Screenshot 1 of 5. Complementary Reimagined shader scene with warm vanilla-style lighting
What Complementary Reimagined Shaders works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Iris, OptiFine |
| Minecraft versions | 1.7.10, 1.16.5, 1.17.1, 1.18.2, 1.19.4, 1.20.6, 1.21.11, 26.1.2, 26.2, 26.3 |
Complementary Reimagined shaders are the vanilla-preserving default style of Complementary Shaders, made by EminGT. The pack keeps Minecraft's blocky identity while reworking lighting, atmosphere, water and shadows. It runs on Iris or OptiFine, on Java Edition only, and it began in 2018 as an edit of BSL Shaders before a complete rewrite.
- Look: vanilla-like, with colored lighting, atmosphere, bloom, foliage effects, PBR support, reflections and shadows.
- Loaders and versions: Iris and OptiFine both cover Java Edition 1.7.10 to 26.3. The newest build is r5.9.3, released 2026-09-15.
- Profiles: Potato to Ultra, so you tune the pack to your hardware instead of relying on one preset.
- Dependencies: none required on either loader.
- Side: client only. It has no server component.
What Reimagined changes
The case for Reimagined is restraint. It aims to preserve Minecraft's unique visual elements and give a reworked vanilla feel, with custom effects for almost every block. You get richer light and atmosphere without every scene becoming a realistic render.
Reimagined vs Unbound
Complementary Unbound is the other default style, aimed at a more realistic look. The two share one feature set, and the only difference is the default settings. You can still switch Reimagined to realistic water, or Unbound to blocky clouds, in Shader Options.
How to install Complementary Reimagined
Install Iris on Fabric or NeoForge, or OptiFine, then launch the game once. Open Video Settings > Shader Packs and use the button there to open the shaderpacks folder. Drop the downloaded ZIP in without unzipping it, refresh the list if needed, and select Complementary.
Related shaders
Two other shader pages on MinecraftHub connect to this one: Euphoria Patches and Rethinking Voxels.
Questions about Complementary Reimagined Shaders.
5 questions
Does Complementary Reimagined work on Bedrock Edition?
No. It is a Java Edition shader pack that needs Iris or OptiFine, and neither of those runs on Bedrock Edition. Bedrock uses a different format for visual packs, so this pack cannot be loaded there.
Is Reimagined the same as Complementary Shaders?
Reimagined is one of two default styles in Complementary Shaders, alongside Unbound. The styles differ only in default settings, and you can change everything afterwards. Reimagined is the style that preserves Minecraft's unique visual elements with a reworked vanilla feel.
Which Minecraft versions and loaders does it support?
Both Iris and OptiFine have builds covering Java Edition 1.7.10 to 26.3. The newest build is r5.9.3 from 2026-09-15, and it requires no other mod. Iris runs on Fabric or NeoForge, so pick the loader that matches your setup.
Do I need to unzip the shader pack?
No. Place the downloaded ZIP straight into the shaderpacks folder, which you can open from the shader menu in Video Settings. Refresh the list if Complementary does not appear, then select it.
Can Complementary Reimagined run on a low-end PC?
It ships profiles from Potato to Ultra, and Modrinth tags it potato, low, medium and high. That gives you room to scale down, but actual frame rates depend on your hardware and mods. Start on a lower profile and raise it step by step.
