Screenshot 1 of 3. Blue-stone cave canyon with a waterfall rendered with the UltraVanilla+ shader.
What UltraVanilla+ works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Iris |
| Minecraft versions | 1.16, 1.16.5, 1.17.1, 1.18.2, 1.19.4, 1.20.6, 1.21.11, 26.1.1 |
The UltraVanilla+ shader keeps Minecraft looking like Minecraft and improves the lighting around it. It runs through Iris on Java Edition, applies on the player's side only, and the whole pack weighs 23KB.
Shader loaders and versions
- Iris: Minecraft 1.16 to 26.1.1.
What it changes
Vanilla sky, fog and clouds stay untouched, so the pack sits comfortably next to other mods and resource packs. On top of that base it adds:
- Soft PCF shadows with three quality tiers, plus ambient occlusion in corners and under overhangs.
- Warm golden sunlight that turns orange at sunset, cool blue moonlight at night, and configurable torch brightness with an amber glow.
- Animated water with four octaves of wave displacement, surface reflections, sun and moon highlights, underwater caustics and blue-green fog.
- Rain that darkens, saturates and adds reflectivity to exposed ground blocks, with clean Fresnel reflections on glass and ice.
- Grass, flowers and leaves that sway in the wind.
- ACES filmic tone mapping with subtle god rays, film grain and vignette, all configurable or toggleable.
Installation
- 1.Install Iris and, for better performance, Sodium.
- 2.Get the .zip from the Modrinth link on this page.
- 3.Drop the .zip into your shaderpacks folder.
- 4.Select UltraVanilla+ under Video Settings > Shader Packs.
Performance and trade-offs
The pack was built for extremely low-end hardware and developed on Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics at 50+ FPS. It uses GLSL 120 and asks only for a GPU with OpenGL 2.1. The price is restraint. Expect refined lighting and water, not dramatic skies or heavy volumetrics.
It is also very new, with a single release so far and no linked source code or issue tracker.
Questions about UltraVanilla+.
3 questions
How do I install UltraVanilla+?
Install Iris first, and add Sodium if you want better performance. Place the UltraVanilla+ .zip in your shaderpacks folder, launch Minecraft, then open Video Settings and choose Shader Packs. Select UltraVanilla+ from the list and apply it.
Will UltraVanilla+ run on a low-end PC?
It is built for that. The pack is 23KB and needs only a GPU with OpenGL 2.1. It was developed and tested on Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics at 50+ FPS. Your own frame rate still depends on your hardware, other mods and the shadow quality tier you pick.
Does UltraVanilla+ change the sky and clouds?
No. Vanilla sky, fog and clouds stay exactly as they are. The shader works on lighting, shadows, water, rain wetness, foliage movement and post-processing. That is why it also sits alongside other mods and resource packs without fighting them.
