Since zombies received some variants to go along with the classic zombie, skeletons received a similar treatment with the stray. Strays are skeleton variants that spawn in the icy biomes in Minecraft’s overworld. These strays wear withered gray clothing and have icy blue eyes. They are more dangerous than regular skeletons and come with tipped arrows of slowness to make closing the distance even harder.
Stray
| Health | Behavior | Attack Strength | Drops |
| 10 full hearts | Hostile | (With Bow) -Easy: 1-2.5 full hearts, Normal: 1-2.5 full hearts, Hard: 1.5-2.5 full hearts + 30 seconds of slowness; (Melee)-Easy: 1 full heart, Normal: 1 full heart, Hard: 1.5 full hearts | 0-2 Bones,0-2 Arrows,0-1 Arrow of Slowness |
The range in damage depends on the proximity you have to the stray. The closer you are the less damage it will do, the further you are the more damage it will do.
How do you spawn a Stray in Minecraft?
Strays will replace 80% of skeleton spawns in icy biomes. There are five different icy biomes that strays can spawn in: snowy tundra, snowy mountains, ice spikes, frozen river, and frozen ocean. In Bedrock edition, 1% of cave spiders and regular spider spawns can be a spider jockey with 80% of these spawning a stray riding on top instead of a normal skeleton. It is worth noting that strays will only take skeleton spawns that are exposed to the sky. Unless they are a stray spider jockey, you will not find strays underground.
Behavior of Strays in Minecraft?
Strays behave similarly to regular skeletons, except strays will shoot arrows of slowness that will cut the player’s movement speed if they get hit. This is probably to add some realism as strays will only spawn in cold environments. In Bedrock edition skeletons and strays will shoot faster if the player is closer in proximity to them. If the stray spawns without a bow, they will chase the player and attempt to melee them.
Like the other undead mobs, a stray that is burning from daylight will seek shelter underneath trees or roofs.
If the stray has a helmet on it will ignore daylight burning entirely. They sound similar to regular skeletons but strays also have an echoing exhale.
