Wakes is a client-side Fabric mod that draws animated splashes and rippling wake trails behind anything moving through water, from boats and swimming players to mobs. It runs on Fabric for Minecraft 1.19.2 and newer, needs Fabric API, and works entirely on the client, so you can add it to a multiplayer server without installing anything server-side.
What Wakes adds to the water
Vanilla water stays flat no matter how fast you travel across it. Wakes replaces that with reactive surface effects that respond to movement, entity size, and the color of the water you are in.
- Foaming wake trails that spread out behind boats and swimmers.
- Splash particles that spray from the front of a moving boat.
- Bigger splashes for larger entities and when something falls into water.
- Wakes that tint to match the biome water color, or a custom color you pick.
How to install Wakes on Fabric
- 1.Install the Fabric loader for your Minecraft version.
- 2.Download Fabric API and place it in your mods folder.
- 3.Download Wakes from the Modrinth page and drop the jar into the same mods folder.
- 4.Launch Minecraft with the Fabric profile and travel across water to see the effects.
Two optional mods improve the experience but are not required. Mod Menu adds an in-game settings screen for Wakes, and Iris enables the shader-compatible rendering path.
Shader and mod compatibility
Wakes is built to sit alongside shader packs rather than fight them. With Iris installed, wake foam and splashes render correctly under lighting and reflections instead of z-fighting with the water surface.
- Fabric API: required dependency.
- Iris: optional, adds shader-compatible rendering.
- Mod Menu: optional, opens the configuration screen in-game.
Customizing splashes and wakes
The configuration screen exposes a wide range of visual controls, so you can tune the effect from subtle ripples to dramatic spray without editing files.
- Set a custom color for each section of the wake.
- Adjust how large and how long splashes last.
- Toggle individual effects like boat spray or fall splashes.
Supported versions and loaders
- Loader: Fabric only, with Fabric API required.
- Minecraft: 1.19.2 through the latest releases.
- Side: client-side, with no server installation needed.
Questions about this entry.
How do I install Wakes?
Install the Fabric loader for your Minecraft version, then add Fabric API and the Wakes jar to your mods folder. Launch the game with the Fabric profile and travel across water to see the splashes and wake trails. Mod Menu is optional and adds an in-game settings screen.
Does Wakes work with shaders?
Yes. Wakes includes a shader-compatible rendering path that activates when Iris is installed, so wake foam and splashes display correctly under a shader pack's lighting and reflections. Without Iris the effects still render, but the shader-aware path gives the cleanest result.
Does Wakes work on multiplayer servers?
Yes. Wakes is a client-side mod, so you can join any server with it installed and nothing is needed on the server itself. The effects are visual and local to you, which means other players will only see wakes if they have the mod installed too.
Which Minecraft versions does Wakes support?
Wakes supports Minecraft 1.19.2 and up on the Fabric loader, with builds kept current for the latest releases. Always match the mod build to your exact Minecraft version and pair it with the matching Fabric API release to avoid load errors.
Is Wakes available for Forge or Bedrock?
No. Wakes targets the Fabric loader only and requires Fabric API, so it does not run on Forge, NeoForge, or Bedrock Edition. Quilt users can generally run Fabric mods, but Fabric is the supported loader for Wakes.
