What Guard Villagers works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Forge, NeoForge |
| Minecraft versions | 1.16.5, 1.18.2, 1.19.2, 1.20.1, 1.21.1, 26.1, 26.2 |
| Environment | Client, Server |
Guard Villagers converts idle villagers into armed defenders you can equip, position, and command. Crouch and right-click a nitwit or unemployed villager with a sword or crossbow to convert it into a Guard, then hand it armor, a weapon, and a shield or food for its offhand slot. It's a Forge and NeoForge mod for Minecraft Java, required on both the client and the server, currently maintained through NeoForge 26.2 while Forge stays on 1.20.1.
What Guard Villagers changes in your village
Guards spawn in villages in groups of six carrying an iron sword or a crossbow, and they treat any threat, including the player, as fair game until a positive reputation or the Hero of the Village effect earns their trust. Right-clicking a trusted guard opens its inventory for swapping weapons, armor, and offhand items.
- Convert a nitwit or unemployed villager into a Guard by crouching and right-clicking it with a sword or crossbow
- Equip guards with armor, a shield, or food through their inventory screen
- Set a guard to patrol a fixed area, or have it follow you once you have Hero of the Village
- Clerics heal low-health guards, villagers, and players with regeneration potions up to three times a day
- Smiths repair damaged guard equipment and golems up to three times a day
- Baby villagers get Bedrock-style big heads
A handful of village AI tweaks ship alongside the guards, and most can be turned off in the config.
- Witches attack villagers (on by default)
- Illagers kill nearby animals during raids (off by default)
- Villagers and illagers flee from polar bears (on by default)
- Golems float instead of getting stuck in water (on by default)
Installing Guard Villagers on Forge or NeoForge
- 1.Download the build matching your loader and Minecraft version from the Modrinth project page
- 2.Place the jar in the mods folder on the client
- 3.Place the same matching jar in the mods folder on the server, since Guard Villagers is required on both sides
- 4.Launch with the matching Forge or NeoForge version already installed
Forge and NeoForge version support
NeoForge is the actively developed track: build 4.0.4 shipped for 26.2 on September 12, 2026. Forge trails behind on 1.20.1, with build 1.6.19 published August 23, 2026. An isolated Forge build reached 1.20.2 back in October 2023, but development continued on 1.20.1 afterward rather than carrying that version forward. Players who want the newest mob AI and fixes need NeoForge; Forge users are effectively frozen on the 1.20.1 feature set.
Fabric, Quilt, and Bedrock are separate projects
seymourimadeit has not built a Fabric, Quilt, or Bedrock version of Guard Villagers, by their own account on the project page. The mod's custom license allows other developers to publish ports, so separate Fabric and Quilt listings exist on Modrinth under different creator accounts, and unrelated Bedrock apps and add-ons with similar names circulate elsewhere. None of those are maintained by this project's creator, so players on Fabric, Quilt, or Bedrock Edition are looking at a different developer's work, not this mod.
See Guard Villagers in action
Guard Villagers mod showcase
Questions about Guard Villagers.
5 questions
How do I install Guard Villagers?
Download the Forge or NeoForge build that matches your Minecraft version from the Modrinth project page, then drop the jar into the mods folder. Guard Villagers is required on both the client and the server, so install the same matching build in both places before you launch.
Does Guard Villagers work with Fabric or Quilt?
Not from this creator. seymourimadeit has only ever built Forge and NeoForge versions. The mod's license allows other developers to publish ports, and separate Fabric and Quilt listings exist on Modrinth under different accounts, but they are different projects maintained by different people.
Can I use Guard Villagers on Bedrock Edition?
No. This mod only runs on Minecraft Java Edition with Forge or NeoForge. Bedrock apps and add-ons with similar names exist, but they are unrelated third-party projects, not a Bedrock build of this mod.
Which Minecraft version does Guard Villagers support?
NeoForge is the current track, with build 4.0.4 released for 26.2. Forge is a full major version behind, with its most recent build, 1.6.19, still targeting 1.20.1. Check the Modrinth versions page for the exact build that matches your Minecraft version and loader.
How do I turn a villager into a guard?
Crouch and right-click a nitwit or an unemployed villager while holding a sword or a crossbow. It converts into a Guard, and you can then open its inventory to add armor, swap its weapon, or give it a shield or food for its offhand slot.
