new-allays

What is an Allay?

The Allay is a passive mob that picks up dropped items matching a sample you give it, then brings them back to you—or to a note block it has heard recently—making it useful for collection and simple sorting setups.

Where to find Allays

Allays are world-generated; you cannot craft a spawn egg in vanilla survival the way you would craft a block.

• Pillager outposts — Check the fenced cage beside the tower; an Allay may spawn trapped inside. Break the scaffolding to release it.
• Woodland mansions — Certain rooms include cell blocks; Allays can appear there. Bring good gear and light sources.

Exact chances depend on Java vs Bedrock and your game version, but those two structures are the standard places to “get” your first Allay.

How to befriend an Allay

1. Hold a stackable item and use it on the Allay (right-click / controller use). The mob now hunts for the same item type on the ground nearby.
2. Keep it safe while you walk home—use a lead if you need to cross water or cliffs.
3. Consider a name tag so it behaves like other named mobs and is less likely to disappear if you wander away.

Note blocks and item delivery

If an Allay hears a nearby note block being played, it can prioritize dropping collected items at that location for a short time (useful for item lines into hoppers). For precise redstone timing, test in a creative copy of your world first.

How to duplicate Allays (official mechanic)

Mojang added a survival-friendly way to grow your Allay population without hunting more structures:

1. Place a jukebox and insert any music disc so music plays.
2. Let the Allay get close enough to hear it; it will start dancing.
3. While it dances, give it an amethyst shard. The shard is consumed and a second Allay appears.

There is a cooldown before the same Allays can duplicate again (commonly around five minutes—confirm on the patch notes for your version). Official overview: Allay Duplication is Here (Minecraft.net).

Quick tips

• Allays cannot pull items out of chests; they only collect entities on the ground.
• They regenerate health slowly when hurt—still avoid lava, berry bushes, and mob ambushes.
• On servers, check the admin rules before duplicating large numbers of entities.

Game balance changes over time; if a farm stops working after an update, compare your version with the latest Allay article on the Minecraft Wiki.