To host a Pixelmon Reforged server on Minecraft 1.16.5, use Minecraft Java Edition, a 64-bit Java runtime compatible with your package, Forge 1.16.5-36.2.34, and Pixelmon Mod 9.1.13. Install Forge as a server, add the matching Pixelmon server files, accept the EULA, then launch the server with enough memory. Everyone joining must use the identical Minecraft, Forge, Pixelmon and sidemod versions.
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The basic procedure creates a local-area-network (LAN) server. Friends outside your home network need firewall and router configuration, while a managed host is usually more practical for a persistent public world.
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“Pixelmon Forever Reforged” is commonly used as a community description, but the release you should pin for this guide is Pixelmon Mod 9.1.13 for Minecraft 1.16.5. The release documentation recommends Forge 1.16.5-36.2.34, and that Forge minimum is required on the client.
| Component | Version or requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft | Java Edition 1.16.5 | Forge mods such as Pixelmon do not run on Bedrock, console or other editions. |
| Pixelmon | Mod 9.1.13 | This is the 1.16.5 Forge release used by this setup. |
| Forge | 1.16.5-36.2.34 | The recommended Forge build; clients need at least this Forge version for Pixelmon 9.1.13. |
| Java | 64-bit runtime compatible with the selected package | The 1.16.5 installation guidance permits Java through version 11, while an older 1.16.5 server path specifies Java 8. Confirm the requirement for the exact Forge and Pixelmon files you download. |
| Server memory | At least 4 GB allocated | More may be necessary as player count, world size and additional mods or plugins increase. |
| Client memory | At least 2 GB available or assignable | Pixelmon’s client installation guidance treats client memory separately from server allocation. |
Buy or sign in to a paid Minecraft Java Edition account before downloading Forge. A Bedrock or console license cannot be used for this Forge-based server.
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- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
Decide where the server will run
Self-hosting on your computer
Running the server on your own Windows, macOS or Linux computer costs no hosting subscription and gives you direct access to the files, console and Java runtime. The trade-offs are that the computer must remain on while people play, your home upload connection and hardware limit capacity, and you must handle updates, backups, firewall rules and recovery yourself.
The standard installation guide is specifically a local-hosting procedure. By default, it is intended for players on the same local network rather than an openly reachable internet server.
Using managed hosting
A paid host keeps the process on an always-on machine and is generally the better choice for a larger or public community. Before purchasing, check that the plan lets you upload a Forge server or modpack, select a compatible Java runtime, access the server console, and create automatic backups. Also compare sustained RAM and CPU, player-count headroom, public networking, DDoS protection and the ease of changing the Java version.
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- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
| Decision factor | Home computer | Managed server |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | No hosting subscription, but you provide the computer and internet connection. | Recurring fee in exchange for an always-on machine and provider infrastructure. |
| Setup control | Full control of Forge files, Java, startup scripts and the operating system. | Control depends on the host panel; verify Forge/modpack upload and console access. |
| Availability | Unavailable whenever the host computer or home connection is offline. | Designed for continuous operation, subject to the provider’s service. |
| Networking | Requires router port forwarding and firewall changes for outside players. | Usually supplies a public endpoint; confirm the networking and protection included in the plan. |
| Maintenance | You perform backups, updates, Java changes and troubleshooting. | The panel may automate backups and runtime selection, but policies vary. |
Prepare the computer
- Install the 64-bit Java runtime required by your chosen Forge and Pixelmon package. Open a terminal or Command Prompt and run
java -version. Record the major version; if the server package follows the older 1.16.5 path, Java 8 may be required, while other installation guidance allows Java up to 11. - Create a dedicated folder with a simple path, such as
PixelmonServerin your home directory. Avoid storing the server inside the Minecraft client folder; separating the two makes backups and troubleshooting safer. - Download the Forge 1.16.5-36.2.34 installer and the Pixelmon 9.1.13 server mod or matching server pack from the official Pixelmon distribution or its listed CurseForge release. Do not mix files from another Minecraft version.
Install Forge as a dedicated server
- Open the Forge installer with Java. On systems where double-clicking does nothing, right-click the installer and choose the Java runtime, or launch it from a terminal with the installed Java executable.
- Choose Install server in the installer.
- Select the dedicated
PixelmonServerfolder you created. Let the installer download the libraries and generate the Forge server files there. - When installation finishes, confirm that the folder contains the Forge server launcher and its libraries. The exact launcher filename is important because your startup command must use that filename.
If the installer appears not to open, the problem is often file association rather than Forge itself. Start it explicitly with Java and check that the Java runtime is 64-bit and compatible with the package.
Add Pixelmon and its required files
- Place the Pixelmon 9.1.13 server JAR, or the contents of the matching server pack, in the server’s
modsfolder. If the installer did not createmods, create that folder beside the Forge launcher. - Copy only sidemods that are intended for Minecraft 1.16.5 and Pixelmon 9.1.13. Read each sidemod’s requirements and incompatibility notes before adding it; a sidemod built for another Pixelmon or Forge version can prevent startup or joining.
- Keep a written list of every JAR and its version. Use that list when installing the client so that the two sides remain identical.
Do not add Pixelmon only to your client and assume the server will download it. The server needs its own copy, and every client needs the same mod set.
Start once, accept the EULA and start again
- Open a terminal or Command Prompt in the server folder and launch the Forge JAR. A first launch creates configuration files and normally stops so you can review the EULA.
- Open
eula.txt, read the Minecraft EULA, and changeeula=falsetoeula=trueonly if you agree to it. - Save the file and run the same launch command again. Wait for the console to report that the server has finished starting before attempting to connect.
Never rename the Forge launcher casually. If you do rename it, update the command to the new exact filename; otherwise Java will report that it cannot find the JAR.
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- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that is unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world full of surprises.
- SURVIVAL ADVENTURES — Face mysterious foes, travel across varied landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play solo or join friends in local split-screen and cross-platform play across console, mobile, and PC. Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
- COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.
Create a reliable startup command
The official server procedure uses Java’s -Xms and -Xmx options with the Forge launcher and nogui. The following examples use the recommended Forge filename and a 4 GB initial, 6 GB maximum allocation. Adjust the values only when the host machine has enough unused memory for its operating system and other applications.
Windows batch file
Inside the server folder, create a file named start.bat containing:
java -Xms4G -Xmx6G -jar forge-1.16.5-36.2.34.jar nogui
pauseDouble-click start.bat to launch. The pause line keeps the window open if Java exits, allowing you to read the error. Replace the JAR name if your installed Forge file uses a different filename.
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macOS or Linux terminal command
java -Xms4G -Xmx6G -jar forge-1.16.5-36.2.34.jar noguiRun the command from the server directory. If you save it as a shell script, make it executable and keep the script beside the Forge JAR so relative paths continue to work.
Choosing memory values
-Xms is the starting heap and -Xmx is the maximum heap. A larger maximum is not automatically faster: leaving no memory for the operating system can cause swapping, freezes or crashes. Increase the allocation in measured steps when logs or crash reports show memory pressure, and consider player count, generated terrain and every extra mod when deciding how much headroom is available.
Connect from the host and local network
Install the matching client
- Install Minecraft Java Edition 1.16.5.
- Install Forge 1.16.5-36.2.34 or a newer Forge build accepted by the Pixelmon release documentation.
- Install Pixelmon 9.1.13 and exactly the same sidemods, including matching versions, as the server.
- Launch the Forge profile once so the client creates its folders, then place the client mod files in its
modsfolder.
For a player on the host computer, connect using the host’s local address. A player on the same home network should use the host computer’s LAN address, not an internet address. The server must be running and fully loaded before the client attempts to join.
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Why “Mod Rejection” appears
Forge compares the mod list during the handshake. A different Minecraft version, Forge build, Pixelmon release, sidemod, dependency or configuration can cause a rejection before the world opens. Compare the server and client folders file by file, remove obsolete JARs, and make sure everyone launches the intended 1.16.5 Forge profile rather than an unmodded profile.
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Let friends outside your network join
LAN hosting does not automatically make the server reachable from the internet. Remote access requires three separate pieces: a stable local address for the server computer, a router rule that forwards the configured Minecraft server port to that address, and an operating-system firewall rule allowing Java or the server port. The exact screens vary by router and operating system.
- Give the host computer a consistent private-network address, using your router’s address-reservation feature or an equivalent local configuration.
- In the router’s port-forwarding section, forward the server’s configured port to that private address and protocol. Use the same port shown in
server.properties. - Allow the Java runtime or the selected server port through the host operating system’s firewall. Do not disable the firewall globally.
- Give friends your current public address and the server port. Test from a connection outside your home network; testing only from inside can produce misleading results on routers without NAT loopback.
- Keep the server software and operating system patched, limit operator privileges, and stop forwarding the port when you no longer need public access.
Some internet providers use carrier-grade NAT, which prevents inbound forwarding even when the router is configured correctly. If outside players still cannot connect, ask the provider whether inbound connections are supported or move the world to managed hosting.
Move the world to managed hosting
A managed host’s panel may offer a Forge installer, a custom-JAR selector or a file manager. The labels differ, but the migration sequence is consistent:
- Choose a plan with enough sustained RAM and CPU for your expected players and mod set. Confirm that the provider supports Minecraft 1.16.5 Forge and custom mod uploads.
- Install or select the compatible Java runtime before starting the server. If the panel offers several Java versions, choose the one required by your Forge and Pixelmon package.
- Upload the Forge server files, Pixelmon JAR, sidemods, configuration files and world folder. Preserve the directory structure, especially
mods,configand the world directory. - Start once, accept the EULA in the host’s file manager or console, and restart.
- Use the panel’s console to watch the first complete startup. Test with one client before inviting the whole group.
- Enable scheduled backups and download an independent copy of the world before major mod or configuration changes.
Host-specific claims about automatic backups, DDoS protection, console features and runtime switching depend on the plan. Verify each item before paying rather than assuming every managed service includes it.
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Diagnose startup and connection failures
The server exits immediately
- Run
java -versionand compare the major version with the Forge and Pixelmon package requirement. A 32-bit Java installation or an unsupported major version can stop the launcher before Minecraft loads. - Check the startup command character by character. The
-jarvalue must exactly match the Forge JAR in the folder. - Confirm that the maximum heap is realistic for the machine and that no other process is consuming the available memory.
- Read the final lines in the console and the newest crash report instead of repeatedly double-clicking the launcher.
Forge or Pixelmon is missing
- Verify that you installed Forge with Install server, not only the client profile.
- Confirm that the Pixelmon server JAR is in the server’s
modsdirectory and is the 1.16.5 release. - Remove duplicate, older or client-only mods and add sidemods one at a time so the offending file is identifiable.
Players receive Mod Rejection
- Write down the server’s Minecraft, Forge, Pixelmon and sidemod versions.
- Compare those values with the connecting client’s active profile, not merely the files downloaded on disk.
- Delete stale JARs from the client
modsfolder and reinstall the exact set used by the server. - Check sidemod dependencies and incompatibility notes before trying to reconnect.
Loading is slow or the server crashes under load
- Inspect the crash report and console for memory-related messages.
- Increase the heap gradually within the computer’s capacity, leaving room for the operating system.
- Reduce simultaneous world-generation activity and remove unnecessary sidemods while testing.
- If the machine cannot provide stable CPU, memory or upload capacity, move the world to a managed host with more headroom.
Maintenance checklist
- Keep an inventory of the exact Minecraft, Forge, Pixelmon and sidemod versions.
- Back up the world, configuration directory and mod list before every upgrade.
- Test upgrades on a copy of the world before replacing the live files.
- Shut the server down from its console before copying or replacing world files; do not kill the process while chunks are saving.
- Review crash reports after adding each sidemod and remove incompatible additions promptly.
- For a public server, restrict operator permissions and expose only the network port you actually use.
Quick launch checklist
- Paid Minecraft Java Edition account and Minecraft 1.16.5 installed.
- 64-bit, package-compatible Java runtime verified with
java -version. - Forge 1.16.5-36.2.34 installed with Install server.
- Pixelmon Mod 9.1.13 and compatible sidemods copied to the server.
- First launch completed, EULA accepted and server restarted.
- Startup script points to the exact Forge JAR and uses sensible
-Xms/-Xmxvalues. - Every client uses the same Minecraft, Forge, Pixelmon and sidemod versions.
- LAN players use the host’s private address; remote players use a deliberately configured public route or managed hosting.
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