Stray

This article is about the snowy skeleton variant. For other skeletons, see Skeleton (disambiguation). For the untamed cat, see Stray cat.
Stray

Stray.png: Infobox image for Stray the entity in Minecraft

Stray Aiming.png: Infobox image for Stray the entity in Minecraft

Invicon Stray Spawn Egg.png: Inventory sprite for Stray Spawn Egg in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Stray Spawn Egg
Health points

20HP♥ × 10

Armor points

0 (🛡) - 20 (🛡 × 10)
(depending on the armor type)

Behavior

Hostile

Mob type

Undead, Monster

Attack
strength

Ranged:
Bow:
In Java Edition:
Easy: 2HP♥ - 4HP♥♥
Normal: 3HP♥♥ - 5HP♥♥♥
Hard: 4HP♥♥ - 8HP♥♥♥♥
In Bedrock Edition:
Easy and Normal: 1HP♥ - 4HP♥♥,
depending on proximity
Hard: 1HP♥ - 5HP♥♥♥,
depending on proximity
Arrow of Slowness :
Slowness for 30 seconds
Melee:
Easy: 2HP♥
Normal: 2HP♥
Hard: 3HP♥♥
Slowness for 9 seconds ‌

Hitbox size

In Java Edition:
Height: 1.99 Blocks
Width: 0.6 Blocks
In Bedrock Edition:
Height: 1.9 Blocks
Width: 0.6 Blocks

Spawn
Natural
equipment
  • Bow (right hand: 89%; left hand: 11%‌; may be enchanted)
  • Armor (occasionally, may be enchanted)
  • Carved Pumpkin (22.5% chance, only during Halloween) ‌
  • Jack o'Lantern (2.5% chance, only during Halloween) ‌

A stray is a skeleton variant that spawns in a few snow-covered biomes. They behave very similarly to skeletons, except they fire tipped arrows of Slowness from their bows.

Spawning

A stray may spawn directly under the sky at Y coordinates 60-66 in snowy plains, or ice spikes, replacing 80% of skeletons. Additionally, a stray may spawn in frozen rivers, frozen oceans, deep frozen oceans, legacy frozen oceans, snowy slopes, jagged peaks and frozen peaks in Bedrock Edition. Strays do not spawn naturally from monster spawners in Java Edition.

When a skeleton is kept inside powder snow for 7 seconds (140 game ticks), it begins shaking. After another 15 seconds (300 game ticks), it becomes a stray. A converted stray appears with full health even if the original skeleton did not have full health. Items being held or worn by a skeleton when it becomes a stray remain unchanged. Unlike regular skeletons, bogged do not turn into strays, but take freezing damage instead.

Trial spawners

Strays have a 13 chance to be selected as the "ranged" mob for trial spawners in trial chambers.

Drops

On death

Java Edition:

ItemQuantity / Chance / Average
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Bone0–266.67%1.000–383.33%1.500–491.67%2.000–594.44%2.50
Arrow0–266.67%1.000–383.33%1.500–491.67%2.000–594.44%2.50
Arrow of Slowness[A]0–150.00%0.500–175.00%0.750–187.50%0.880–191.67%0.92

ItemQuantity / Chance / Average
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Bone0–22310–356320–4111220–5171852
Arrow0–22310–356320–4111220–5171852
Arrow of Slowness[A]0–112120–134340–178780–111121112

ItemAmountProbability
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Bone013 (33.33%)16 (16.67%)112 (8.33%)118 (5.56%)
113 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)14 (25.00%)16 (16.67%)
213 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)518 (27.78%)
3016 (16.67%)14 (25.00%)518 (27.78%)
400112 (8.33%)16 (16.67%)
5000118 (5.56%)
Average1 (1.00)32 (1.50)2 (2.00)52 (2.50)
Arrow013 (33.33%)16 (16.67%)112 (8.33%)118 (5.56%)
113 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)14 (25.00%)16 (16.67%)
213 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)518 (27.78%)
3016 (16.67%)14 (25.00%)518 (27.78%)
400112 (8.33%)16 (16.67%)
5000118 (5.56%)
Average1 (1.00)32 (1.50)2 (2.00)52 (2.50)
Arrow of Slowness[A]012 (50.00%)14 (25.00%)18 (12.50%)112 (8.33%)
112 (50.00%)34 (75.00%)78 (87.50%)1112 (91.67%)
Average12 (0.50)34 (0.75)78 (0.88)1112 (0.92)

Killed1
ItemExpected Drop
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Bone1.001.502.002.50
Arrow1.001.502.002.50
Arrow of Slowness[A]0.500.750.880.92

  1. Only when killed by a player or a tamed wolf.

Bedrock Edition:

ItemQuantity / Chance / Average
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Bone0–266.67%1.000–366.67%1.330–466.67%1.670–566.67%2.00
Arrow0–266.67%1.000–366.67%1.330–466.67%1.670–566.67%2.00
Arrow of Slowness[A]0–150.00%0.500–250.00%0.750–350.00%1.000–450.00%1.25

ItemQuantity / Chance / Average
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Bone0–22310–323430–423530–5232
Arrow0–22310–323430–423530–5232
Arrow of Slowness[A]0–112120–212340–31210–41254

ItemAmountProbability
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Bone013 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)
113 (33.33%)16 (16.67%)112 (8.33%)118 (5.56%)
213 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)14 (25.00%)16 (16.67%)
3016 (16.67%)14 (25.00%)29 (22.22%)
400112 (8.33%)16 (16.67%)
5000118 (5.56%)
Average1 (1.00)43 (1.33)53 (1.67)2 (2.00)
Arrow013 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)
113 (33.33%)16 (16.67%)112 (8.33%)118 (5.56%)
213 (33.33%)13 (33.33%)14 (25.00%)16 (16.67%)
3016 (16.67%)14 (25.00%)29 (22.22%)
400112 (8.33%)16 (16.67%)
5000118 (5.56%)
Average1 (1.00)43 (1.33)53 (1.67)2 (2.00)
Arrow of Slowness[A]012 (50.00%)12 (50.00%)12 (50.00%)12 (50.00%)
112 (50.00%)14 (25.00%)18 (12.50%)112 (8.33%)
2014 (25.00%)14 (25.00%)16 (16.67%)
30018 (12.50%)16 (16.67%)
4000112 (8.33%)
Average12 (0.50)34 (0.75)1 (1.00)54 (1.25)

Killed1
ItemExpected Drop
DefaultLooting ILooting IILooting III
Bone1.001.331.672.00
Arrow1.001.331.672.00
Arrow of Slowness[A]0.500.751.001.25

  1. Only when killed by a player.
  • Any picked-up equipment has a 100% chance of dropping and drops with the same damage level it had when picked up.
  • Any naturally spawned equipment, including the bow, has an 8.5% chance of dropping (9.5% with Looting I, 10.5% with Looting II and 11.5% with Looting III). It is damaged and may be enchanted.
  • 5XP experience orbs when killed by a player or tamed wolf and an extra 1–3XP if the stray has armor.

Behavior

Strays behave the same as normal skeletons but make noises with an echoing effect and shoot tipped arrows that inflict Slowness for 30 seconds on any target that they hit. In Bedrock Edition, strays that are underwater use a melee attack that inflicts Slowness. Strays do not take damage from freezing in powder snow, but they are not immune to Slowness. A stray holding a tipped arrow or spectral arrow in its off-hand always shoots that type of arrow instead, and the arrow held is not consumed.

Being an undead mob, they are:

Sounds

Java Edition:
Strays use the Hostile Creatures sound category for entity-dependent sound events.

Sounds
SoundSubtitlesSourceDescriptionResource locationTranslation keyVolumePitchAttenuation
distance
​Stray rattlesHostile MobsRandomlyentity.stray.ambientsubtitles.entity.stray.ambient1.00.8-1.216
​Stray hurtsHostile MobsWhen a stray is damagedentity.stray.hurtsubtitles.entity.stray.hurt1.00.8-1.216
​Stray diesHostile MobsWhen a stray diesentity.stray.deathsubtitles.entity.stray.death1.00.8-1.216
​FootstepsHostile MobsWhile a stray is walkingentity.stray.stepsubtitles.block.generic.footsteps0.151.016
​Skeleton shoots [sound 1]Hostile MobsWhen a stray shoots an arrowentity.skeleton.shoot[sound 1]subtitles.entity.skeleton.shoot​​[sound 1]1.056-1.2516
​Skeleton converts to StrayHostile MobsWhen a skeleton converts to a strayentity.skeleton.converted_to_straysubtitles.entity.skeleton.converted_to_stray2.00.8-1.216
  1. a b c The stray reuses the skeleton's sound events instead of having its own, resulting in these unintuitive subtitles - see MC-98316

Bedrock Edition:

Sounds
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
Hostile Creatures‌
Hostile Mobs​
Randomlymob.stray.ambient1.00.8-1.2
Hostile Creatures‌
Hostile Mobs​
When a stray is damagedmob.stray.hurt1.00.8-1.2
Hostile Creatures‌
Hostile Mobs​
When a stray diesmob.stray.death1.00.8-1.2
Hostile Creatures‌
Hostile Mobs​
While a stray is walkingmob.stray.step1.01.0
PlayersWhen a stray shoots an arrow[sound 1]random.bow1.00.83-1.25
Friendly Creatures‌
Friendly Mobs​
When a skeletonconverts to a straymob.skeleton.convert_to_stray1.01.0

Data values

ID

Java Edition:

NameIdentifierEntity tagsTranslation key
EntitySprite stray.png: Sprite image for stray in Minecraft Straystraycan_breathe_under_water
freeze_immune_entity_types
ignores_poison_and_regen
inverted_healing_and_harm
no_anger_from_wind_charge
skeletons
undead
wither_friends
entity.minecraft.stray

Bedrock Edition:

NameIdentifierNumeric ID Translation key
EntitySprite stray.png: Sprite image for stray in Minecraft Straystray46entity.stray.name

Entity data

Strays have entity data associated with them that contains various properties.

Java Edition:

Main article: Entity format
  • [NBT Compound / JSON Object] Entity data
    • Tags common to all entities see Template:Nbt inherit/entity/template
    • Tags common to all mobs see Template:Nbt inherit/mob/template

Bedrock Edition:

See Bedrock Edition level format/Entity format.

Achievements

IconAchievementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)Gamerscore earnedTrophy type (PS)
PS4Other
It SpreadsKill a mob next to a catalyst10Bronze
Monster HunterAttack and destroy a monster.Kill a hostile mob or one of the following neutral mobs: an enderman, a piglin, a zombified piglin, a spider, or a cave spider.15Bronze
OverkillDeal nine hearts of damage in a single hit.Damage can be dealt to any mob, even those that do not have nine hearts of health overall.30Bronze
Over-OverkillDeal 50 hearts of damage in a single hit using the MaceDamage can be dealt to any mob, even those that do not have 50 hearts of health overall.20Silver
Sniper DuelKill a Skeleton with an arrow from more than 50 meters.Use a launched arrow to kill a skeleton, wither skeleton, or from 50 or more blocks away, horizontally.30Bronze

Advancements

IconAdvancementIn-game descriptionActual requirements (if different)
A Throwaway JokeThrow a Trident at something.
Note: Throwing away your only weapon is not a good idea.
Hit a mob with a thrown trident.
AdventureAdventure, exploration and combatKill any mob, or be killed by any living entity.
ArbalisticKill five unique mobs with one crossbow shotArmor Stand also counts for this advancement.
This is a hidden advancement, meaning that it can be viewed by the player only after completing it, regardless of if its child advancement(s), if any, have been completed.
It SpreadsKill a mob near a Sculk Catalyst Mobs that drop no experience as well as the ender dragon are ignored for this advancement.
Monster HunterKill any hostile monster Other mobs may be killed, but are ignored for this advancement.
Monsters HuntedKill one of every hostile monster Other mobs may be killed, but are ignored for this advancement.
Not Today, Thank YouDeflect a projectile with a ShieldBlock any projectile with a shield.
Over-OverkillDeal 50 hearts of damage in a single hit using the MaceDamage can be dealt to any mob, even those that do not have 50 hearts of health overall.
Take AimShoot something with an ArrowUsing a bow or a crossbow, shoot a mob with an arrow, tipped arrow, or spectral arrow.

History

Java Edition
1.10April 11, 2016Jens Bergensten tweets an image of a new skeleton-type mob.
16w20a Added strays. When explaining the origin of the stray, Jeb stated, "They’re based on a concept that emerged from a game jam the Bellevue team had, where they were just adding a bunch of stuff to Minecraft - whatever they wanted. Jason Major made a bunch of cool mobs and I thought these particular ones fitted [sic] really well with what we were already planning."[1]
Added spawn eggs for strays, which strays can be spawned from.
pre2The spawn egg for strays has been removed.
New sounds have now been added for strays, which allow them to have their own sounds. Previously, they had the same sounds as a regular skeleton.
1.1116w32aThe spawn egg for strays has been re-added.
The in-game name of strays is now "Stray" instead of "entity.Skeleton.name".
Creepers no longer drop music discs when killed by strays.[2]
Strays can no longer spawn from normal skeleton spawn eggs used in snowy biomes.
1.1318w19aStrays now sink underwater.
Strays no longer drown underwater.
1.1418w43a The texture of strays has been changed.
Creepers now drop music discs when killed by strays again.
19w09aStrays holding tipped arrows or spectral arrows in their off-hand now shoot that type of arrow.[3]
1.1519w37aMobs that spawn wearing carved pumpkins or jack o'lanterns on Halloween no longer drop them.
1.1721w05aSkeletons now convert to strays when in powder snow.
21w13aStrays are now immune to freezing.
Skeletons now only take 20 seconds to convert to strays when in powder snow, instead of 45.
1.20.3
Experiment
Update 1.21
23w45aStrays now spawn in trial chambers behind the "Update 1.21" experimental data pack.
1.20.5
Experiment
Update 1.21
24w04aNo longer retaliates against attacks from the breeze.
1.21.224w33aNow naturaly spawn with armor in the order of (most likely to least likely): helmet, chestplate, leggings, boots.[4]
1.21.424w45aPrefer to pick bows from the ground as opposed to other items.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.15.0build 1 Added strays.
v0.16.0build 5New sounds have now been added for strays, which allow them to have their own sounds. Previously, they had the same sounds as the regular skeleton.
Pocket Edition
1.0.0alpha 0.17.0.2 The clothing of strays now has their own overlay and no longer glitch through their bones.
alpha 1.0.0.1Strays can now drop tipped arrows of Slowness when killed by players.
Bedrock Edition
1.5.0beta 1.5.0.0Strays now sink underwater.
Strays now use melee attacks that inflict Slowness and no longer use ranged attacks while underwater.
1.9.0beta 1.9.0.5 Strays now have a correct overlay model.
1.10.0beta 1.10.0.3 The texture of strays has now changed.
1.16.0beta 1.16.0.51Strays can now pick up items.
Strays now use melee attacks when not holding a bow. Prior to this, strays used any items as ranged weapons to shoot arrows of Slowness normally.
1.17.0beta 1.16.230.54Strays are now immune to freezing.
beta 1.17.0.54Skeletons now convert to strays when in powder snow.
releaseStrays don’t drop wither skeleton skulls anymore if killed by a charged creeper.[5]
1.20.60
Experiment
Update 1.21
Preview 1.20.60.20Strays now spawn in trial chambers behind the "Update 1.21" experimental toggle.
1.20.70
Experiment
Update 1.21
Preview 1.20.70.21Strays no longer retaliate against attacks from breezes.
1.21.90Preview 1.21.90.26Strays now spawn as riders in spider jockeys again. They did not since Pocket Edition 1.1.0 due to an identifier change.
Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360Xbox OnePS3PS4PS VitaWii USwitch
TU46CU361.381.381.38Patch 151.0.1 Added strays.
TU54CU441.521.521.52Patch 241.0.4Strays now have their own sounds. Previously, they had the same sounds as a regular skeleton.
Added stray spawn eggs, which strays can be spawned from.
Strays can no longer spawn from normal skeleton spawn eggs used in snowy biomes.
TU69 1.761.761.76Patch 38 Strays now sink underwater.
1.90 Creepers now drop music discs when killed by strays.
New Nintendo 3DS Edition
0.1.0 Added strays.

Data history

Java Edition
1.1116w32aThe entity ID Skeleton has been changed to skeleton, wither_skeleton and stray for those respective mob.
The SkeletonType tag has been removed.
1.1317w47aNumeric IDs for entities were presumably deprecated in this version.​
1.20.323w40aStrays are now part of the #can_breathe_under_water and #undead tags.
Pocket Edition
1.1.0alpha 1.1.0.0The entity ID has now changed from skeleton.stray to stray.

Issues

Issues relating to "Stray" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

Trivia

  • Strays and other skeleton variants do not know how to use a crossbow, despite the same using method as a bow.
  • According to the Minecraft website, the slowness arrows represent frozen arrows that freeze on impact.[1]
  • The stray's fourth ambient sound is the skeleton's second ambient sound but partly edited.

Gallery

Renders

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Screenshots

Developer images

Textures

In other media

See also

References

External links

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