Screenshot 1 of 2. Red fish swim in a dark blue underwater scene above seabed terrain with seagrass and kelp in the Boids mod.
What Boids works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Fabric |
| Minecraft versions | 1.20, 1.20.6, 1.21.11, 26.1.2, 26.2, 26.3 |
| Environment | Server |
Boids is a Fabric mod for Minecraft Java that replaces the vanilla behavior of flocking fish with a boids simulation. It is a server-side mod, so the boids mod Minecraft fans want runs on the server rather than on a player's own machine.
Loaders and versions
- Fabric: Minecraft 1.20 to 26.3. The newest build requires Fabric API; some builds for 1.20.1 to 1.20.6 need no dependencies.
How the flocking works
A boids simulation is a computer model of the flocking seen in birds and fish. Each fish reacts only to its nearby flockmates, and the group movement emerges from three rules.
- Separation, steer away to avoid crowding local flockmates.
- Alignment, steer toward the average heading of local flockmates.
- Cohesion, steer toward the average position of local flockmates.
The result is more realistic and dynamic group movement, which suits oceans, aquariums and any build that leans on schools of fish. The trade-off is scope, since the mod targets flocking fish behavior and is required on the server.
Installation
- 1.Install Fabric Loader for the matching Minecraft release, following the Fabric install guide.
- 2.Download the Boids file from Modrinth and add Fabric API, which the newest release requires.
- 3.Place both files in the mods folder of the server, then start it with Fabric.
Boids simulation in action with a flock of seagulls
Questions about Boids.
3 questions
What does the Boids mod do in Minecraft?
It replaces the vanilla behavior of flocking fish with a boids simulation. Each fish applies separation, alignment and cohesion rules relative to its nearby flockmates, which makes group movement more realistic and dynamic.
Do I need to install Boids on the server?
Yes. The mod is required on the server, and installing it on a player's own machine is unsupported. Put the mod file and Fabric API in the server's mods folder and start the server with Fabric.
Does Boids work on Bedrock Edition?
No. Boids is a Fabric mod for Minecraft Java Edition. Bedrock Edition uses a different content format and cannot load Java mods of any kind.
