Arbiter
by KonigTX
Arbiter is a Fabric server mod that sweeps dropped items off the ground, timed by a schedule and triggered by server lag.
What it does
Arbiter runs on the server and removes dropped items lying on the ground. Clears happen on a schedule, and an emergency sweep can fire when the server's ticks per second drop. Each dimension can carry its own clear interval, item count threshold and protection rules, and any field left unset inherits the global configuration. Warnings appear in a bossbar that shifts from green through yellow to red, and are broadcast to players, including those who join late, 30 seconds before a scheduled clear by default.
Protection is handled in several layers. Items renamed on an anvil and enchanted items are never removed. Rarity-based defaults keep rare items above a configurable minimum. Mod authors can list registry namespaces whose items are protected, and assign those namespaces LOW, NORMAL or HIGH priority tiers. Three built-in presets can be applied with a single command. The licence is the MIT License, and the mod is not open source; it is published for Fabric only, for 1.21.1 – 1.21.11, with the latest file 1.2.0 for 1.21.11.
Key features
Scheduled and emergency clears
Ground items are cleared on a schedule, with a TPS-aware emergency sweep that runs per dimension.
Smart item protection
Anvil-renamed and enchanted items are skipped, and rare items stay above a set rarity minimum.
Bossbar countdown
A color-graduated bossbar counts down to each clear and broadcasts a warning to all players.
Per-dimension configuration
Each dimension sets its own interval, item threshold and protection rules, inheriting global values where unset.
Namespace protection tiers
Items from chosen registry namespaces are protected and grouped into LOW, NORMAL or HIGH priority tiers.
Hot-reloaded JSON5 config
File changes apply within a second, and an explicit reload command forces an immediate reload.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
1.21.x11 of 11 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
How it compares
VillagerProtect is a Fabric client-side mod for 1.21.4 under the MIT License and is not open source, so it does not touch item clearing. TPS Reforged is a Fabric mod for 1.21.1 that both the client and server run, under All rights reserved. ClearLags is a Fabric server mod for 26.1.2 – 26.2 that is required on the server with an optional client install, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arbiter | Fabric | 1.21.1 – 1.21.11 | Server-side only | 2026-04-04 |
| VillagerProtect | Fabric | 1.21.4 | Client-side only | 2025-09-28 |
| TPS Reforged | Fabric | 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-05-20 |
| ClearLags | Fabric | 26.1.2 – 26.2 | Server required, client optional | 2026-06-25 |
Questions
Does Arbiter need to be installed on the client?
Does Arbiter require Fabric API?
Can Arbiter use LuckPerms for permissions?
In the catalog
Arbiter is one of 3,545 Optimization mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,575 Optimization mods for Fabric. 19,862 mods support Minecraft 1.21.11.
Similar mods
What the author says
Arbiter is an open-source, server-side Fabric mod that automatically clears ground item entities on a configurable schedule — no client install required and vanilla game mechanics unchanged. It replaces blunt /kill @e[type=item] scripts with intelligent item clear logic: scheduled clears, TPS-aware emergency sweeps…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/arbiter
- Owner
- KonigTX
- Published
- 2026-04-04
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-04-04
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15