The best modpacks for Minecraft servers include All The Mods 9 for variety, Create: Above and Beyond for tech enthusiasts, Vault Hunters for RPG adventures, and Pixelmon for Pokemon fans. Whether you want hardcore survival with HardRock TerraFirmaCraft 3 or relaxed skyblock progression with SkyFactory 4, there's a modpack perfect for your group.
This guide covers 13 of the best modpacks that work great on multiplayer servers, organized by playstyle so you can find exactly what your community is looking for.
Kitchen Sink Modpacks
These packs include a bit of everything—tech, magic, exploration, and building.
1. All The Mods 9
The ultimate kitchen sink experience.
All The Mods 9 (ATM9) packs in over 400 mods, giving players countless ways to progress and play. Tech, magic, exploration, building—it's all here.
Key Features:
- 400+ mods including Create, Mekanism, Ars Nouveau
- Custom quests to guide progression
- ATM Star crafting for endgame goals
- Regular updates and active community
- Balanced configs for multiplayer
Best For: Groups who can't decide on one playstyle and want options
RAM Needed: 10-12GB minimum
Mod Loader: Forge
Download: CurseForge
2. Better Minecraft
Enhanced vanilla without the overwhelming mod count.
Better Minecraft improves the base game with new biomes, dungeons, mobs, and quality-of-life features while keeping the vanilla feel intact.
Key Features:
- New biomes and world generation
- Additional dungeons and structures
- Quality-of-life improvements
- Familiar vanilla gameplay loop
- Lower resource requirements than kitchen sink packs
Best For: Players new to modded Minecraft or groups wanting enhanced vanilla
RAM Needed: 6-8GB
Mod Loader: Forge or Fabric versions available
Download: CurseForge
Tech-Focused Modpacks
For players who love automation, machines, and building elaborate factories.
3. Create: Above and Beyond
Mechanical automation at its finest.
Built around the Create mod, this pack focuses on building incredible machines, factories, and contraptions using mechanical power and engineering.
Key Features:
- Progression built entirely around Create mod
- Chapter-based questline
- Stunning visual machines and contraptions
- Satisfying automation challenges
- Great for collaborative builds
Best For: Groups who love building, engineering, and watching machines work
RAM Needed: 6-8GB
Mod Loader: Forge
Download: CurseForge
4. FTB Presents: Direwolf20
The classic tech modpack, updated.
Named after the famous YouTuber, this pack combines popular tech mods in a balanced, beginner-friendly package with guided progression.
Key Features:
- Curated selection of tech mods
- Quest-guided progression
- Balanced recipes and configs
- Let's Play series for learning
- Good introduction to modded tech
Best For: Players new to tech mods or groups wanting a balanced tech experience
RAM Needed: 8-10GB
Mod Loader: Forge
Download: CurseForge
Adventure & RPG Modpacks
Combat-focused packs with dungeons, bosses, and progression systems.
5. Vault Hunters
Roguelike dungeon crawling in Minecraft.
Vault Hunters adds randomized vaults (dungeons) full of loot, mobs, and challenges. Level up your character, unlock abilities, and chase rare artifacts.
Key Features:
- Procedurally generated vault dungeons
- Character leveling and skill trees
- Rare loot and collectible artifacts
- Boss fights and challenges
- Popular with content creators
Best For: Groups who love dungeon crawling and progression
RAM Needed: 8-10GB
Mod Loader: Forge
Download: CurseForge
6. RLCraft
Brutal hardcore survival.
RLCraft turns Minecraft into a punishing survival experience with realistic temperatures, thirst, hostile mobs from the start, and dragons that will ruin your day.
Key Features:
- Hardcore survival mechanics
- Lycanites Mobs (terrifying creatures)
- Ice and Fire dragons
- Leveling system for skills
- Actually challenging combat
Best For: Groups seeking a brutal challenge and lots of deaths
RAM Needed: 8-10GB
Mod Loader: Forge
Download: CurseForge
Warning: Not for the faint of heart. Expect to die. A lot.
7. Medieval Minecraft
Fantasy adventure in a medieval world.
Medieval Minecraft focuses on exploration, dungeons, and RPG elements with a fantasy medieval aesthetic. New biomes, structures, and creatures await.
Key Features:
- Fantasy-themed world generation
- Dungeons and boss fights
- Medieval weapons and armor
- Magic systems
- Beautiful world to explore
Best For: Groups wanting adventure and exploration with medieval vibes
RAM Needed: 6-8GB
Mod Loader: Forge or Fabric
Download: CurseForge
8. Legendary Edition
A hardcore adventure with custom content.
Legendary Edition is a unique modpack featuring custom-made creatures, items, structures, and a specially designed shaderpack. The developers created their own companion mods specifically for this pack, making it feel like a completely different game.
Key Features:
- Custom shaderpack based on BSL, made for this modpack
- Original creatures via Legendary Creatures mod
- Handcrafted items, blocks, and structures
- Expanded biomes and mystical dimensions
- Quest-driven progression system
- Available for 1.16.5 and 1.20.1
Best For: Groups wanting a polished, unique adventure experience
RAM Needed: 8-10GB
Mod Loader: Forge
Download: CurseForge
Hardcore Survival Modpacks
For players who want Minecraft to fight back.
9. HardRock TerraFirmaCraft 3
Realistic hardcore survival that demands respect.
TerraFirmaCraft completely overhauls Minecraft into a realistic survival simulation. Seasons change, food spoils, metalworking requires actual processes, and survival is genuinely difficult.
Key Features:
- Complete survival overhaul
- Realistic metalworking progression (pit kilns, bloomeries, crucibles)
- Seasonal mechanics affecting gameplay
- Food preservation and decay
- Years of progression content
Best For: Groups wanting a slow, methodical survival experience
RAM Needed: 6-8GB
Mod Loader: Forge
Download: CurseForge
Note: This pack requires patience. Progression is measured in real-time days, not hours.
Pokemon Modpacks
Catch 'em all in Minecraft.
10. Pixelmon Reforged
The original Minecraft Pokemon experience.
Pixelmon adds Pokemon to Minecraft—catch, train, battle, and collect across a world filled with familiar creatures.
Key Features:
- 900+ Pokemon to catch
- Gym battles and progression
- Breeding and competitive mechanics
- Regular updates with new Pokemon
- Established community and servers
Best For: Pokemon fans who want the classic catching experience
RAM Needed: 6-8GB
Mod Loader: Forge
Download: Pixelmon Website
11. Cobblemon
Modern Pokemon experience on Fabric.
Cobblemon is a newer Pokemon mod built on Fabric, featuring smooth animations, modern code, and active development.
Key Features:
- Beautiful Pokemon models and animations
- Fabric-based (better performance)
- Active development with frequent updates
- Growing Pokemon roster
- Compatible with other Fabric mods
Best For: Groups wanting Pokemon with better performance or Fabric compatibility
RAM Needed: 4-6GB
Mod Loader: Fabric
Download: Modrinth
Skyblock & Progression Modpacks
Start with nothing, build everything.
12. SkyFactory 4
Classic skyblock with tech progression.
Start on a tiny island with a single tree and expand into a massive automated factory. SkyFactory 4 combines skyblock survival with tech mod progression.
Key Features:
- Start from nothing on a void island
- Multiple progression paths
- Prestige system for replayability
- Resource generation mechanics
- Satisfying automation goals
Best For: Groups who enjoy building up from nothing
RAM Needed: 6-8GB
Mod Loader: Forge
Download: CurseForge
13. Stoneblock 2
Skyblock, but underground.
Instead of floating in the void, you're trapped in an infinite stone world. Dig out your base and progress through tech and magic mods.
Key Features:
- Unique underground starting environment
- Tech and magic progression
- Quest-guided gameplay
- Feels different from typical skyblock
- EMC system for resource conversion
Best For: Groups wanting skyblock-style progression with a twist
RAM Needed: 6-8GB
Mod Loader: Forge
Download: CurseForge
Server Hosting Considerations
Running a modpack server requires more resources than vanilla. Keep in mind:
- RAM: Most modpacks need 8GB minimum, heavy packs need 10-12GB+
- CPU: Modded servers are CPU-intensive
- Storage: Modpacks can be 5-15GB installed
- Mod Loader: Most packs use Forge, some use Fabric
For server software differences, see our Paper vs Forge Comparison.
Looking for hosting that handles modpacks smoothly? Check out Minecraft Server Hosting with easy modpack installation and scalable resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best modpack for a Minecraft server?
It depends on your group's preferences. All The Mods 9 offers the most variety, Vault Hunters is great for RPG fans, Create: Above and Beyond is perfect for builders, and Better Minecraft works well for groups new to modding.
How much RAM do I need for a modpack server?
Light modpacks need 6-8GB, medium packs need 8-10GB, and heavy kitchen sink packs like ATM9 need 10-12GB or more. Check each modpack's recommendations and add extra for player count.
Can I play modpacks on a Fabric server?
Yes, but most popular modpacks use Forge. Fabric modpacks include Better Minecraft (Fabric version) and packs built around Cobblemon. Fabric packs generally have better performance.
What's the easiest modpack for beginners?
Better Minecraft enhances vanilla without overwhelming changes. FTB Direwolf20 is great for learning tech mods with video guides. Avoid RLCraft and TerraFirmaCraft as your first modpack.
Do all players need to install the modpack?
Yes, unlike plugins, mods require both server and client installation. All players need to install the matching modpack version. Launchers like CurseForge and ATLauncher make this easy.
What's the hardest Minecraft modpack?
RLCraft and HardRock TerraFirmaCraft 3 are among the most challenging. RLCraft throws deadly mobs at you immediately, while TerraFirmaCraft demands patience and knowledge of realistic survival mechanics.
Can I add mods to an existing modpack?
Yes, but carefully. Adding mods can cause conflicts or break progression balance. Always backup your world first and test on a separate instance before adding to your server.
Which is better, Pixelmon or Cobblemon?
Pixelmon has more Pokemon and established features. Cobblemon is newer with better performance and animations but fewer Pokemon currently. Pixelmon is Forge-only while Cobblemon runs on Fabric.
