Discover the Sky’s True Colors with Improved Elytras+
Soaring through Minecraft’s endless skies on a pair of elytra is already one of the game’s most exhilarating experiences. But after hundreds of flights, the default gray wings can start to feel a little… plain. That’s where Improved Elytras+ comes in — a clever resource pack that lets you completely transform your elytra’s look without installing any complex mods. Whether you want a ghostly phantom-inspired design or a vibrant set of wings matching your favorite wool color, this pack delivers a fresh burst of personality to your airborne adventures.
What Exactly Is Improved Elytras+?
At its core, Improved Elytras+ is a resource pack that introduces Phantom Elytras into Minecraft. The magic happens through a simple renaming trick: you just take your ordinary elytra to an anvil, rename it to a specific keyword, and the texture instantly changes. No commands, no external editors — just pure vanilla-friendly customization. The pack ships with a total of 18 unique textures, giving you plenty of options to stand out on your server or in your single-player world.
A Closer Look at the Textures
The collection breaks down into three categories:
- Vanilla-styled Phantom Elytra — A single, more subdued design that blends the classic elytra shape with a phantom’s eerie blue membrane. Rename your elytra to “Phantom Elytra” to unlock this look.
- 16 Colored Variants — One for every wool dye in the game. Simply rename your elytra to the British English color name followed by “Phantom Elytra”. For example, “Light Blue Phantom Elytra”, “Red Phantom Elytra”, or “Lime Phantom Elytra” will all work. The naming convention is forgiving, but sticking to the en-UK spelling ensures the pack recognizes your choice.
- A Secret Color — There’s a hidden texture that the creator teases as a well-known Minecraft easter egg. Experiment a little and you’ll quickly stumble upon it; the community loves dropping hints about this one.
What You’ll Need Before Takeoff
There’s one non-negotiable requirement: OptiFine. The pack relies on OptiFine’s custom item textures feature to swap elytra appearances based on their name. Without OptiFine installed, the renaming won’t trigger any visual change, and you’ll be left with the default wings. Make sure you’re running a compatible version of OptiFine for your Minecraft release — most modern versions work seamlessly. Once OptiFine is in place, loading the resource pack is as simple as dropping it into your resourcepacks folder and activating it in the menu.
For players who enjoy a more streamlined setup, the entire process becomes even smoother when using a modern launcher. The foxygame.net launcher, for instance, lets you browse, download, and apply resource packs like Improved Elytras+ directly from its built-in menu, saving you the hassle of manual file management. It’s a flexible tool that keeps all your mods and packs neatly organized, so you spend less time tweaking and more time flying.
How to Rename Your Elytra and Activate the Textures
The process is incredibly straightforward. Follow these steps and you’ll be sporting custom wings in under a minute:
- Craft or obtain an elytra through normal gameplay.
- Place an anvil and interact with it.
- Put your elytra in the first slot.
- In the rename field, type the exact keyword for the texture you want — for example, “Phantom Elytra” for the vanilla-style phantom look, or “Purple Phantom Elytra” for a purple variant.
- Pull the renamed item out and equip it in your chestplate slot.
The visual change is immediate. You’ll see the new texture on your character model, in your inventory, and even while gliding. If you ever want to revert to the default elytra, just rename it back to “Elytra” or any other non-keyword name.
Why the Secret Color Matters
Easter eggs have always been a beloved part of Minecraft culture, and Improved Elytras+ leans into that tradition. The secret texture isn’t locked behind a complicated puzzle — it’s tied to a naming convention that long-time players will recognize instantly. Think about the game’s most famous hidden name tags, the ones that flip textures or add special effects. That’s your clue. Finding it feels like a small reward for your curiosity, and it often becomes a conversation starter on multiplayer servers.
Making the Pack Your Own
One of the best aspects of Improved Elytras+ is how well it plays with other customization options. Since it’s just a resource pack, you can stack it on top of your favorite texture packs — the elytra textures will override whatever those packs provide, giving you a consistent phantom-themed look. You can also mix and match colors among your friends, creating a squadron of fliers each with their own distinct hue. The pack’s lightweight nature means it won’t impact performance, so even players on lower-end machines can enjoy the visual upgrade.
Conclusion
Improved Elytras+ proves that sometimes the smallest tweaks bring the biggest smiles. With 18 textures, an intuitive renaming system, and a nod to Minecraft’s playful secrets, it turns a functional item into a canvas for self-expression. Whether you’re gliding over ancient cities, racing through Nether tunnels, or simply admiring the sunset from a mountain peak, doing it with custom phantom wings makes the journey feel uniquely yours. Grab the pack, fire up OptiFine, and give your elytra the glow-up they deserve.