The Tool Desk
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What you need before installing
Pixelmon is a Minecraft mod, not a standalone server program. A working server therefore consists of a Minecraft server runtime, the correct Forge loader, the Pixelmon Reforged mod, and a client installation that matches the server. If any of those components target different versions, players commonly receive a mod-list mismatch, a crash during startup, or a connection rejection.
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- A supported Minecraft version: choose the Minecraft version supported by the Pixelmon Reforged release you intend to run.
- The matching Forge build: install the Forge server build required by that Pixelmon release. The Forge version used by the server must be the same one used by every client.
- The Pixelmon Reforged server mod: obtain the release that corresponds to the selected Minecraft and Forge versions.
- Server access: you need either a machine on which you can run the Forge server installer or a host that provides file-manager or FTP/SFTP access.
- A backup location: keep a copy of the world and configuration before changing settings or upgrading versions.
Do not choose a Forge version first and then try to fit Pixelmon to it. Start with the Pixelmon release, read its supported Minecraft and Forge requirements, and use that exact combination for both sides of the connection. Version numbers seen in older forum headers, including 1.21.1-9.3.9 and 1.16.5-9.1.13, are not a current compatibility matrix; confirm the release you are actually deploying.
Choose self-hosting or managed hosting
Self-hosting on your own machine
Self-hosting gives you control over files, backups, Java/Forge launch options, and configuration. It also makes you responsible for keeping the operating system secure, forwarding the game port if players connect from outside your network, monitoring memory and disk use, and keeping the server online. The exact network and launch settings depend on your operating system and the Minecraft version, so follow the Forge installer’s generated files rather than copying a command from a different release.
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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).
Using a managed game host
A managed host can provide an installation panel, automatic restarts, backups, and a file manager. The workflow is still the same: select a compatible Forge profile, upload the Pixelmon mod to mods, start the server, and edit the generated server configuration. Before paying, check that the plan allows Forge mod uploads, gives you console access, provides enough storage for a modded world, and lets you download backups. Provider prices and plans change, so compare the current terms directly; no fixed price should be assumed.
Install the Forge server
- Identify the Pixelmon build. Record its Minecraft version and required Forge version. Keep this information in a text file with your server backups.
- Download the Forge installer for that Minecraft version. Run the installer and select the server-installation option, choosing an empty directory dedicated to this server.
- Accept the generated files. Forge creates the server launcher, libraries, and supporting files. Do not mix files from another Minecraft version into this directory.
- Launch the server once. Use the Forge server profile or launcher generated by the installer. The first run may stop while creating an end-user license file and initial folders.
- Accept the Minecraft EULA if required. Open the generated EULA file, read the terms, and change the acceptance value only if you agree. Start the Forge server again afterward.
The exact launcher filename can vary by Forge generation and host panel. Use the profile or launch script created by the installer instead of assuming that every release uses the same filename. A successful first launch should create a world directory, a config directory, logs, and a server-properties file.
Add Pixelmon Reforged to the server
- Stop the server completely. Never replace a mod while the process is writing the world or configuration.
- Open the server root. In a self-hosted installation this is the directory containing the Forge launcher and
server.properties. In a hosted installation use the file manager or FTP/SFTP account. - Create or open
mods. If the folder does not exist, create it with that exact lowercase name. - Upload the Pixelmon Reforged file. Place the mod JAR directly inside
mods; do not leave it inside a downloaded ZIP and do not nest it in another folder. - Start through Forge. Watch the console for the Pixelmon mod identifier and a completed server startup. A crash report or an error saying that a dependency is missing usually indicates an incorrect Minecraft, Forge, or mod version.
Install the same Pixelmon build and the same Forge version in the client’s mods directory. A client with a different mod version, an extra incompatible mod, or a different loader version may be refused even when the server itself starts correctly.
First startup checks
Before inviting players, connect locally or from the host’s test address and verify the basics. The first startup is when Forge and Pixelmon generate the configuration files that you will edit later.
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- Confirm that the console reaches its ready state without a repeating exception.
- Confirm that a world is created and that the server can save and stop cleanly.
- Join with a client using the identical Minecraft, Forge, and Pixelmon versions.
- Walk far enough to test chunk generation, then stop and restart once to ensure the world loads again.
- Make a copy of the newly generated
configdirectory and world before changing settings.
If the process exits immediately, read the first meaningful error in the log rather than the final shutdown line. A missing dependency, a Java/runtime problem, a malformed configuration file, or an incompatible mod can all produce a generic “server stopped” message.
Find and edit Pixelmon configuration
Server-side files are authoritative
Pixelmon settings that govern a multiplayer world must be changed in the server’s files. Changing options in a client’s in-game menu changes that client’s local preferences and does not alter the server’s spawn rules, battle behavior, loot, or other world-wide settings.
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Documentation and installations do not all use the same layout. The official wiki’s search summary describes a config/pixelmon directory containing YAML files, a layout associated with older releases. Other Pixelmon Reforged installations and forum discussions refer to a pixelmon.hocon file in the server’s config directory. Treat the files generated by your own first startup as the source of truth; do not create a file merely because a guide for another release names it.
| What you see after first launch | Where to edit | Practical caution |
|---|---|---|
config/pixelmon with YAML files |
The relevant YAML file inside the server’s config/pixelmon directory |
This layout appears in older documentation; confirm the keys and release before copying examples. |
config/pixelmon.hocon |
The generated HOCON file in the server’s config directory |
Syntax errors can make Pixelmon discard the file and return to defaults. |
Safe editing procedure
- Stop the server and wait until the process has exited.
- Download or copy the entire configuration directory as a backup.
- Open the generated file in a plain-text editor that preserves punctuation and UTF-8 text.
- Change one related group of values at a time, retaining the existing key names, quotation marks, braces, commas, and indentation style.
- Save, start the server, and inspect the log for configuration errors.
- Join and test the behavior in-game before making another change.
Do not paste YAML examples into a HOCON file or HOCON syntax into a YAML file. A syntactically invalid file may not always produce an obvious in-game symptom: the mod can log a large error during restart and revert to defaults. Always check the startup log after editing.
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- 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.
Settings you can tune
The available keys and their names depend on the Pixelmon release, so use the comments and structure in the generated file. Commonly documented categories include:
- General spawn rates: adjust how frequently Pixelmon entities are selected for spawning.
- Legendary spawn rates: control the separate, much rarer legendary-spawn behavior where the release exposes that setting.
- Battle rules: configure rules that affect player battles or battle handling.
- Loot tables: alter the items or probabilities associated with supported loot systems.
Change values gradually and record the original value beside each change. A dramatic spawn-rate increase can create excessive entity counts, while a very low value can make a world appear empty. Test in a fresh area as well as an already explored area, because existing chunks and cached entities may not immediately demonstrate a change.
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Some third-party snippets recommend disabling vanilla mob spawning in server.properties because Pixelmon provides its own spawning system. That recommendation is not established for every Pixelmon Reforged release. Do not apply it blindly: check the release documentation and test whether hostile and passive vanilla mobs are intended to coexist with Pixelmon in your world.
Reloading versus restarting
A hosting guide reports that /pokereload can apply configuration changes without a full restart, while a forum response says that some changes require a restart. Because behavior varies by setting and release, use a full stop and start when you need a dependable result. If you try /pokereload, run it from the server console or as an authorized in-game administrator, then verify the log and the actual behavior; do not assume every key was re-read.
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Give players administrative access safely
What is confirmed and what is not
Current Pixelmon Reforged permission nodes and Pixelmon-specific admin command syntax were not established for the releases covered here. Older results refer to Bukkit or Sponge permission systems and commands from Minecraft 1.7.2-era servers; those instructions do not apply automatically to a modern Forge server. Do not install an old permissions plugin or copy its commands simply because the word “Pixelmon” appears in the title.
Separate Minecraft operator status from Pixelmon permissions
Operator status is a Minecraft server function, while Pixelmon-specific permissions may depend on the Forge environment and the exact mod build. The standard Minecraft command is commonly written as /op <username> in the server console, but verify that syntax and the resulting permission level against the Minecraft and Forge version you are running before using it on a public server. If the command is accepted, test with a non-owner account and grant only the level needed for moderation.
Use the console first
- Keep the server console or host control panel private.
- Use the exact player name and the operator command documented for your Minecraft version.
- Have the player reconnect, then test only the commands they need.
- Remove access when a staff member leaves by using the corresponding de-operator command documented for that version.
- Record who has access and keep a backup of the permissions-related files before changing them.
If a Pixelmon command returns “unknown command” or “no permission,” check the exact Pixelmon release notes or official wiki for that build. A command that worked on a Sponge server, a Bukkit server, or an older Pixelmon generation is not evidence that it exists on Forge today.
Common failures and recovery
Client and server mod-list mismatch
Symptom: the client is rejected during connection or reports a missing/different mod. Fix: compare Minecraft, Forge, and Pixelmon versions character by character; remove duplicate JARs; and ensure both sides use the same release.
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Pixelmon does not load
Symptom: the server starts as an ordinary Forge server or stops with a dependency error. Fix: verify that the JAR is directly in mods, that it is not still compressed in an archive, and that its required Minecraft and Forge versions match the server.
Settings revert to defaults
Symptom: your values disappear or behavior remains unchanged after a restart. Fix: stop the server, restore the last known-good backup, and edit the file generated by this release. Then inspect the startup log. In particular, a malformed pixelmon.hocon file can trigger a prominent error and cause the mod to fall back to defaults.
Changes made in the client menu have no multiplayer effect
Symptom: your own client displays a different preference, but every player sees the old server behavior. Fix: edit the server-side configuration and restart or use the release-supported reload procedure.
Old permission instructions fail
Symptom: PEx, Sponge, or Bukkit commands are unknown. Fix: remove those assumptions, confirm that the server is Forge-based, and consult documentation for the exact Pixelmon and Minecraft versions. Grant ordinary Minecraft operator access only after verifying the command for your build.
World or configuration corruption
Symptom: the server will not start after an edit. Fix: stop it, restore the backed-up configuration file, and start again. If the world itself is affected, restore the most recent world backup rather than repeatedly launching a damaged copy.
Pre-launch checklist
- The Pixelmon release, Minecraft version, and Forge version are a documented compatible set.
- The client uses the same Forge and Pixelmon versions as the server.
- The Pixelmon JAR is directly inside the server’s
modsfolder. - The server has completed one clean startup and shutdown.
- The configuration backup was made before edits.
- Settings were edited in the server’s generated configuration, not only in a client menu.
- The log was checked after every configuration change.
- Any spawn, battle, loot, or reload change was tested in-game.
- Administrative access was verified for this exact build; old Bukkit/Sponge instructions were not assumed to apply.
- Backups can be downloaded and restored before opening the server to other players.
When to postpone opening the server
Delay public access if the Forge and Pixelmon versions are still uncertain, the server falls back to defaults after every restart, or you cannot restore a known-good backup. A small private test with one matching client is safer than troubleshooting version and permission problems while players are building in the only copy of the world. Once the server starts cleanly, preserves its settings, and grants only verified permissions, you have a repeatable Pixelmon Reforged setup that can be upgraded deliberately instead of by trial and error.
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