Java Edition FAQ

note: I’m currently moving from Optifine to Sodium! (read more) This list is a work-in-progress, and will be updated frequently with stability improvements.
note 2: In light of the frequent downtime/outages of Curseforge lately, I’ve replaced where possible links to Modrinth, instead.

Fabric Loader & Core Functionality

Fabric Mod Loader: version 0.11 for 1.18.1
∙ fabricmc.net/use/installer

Fabric API
Core developer package required for running most Fabric mods.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/fabric-api

Sodium
Rendering engine replacement for Optifine, which greatly improves frame rates and stuttering while fixing many graphical issues.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/sodium

Iris
An open-source, modern shaders mod compatible with Sodium.
∙ irisshaders.net/download

Indium
Any mod that uses the Fabric Rendering API will require Indium when used with Sodium.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/indium

Sodium Extra
Adds most of OptiFine’s “eye-candy” options to Sodium.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/sodium-extra

Starlight
Fabric mod that re-writes the vanilla light engine to fix lighting performance and lighting errors.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/starlight

Fabric Mods

3D Skin Layers
Replaces the usually flat second layer of player skins with a 3D modeled version.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/3dskinlayers

CIT Resewn
MCPatcher’s CIT re-written outside of Optifine, as a standalone mod for Fabric.
Note: There are major compatibility issues with Ghoulcraft that the dev has labeled a wontfix here: github.com/SHsuperCM/CITResewn/issues/69
∙ modrinth.com/mod/cit-resewn

Cloth Config API
Adds in-game Fabric mod configuration and JSON adjustments.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/cloth-config

Continuity
A Fabric mod that allows for efficient connected textures and provides Optifine connected texture support.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/continuity

Cull Leaves
Adds culling to leaf blocks, providing a huge performance boost over vanilla.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/cull-leaves

Enhanced Block Entities
Improve FPS with block entities, and make them customizable with resource packs
∙ modrinth.com/mod/ebe

Entity Culling for Fabric
Using async path-tracing to hide Tiles/Entities that are not visible.
∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/entityculling

Fabrishot
For taking large (and I mean large large) up to 32K resolution screenshots in-game.
∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/fabrishot

Falling Leaves
Makes leaf particles fall from leaf blocks.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/fallingleaves

FerriteCore
Memory usage optimizations for Fabric.
∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/ferritecore-fabric

Illuminations
Adds fireflies, glowworms in caves, and more.
∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/illuminations

LambdaBetterGrass & LambDynamicLights
WYSIWYG: better grass and dynamic lights for Sodium.
∙ modrinth.com/user/LambdAurora

LazyDFU
Makes the game boot faster by deferring non-essential initialization.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/lazydfu

Mod Menu
Adds a mod menu to view the list of mods you have installed.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/modmenu

Ok Zoomer
Adds a highly-configurable zoom key for Fabric.
∙ modrinth.com/mod/ok-zoomer

ReplayMod (Sodium-compatible version)
Record, relive and share your in-game experiences.
∙ replaymod.com/download

Sit
Allows you to sit on slabs and chairs.
∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/sit-fabric

WorldEdit
In-game selection tool for replacement, copy-paste, and inserting schematics.
∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/worldedit

Fabric API

Core developer package required for running most Fabric mods.

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/fabric-api

Fabric Language Kotlin

Kotlin language development package required for some Fabric mods.

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/fabric-language-kotlin

Illuminations

Adds fireflies, glowworms in caves, and more.

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/illuminations

Optifabric

Translates Optifine for Forge to run alongside Fabric mods.

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/optifabric

Mod Menu for Fabric

WYSIWYG

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/modmenu

ReplayMod for Fabric

Recording timelapses and speed builds.

∙ replaymod.com/

WorldEdit

Allows me to freely edit the world via commands.

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/worldedit

Mooblooms

Adds various flower cows + mushroom chickens from Minecraft Earth.

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/mooblooms

Sit

Sit on stairs or slabs via right-clicking.

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/sit-fabric

Falling Leaves for Fabric

Leaves falling from leaf blocks and other customizations.

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/falling-leaves-fabric

MultiMC Launcher

∙ multimc.org

Forge Mod Loader (FML) with Log4j Exploit Fix for 1.12.2

∙ v14.23.5.2859

Cocricot

∙ cocricot.pics

Minia Turia

∙ miniaturia.club

Lumen Legacy

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/lumen

Hwyla, a fork of Waila

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/hwyla

WorldEdit

∙ curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/worldedit

🌷 Spring 

Fresh Leaves Blossoms & Jicklus Spring Blossom Overlay Pack

∙ (mizuno’s) planetminecraft.com/texture-pack/fresh-leaves-blossoms/

∙ (vanilla) planetminecraft.com/texture-pack/jicklus-1-14-spring-blossom-addon/

🍂 Autumn

Jicklus 1.16 Orange Autumn Overlay Pack (with private edits)

∙ planetminecraft.com/texture-pack/jicklus-1-14-orange-autumn-addon

❄️ Winter 

Just Upgrade It: Winter Edition (with private edits)

∙ planetminecraft.com/texture-pack/just-upgrade-it-winter-edition/

Hasukko’s Christmas Overlay (from the creator of Minia Turia)

∙ twitter.com/bisukko_m/status/940250831454027776

(note: File is password protected, unlock with “hasukko” when unzipping.)

BSL Shaders

∙ bitslablab.com/bslshaders

Sildur’s Vibrant Shaders (Extreme Volumetric)

(note: I use this less frequently due to the purple window bug.)

∙ sildurs-shaders.github.io/downloads

SEUS PGTI (mainly E11)

∙ patreon.com/sonicether (paid, requires $10 tier)

Lightweight Shaders for Potatoes, Laptops, and MacOS Masterlist

∙ blisschen.co/post/649751913571680256