Cobblemon Server Setup: Catch Pokémon Inside Minecraft

Cobblemon turns Minecraft into a working Pokémon region. Creatures roam every biome, you battle them in turn based combat, capture them with Poké Balls and slowly fill your Pokédex while the rest of the world keeps behaving like vanilla Minecraft. The mod targets version 1.21.1 on Fabric or NeoForge, and release 1.7.3 includes more than 850 catchable species. This guide covers downloading the mod, installing it on both the client and a multiplayer server, and the mechanics you will use once you log in.

Downloading the Mod

Cobblemon is published on CurseForge and Modrinth. Either source carries the latest stable build, so pick whichever you prefer.

1. Open the Cobblemon page on CurseForge or Modrinth and click Files at the top.

1. Scroll through the version list until you find the release that matches your Minecraft version and loader, then open it.

1. Use the Download button on the right side of the page.

1. Save the file somewhere you can find later, like a dedicated mods folder on your desktop.

The mod also needs a loader dependency. NeoForge installs require Kotlin for Forge, and Fabric installs require the Fabric API. Missing either of these is the most common reason Cobblemon refuses to load, so grab them in the same trip.

Installing on the Client

Before touching Cobblemon, install NeoForge or Fabric in your Minecraft launcher and make sure the loader version matches 1.21.1. If you have not picked a side yet, our Forge vs Fabric comparison breaks down the differences. With the loader ready, do the following:

1. Launch the Minecraft launcher and select Installations along the top bar.

1. Find your NeoForge or Fabric profile in the list and click the small Folder icon next to it.

1. Inside the opened directory, go into the mods folder. Create one if it does not exist already.

1. Drop the Cobblemon jar and its dependency into that folder.

1. Return to the launcher and press Play on your modded profile to load it up.

If the launcher crashes on startup, the loader version and the Cobblemon version almost always disagree. Recheck both before assuming something deeper is broken.

Installing on the Server

For multiplayer, your server first needs to be running NeoForge or Fabric instead of vanilla. Once the correct version is selected in your panel, upload the mods through the file manager.

1. Open the server panel and open the file manager from your panel sidebar.

1. Enter your password and press Login.

1. Open the mods directory from the file list.

1. Click Upload in the file manager toolbar.

1. Drag the Cobblemon jar plus the matching dependency into the upload area and wait until both reach 100 percent.

1. Go back to the main panel and Restart the server so the new mods load.

First Steps in the World

The moment your world generates, wild Pokémon appear nearby. They will not attack on sight, so you can take your time deciding which to engage. Poké Balls let you build a party of six, and a PC block stores any extras. Cobblemon ships a long list of new items and blocks, so installing JEI or a similar recipe viewer saves a lot of time figuring out what crafts into what.

Before catching anything, press M to open the starter selection menu. You can pick from any of the starters across generations one through nine. Look at types, abilities and evolution chains before committing, because your first partner shapes the early game more than you might expect. After choosing, pressing M again opens your full party menu.

Wild Pokémon and Biomes

With over 850 species implemented, spawns are tied to biome logic that mirrors the games. Water types favour oceans and rivers, rock types stick to mountains and caves, ghost types lurk in dark wooded areas, and so on. Common species show up constantly, while rare ones take genuine searching. Crafting a Pokédex in game gives you a running record of what you have already encountered. Our Cobblemon modpacks page lists ready made server setups if you would rather skip the configuration and jump straight into a curated experience.

Turn Based Battles

Engaging a wild Pokémon or challenging another player switches the screen to a turn based battle interface. You get four options: Fight, Switch, Catch and Run.

Pick a move to deal damage, or swap to a teammate with a better type matchup. The classic chart still applies, so fire beats grass, water beats fire, electric beats water and so on. If your active Pokémon is close to fainting, running is usually smarter than gambling. To capture a wild Pokémon, throw a Poké Ball during its turn, ideally after lowering its HP.

Apricorn Farming

Poké Balls are crafted from Apricorns, which grow on Apricorn trees scattered around the world. Different colour Apricorns map to different ball types, and the trees themselves drop unique wood blocks that look great in builds. Wild Apricorn trees are not exactly common, so set up a small farm once you have a few saplings. Future you will thank present you.

Types of Poké Balls

Cobblemon adds 32 ball variants ranging from the standard Poké Ball up to the Master Ball. The Master Ball, built from Netherite and special ingredients, never misses a capture. Other balls have niches: higher base catch rates against specific species, bonuses at night, increased odds on weakened targets, and so on. Most recipes call for Apricorn in some form, which is another argument for that farm.

Storage and the PC Block

Your active party caps at six. Once it fills up, place a PC block to unlock the full storage system: 30 boxes with 30 slots each. From the PC you can sort, rename, swap and inspect any of your stored Pokémon. Building one early is well worth the few materials, especially if completing the Pokédex is on your list.

Healing Stations

Pokémon take damage in battle and need recovery between fights. The Healing Machine restores your full party in a single right click, provided it has finished recharging. It does not need fuel or redstone, just a short wait between uses. Placing multiple machines around your bases and exploration outposts cuts downtime considerably during long sessions. JEI will show you the exact recipe.

Evolution Stones and Materials

The mod introduces several new minerals and evolution stones, including Dawn Stone, Dusk Stone, Shiny Stone, Thunder Stone and Sun Stone. Each one triggers a specific evolution path. A Thunder Stone, for example, evolves Pikachu into Raichu. Some of these items can be crafted from other in game resources if you cannot find them while mining.

Evolving Your Pokémon

When a Pokémon levels up enough or you carry the right evolution item, press M to open your party menu. Select the Pokémon and check the Info, Moves or Stats tabs. If it qualifies, an Evolve button appears in the bottom left corner. Press it, confirm in the top right area, and the change applies. Evolved forms gain stat increases, more HP and access to new moves.

Editing the Configuration

Most of Cobblemon's behaviour is tweakable through its config file. Spawn rates, level ranges, capture mechanics and more can all be adjusted from the file manager.

1. Open the file manager and log in with your password.

1. Navigate to `.../config/cobblemon`.

1. Press Edit next to main.json to open it in the browser editor.

1. Make your changes and click Save at the top.

1. Restart the server so the new values take effect.

If you are not sure what a setting does, change one value at a time. Tracking down a bad edit later is easier when you know where to look.

Troubleshooting

Most connection issues trace back to the wrong IP and port, or a player joining without Cobblemon and its dependency installed on a matching NeoForge or Fabric profile. The main panel shows the correct connection details. If nobody can log in, the server logs usually point straight at the cause.

When Cobblemon itself fails to load, the suspect list is short. Either the dependency is missing, the dependency version does not match the mod, or the loader version does not match Minecraft 1.21.1. Restart the server after any upload, and restart the launcher after any client side change. Skipping those restarts is the second favourite way to waste an afternoon.

Further Reading

• Cobblemon on CurseForge
• The official Cobblemon website
• How to optimise a modded Minecraft server
• Installing mods on a Minecraft server