What NightCore works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Paper, Purpur, Spigot, Folia |
| Minecraft versions | 1.19.4, 1.20.1, 1.20.6, 1.21.1, 1.21.5, 1.21.8, 1.21.11, 26.1, 26.2 |
NightCore is a dependency library for Paper, Spigot, Purpur and Folia servers, built by NightExpress to give plugin developers a shared toolkit instead of each plugin bundling its own. It has no commands, no permissions and no gameplay of its own. If a server needs it, it is because another plugin, usually one from NightExpress, declared it as a required dependency.
What this library adds
- A server bridge layer that runs the same code path across Spigot, Paper and Folia.
- Bridges that read economy balances and permission data from whatever plugins a server already has installed, instead of hard-requiring Vault.
- YAML configuration tooling, plus SQLite and MySQL database helpers.
- A menu and GUI toolkit for building in-game interfaces.
- Utility helpers for items, entities, locations, numbers, placeholders and time formatting.
Version and server software support
Paper, Spigot and Purpur builds all reach version 26.2, the current release as of this check. Folia also reaches 26.2, but with about a fifth as many published builds as the other three, so a fresh update can take a little longer to land there. Current builds require 1.21.1 or later on Java 21; servers still on 1.19.4 through 1.21.11 can use an older build from the release history.
A different, unrelated plugin shares this name
Searches for NightCore also turn up an old HCF and essentials plugin for Minecraft 1.7 through 1.11, built by a different author and last updated over a decade ago. It has no connection to this project. The library covered here is the actively maintained one from NightExpress, listed on SpigotMC under the name NightCore++ specifically to separate it from that older plugin.
Questions about NightCore.
5 questions
Is NightCore a plugin I run on its own?
No. NightCore is a dependency library, not a standalone plugin. It adds no commands, permissions or gameplay by itself. You install it only because another plugin, usually one from NightExpress, lists it as a required library and will not load without it.
Is this the same NightCore as the old HCF and Essentials plugin?
No. An unrelated, much older plugin also called NightCore, an HCF and essentials toolkit for Minecraft 1.7 through 1.11, shares only the name and has a different author. This page covers the actively maintained NightExpress library, listed on SpigotMC as NightCore++ to avoid that confusion.
Does NightCore support Folia?
Yes. The source repository lists a dedicated server bridge for Spigot, Paper and Folia, and Modrinth's release history shows Folia builds published through version 26.2. Folia has fewer published builds than Paper and Spigot, so a new NightExpress plugin update can land there a little later.
What Minecraft version does NightCore need?
Current builds target 1.21.1 and above on Java 21, with the latest release reaching version 26.2 on Paper, Spigot and Purpur. Older builds go back to 1.19.4 for servers on earlier versions, so check the version you need against the release list before downloading.
Does NightCore require Vault or another dependency?
No. NightCore has no required dependencies. It ships its own bridges for reading economy balances and permission data from whatever plugins a server already runs, rather than requiring Vault or a specific permissions plugin to be installed alongside it.
