What's the difference between a skeleton and a stray in Minecraft?

 

image via Minecaft

Most Minecraft players are familiar with Skeleton, but those who are hesitant to fly through the Overworld's frozen biomes are unaware of the Stray. In these biomes, the Stray is a Skeleton variant that spawns.

Although Skeletons and Strays are much the same, there are some variations that players should be aware of in order to avoid being caught off guard.

What is the difference between Skeleton and Stray in Minecraft?

Similarities

image via Minecraft

Skeletons and Strays have a lot in common, as you can see in the picture above.

Both of these mobs are armed with bows and like to torment the player from afar. Both mobs drop 0-2 Bones and 0-2 Arrows, making them a productive farming mob.

Both have a chance to spawn with extra equipment, which may or may not drop when they die.

Differences

image via Minecraft

Players should be mindful of the distinctions between Strays and Skeletons in order to be prepared when confronted with one.

Strays fire arrows at the same speed and consistency as Skeleton, but these arrows are tipped with ice, causing the Slowness debuff to last for 30 seconds.

As Skeletons fire arrows while submerged, Strays transform into a melee mob and attempt to pursue the player. The melee attacks of the Stray often apply a 30-second Slowness debuff.

The clanking of Skeleton's bones is a tone that most players are familiar with. Strays make a similar noise, but it has a cold, ringing effect to it.

Strays are unaffected by the freezing effects of Powder Snow, unlike Skeletons that turn into Strays when encased in it.