WorldGuard is a server-side plugin for Paper, Spigot, Bukkit, and Folia that gives admins precise control over who can build, break, or interact within any region on the server. Backed by WorldEdit for region selection, it protects spawn areas, shops, and event arenas from griefing, and lets you set per-region flags that control fire spread, mob spawning, PvP, chest access, and dozens of other behaviors. Version 7.0.17 supports Minecraft 1.21 through 1.21.11.
Installation
WorldGuard requires WorldEdit on the same server. Download both JARs from their Modrinth pages and drop them into the server's plugins folder, then restart.
- 1.Install WorldEdit 7.4.x on your Paper, Spigot, Bukkit, or Folia server.
- 2.Download worldguard-bukkit-7.0.17.jar from the Modrinth page.
- 3.Place both JARs in the plugins/ folder and restart the server.
- 4.WorldGuard generates a config.yml and sessions folder on first run.
- 5.Assign worldguard.region.* permissions to admin groups via LuckPerms or your permissions plugin.
Defining Protected Regions
Use WorldEdit's wooden axe wand (//wand) to select the two corners of an area, then run /rg define to lock it down. Regions can overlap, and WorldGuard resolves priority automatically when flags conflict.
- /rg define <name> - Create a protected region from the current WorldEdit selection.
- /rg addmember <name> <player> - Allow a player to build inside the region.
- /rg addowner <name> <player> - Grant full control including flag editing.
- /rg remove <name> - Delete a region (terrain is unchanged).
- /rg info <name> - Display region bounds, members, owners, and active flags.
Region Flags and Permissions
Flags let you override world defaults on a per-region basis. Set any flag with /rg flag <name> <flag> <allow|deny>. WorldGuard ships with over 100 flags covering block physics, mob behavior, and player interactions.
- build - Controls whether non-members can place or break blocks.
- pvp - Allow or deny player combat inside the region.
- mob-spawning - Prevent natural mob spawning within the region.
- fire-spread - Block fire and lava spread independently per region.
- chest-access - Restrict who can open containers.
- greeting / farewell - Show a message on region entry or exit.
Compatibility
- Server software: Paper (recommended), Spigot, Bukkit, Folia.
- Requires WorldEdit 7.4.x on the same server instance.
- Permissions: works with LuckPerms, PermissionsEx, and any Vault-compatible plugin.
- Proxy: server-side only; does not run on BungeeCord or Velocity.
- Minecraft: 1.21 through 1.21.11 on version 7.0.17.
WorldGuard region protection tutorial
Questions about this entry.
How do I install WorldGuard on my Paper server?
Download both WorldGuard and WorldEdit JARs from their Modrinth pages. Place both in the plugins/ folder and restart the server. WorldGuard will not load without WorldEdit present. Once running, select a region with the WorldEdit wand and run /rg define to protect it.
Does WorldGuard work on Folia?
WorldGuard lists Folia as a supported target, but the EngineHub team notes compatibility may be incomplete. Core region protection and most flags work, but some edge cases around async processing may differ from Paper. Test your setup on a staging server before going live.
Which Minecraft version does WorldGuard 7.0.17 support?
WorldGuard 7.0.17 supports Minecraft 1.21 through 1.21.11. The 7.x branch covers recent 1.21.x releases. For older Minecraft versions, check the Modrinth page for prior release downloads.
Does WorldGuard need a permissions plugin?
WorldGuard works with Bukkit's built-in permissions system and does not strictly require a separate plugin. In practice, most servers manage worldguard.region.* nodes through LuckPerms or a Vault-compatible plugin to control which groups can define or bypass regions.
Does WorldGuard impact server performance?
WorldGuard is lightweight for most servers. Region lookups are cached in memory, so per-block interaction checks add minimal overhead. Servers with very large numbers of overlapping regions or heavy use of physics-related flags may see a measurable impact, visible in Paper's /timings report.
