful when planning a wider search across multiple potential city locations.
How Long Does It Take to Get Elytra?
There is no fixed amount of time.
Your total search depends on:
- how quickly you defeat the Ender Dragon;
- where your End Gateway sends you;
- how far the nearest End City is;
- whether that city has an End Ship;
- whether you use commands or a seed tool;
- how quickly you can travel between islands.
A player using coordinates can potentially find Elytra much faster than someone exploring completely at random.
FAQs
What Is the Fastest Way to Get Elytra in Minecraft?
The fastest method is usually finding an End City with coordinates through an End City Finder or the /locate structure minecraft:end_city command. You then need to reach a city that has an End Ship.
Where Exactly Is Elytra Found?
Elytra is found inside an End Ship associated with an End City. Mojang confirms that End Ships are the location where Elytra can be obtained.
Does Every End City Have Elytra?
No. Only End Cities that generate with an End Ship provide access to Elytra.
Can You Get Elytra Without Killing the Ender Dragon?
The outer End islands exist independently of defeating the dragon, but defeating it provides the convenient End Gateway route used by most Survival players. Attempting to reach the outer islands without that route is far less practical.
What Command Helps Find Elytra?
There is no normal locate command specifically for Elytra. Instead, locate an End City with:
/locate structure minecraft:end_city
Microsoft currently lists minecraft:end_city as a valid structure for /locate.
Can an End City Finder Help Find Elytra?
Yes. An End City Finder can help identify End City coordinates, reducing random exploration. You still need to check whether the selected city contains an End Ship.
Can You Craft Elytra?
In standard Survival gameplay, Elytra is obtained through End Ship exploration rather than normal crafting.
How Many Elytras Can You Find?
Additional End Ships can provide additional Elytras, so you can continue exploring new End Cities to obtain more.
Why Did I Find an End City but No Elytra?
Your End City probably generated without an End Ship. Continue exploring and locate another city.
What Should I Bring When Looking for Elytra?
Bring strong armor, weapons, food, Ender Pearls, blocks, an Ender Chest, Feather Falling boots, a water bucket, and enough inventory space for loot.
Conclusion
How to Get Elytra in Minecraft Fast comes down to reaching the outer End efficiently and avoiding random searches. Defeat the Ender Dragon, use an End Gateway, then locate End Cities with organized exploration, commands, or an End City Finder.
Remember that the real target is an End Ship, because not every End City contains one. Once you secure your first Elytra and learn to use firework-assisted flight, exploring the End and finding additional cities becomes much faster.