What Skript works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Paper |
| Minecraft versions | 1.20.4, 1.21, 1.21.1, 1.21.8, 1.21.11, 26.1, 26.2 |
Skript is a Paper plugin, not a ready-made gameplay feature: it gives server admins a simplified scripting language for writing custom commands, events, and mechanics without programming a full Java plugin. It does nothing on its own until an admin writes or installs a script, a plain-text .sk file that Skript parses and runs. The plugin targets Paper, with the current build reaching Minecraft 26.2.
What Skript actually does
Admins use Skript to add custom commands, player conditions, and event-driven mechanics that would otherwise need a purpose-built plugin, all in a syntax closer to plain English than Java code. Skript's own admin commands sit behind the skript.admin permission node, granted to operators by default, while permission checks written inside individual scripts read from whatever the server already uses to manage permissions, such as LuckPerms or the server's built-in op list. Skript also softly integrates with Vault, WorldGuard, GriefPrevention, Residence, PreciousStones, and SQLibrary when any of them are installed, without requiring any of them to run.
Installing Skript on a Paper server
- 1.Download the current Paper build from Modrinth or Hangar.
- 2.Drop the jar into the server's plugins folder and restart.
- 3.Add or edit .sk script files in the scripts folder Skript creates.
- 4.Use the /skript command (alias /sk) to reload scripts and run admin actions; /skript help lists the full set.
New to running plugins at all? Our guide to installing plugins on a Paper or Spigot server covers the general steps before any Skript-specific setup.
Add-ons that extend Skript
Skript ships with no required dependencies, but its scripting syntax is deliberately small, and a large third-party addon ecosystem fills in the gaps. SkBee is the most common pick, adding NBT access, custom recipes, structures, and display entities that base Skript does not cover. Other widely used add-ons include skript-particle for particle effects, skript-worldedit for region editing syntax, skript-itemsadder for custom item integration, and velocity-skript for scripting on a Velocity proxy. Each installs as a separate jar alongside Skript and does nothing without it.
Supported Minecraft versions
The current Paper build, 2.16.2, was published September 1, 2026 on the release channel and reaches Minecraft 26.2. Modrinth's listed compatibility for recent releases runs from 1.20.4 through 26.2, while Hangar's supported-platforms list stretches further back to 1.13.2 for older builds still hosted there. Skript is actively maintained, with releases landing alongside new Minecraft versions rather than lagging behind them.
How to install and use the Skript plugin
Questions about Skript.
4 questions
What is Skript?
Skript is a plugin for Paper servers that lets admins add custom commands, events, and mechanics by writing scripts in a simplified, English-like language, instead of programming a full Java plugin. It changes nothing on its own until a script is added, so it is a scripting tool for admins rather than a gameplay plugin players install for content.
Do I need Java or programming knowledge to use Skript?
No formal Java knowledge is required. Skript's own syntax reads closer to plain English, with structures like on join and set {var} to, so admins can write scripts without a programming background. It is still a language to learn, though: mistakes show up as parse errors, and more advanced scripts often lean on add-ons that expand what Skript can do.
What addons work with Skript?
Skript has no required dependencies, but a large third-party addon ecosystem extends its syntax. SkBee adds NBT access, custom recipes, and display entities; other common add-ons include skript-particle, skript-worldedit, skript-itemsadder, and velocity-skript for proxy scripting. None are required to run base Skript, and each installs as its own jar alongside it.
Which Minecraft version does Skript support?
The current Paper build, 2.16.2 published September 2026, reaches Minecraft 26.2. Modrinth lists compatibility back to 1.20.4 for recent releases, and Hangar's platform list stretches to 1.13.2 for older builds. There is no Spigot or Bukkit-only build listed; Skript now ships specifically as a Paper plugin.
