Metal Wings
by AshyBoxy
Metal Wings lets a chestplate be combined with an elytra, so the wearer keeps gliding while wearing armor, and the combined item can be split again at a grindstone.
What it does
Armored elytra are made by putting a chestplate and an elytra together, and the separate putting grindstone takes them apart again. Armor stands can hold the combined item too. The mod works on a server alone, and clients see both the elytra and the chestplate rendered on the wearer. Stored armored elytra follow the Vanilla Tweaks storage format by default, and this can be changed through custom data.
Fabric API is required, so it has to be installed alongside Metal Wings on the Fabric loader. Quilt is also supported. Either side can run the mod, and neither needs it. Files cover 1.20.5, 1.20.6, 1.21, 1.21.1 and 1.21.4, and the latest build is 1.1.0+1.21.4 for 1.21.4, published on 2025-03-02. The code is released under the MIT License and is open source.
Key features
Armored elytra crafting
A chestplate and an elytra combine into one item that can be worn in the chest slot while gliding.
Separate at the grindstone
A grindstone splits an armored elytra back into its chestplate and elytra parts.
Armor stand support
Armored elytra can be placed on armor stands, which the mod supports as a display option.
Vanilla Tweaks storage format
Stored items use the Vanilla Tweaks format by default, and a custom data format can be set instead.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Use cases
Server-side play
A server can run the mod alone while vanilla clients join and still see the rendered armor.
Who it’s for: Server owners who want armored elytra on a vanilla-compatible server, and players who use Vanilla Tweaks datapacks and want to store the combined item in the same format.
How it compares
Armored Elytra - Smithing Table is a Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt mod for 1.21.6 – 26.3, server required and client optional, under the MIT License, and it is not open source. Armored Elytra is a Fabric mod for 1.21 – 26.3 under the MIT License, and it is open source. Armored Elytras is open source under the CC0 1.0 Universal license, runs on client and server together, and covers 1.21.2 – 1.21.5.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Wings | Fabric and Quilt | 1.20.5 – 1.21.4 | Client or server, optional | 2025-03-02 |
| Armored Elytra - Smithing Table | Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt | 1.21.6 – 26.3 | Server required, client optional | 2025-11-19 |
| Armored Elytra | Fabric | 1.21 – 26.3 | Server required, client optional | 2026-09-19 |
| Armored Elytras | Fabric | 1.21.2 – 1.21.5 | Client and server | 2025-04-15 |
Questions
Does Metal Wings need Fabric API?
Can a server run Metal Wings without clients installing it?
How is an armored elytra split again?
What should be checked after an update?
In the catalog
Metal Wings is one of 17,631 Equipment mods on ModsFinder, and one of 8,894 Equipment mods for Fabric. 17,979 mods support Minecraft 1.21.4.
More from AshyBoxy
Similar mods
What the author says
Like Vanilla Tweaks' Armored Elytra, available for 1.20.6, 1.21(.1), and 1.21.4 You can then separate them by putting them in a grindstone.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/metalwings
- Owner
- AshyBoxy
- Published
- 2024-06-13
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-03-02
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15