Backported Wolves
by EmilSG
Backported Wolves brings the eight wolf variants added in recent Minecraft updates to older game versions, so worlds can use them.
What it does
Each variant is tied to a biome: Pale Wolf to taiga, Woods Wolf to forest, Ashen Wolf to snowy taiga, Black Wolf to old growth pine taiga, Chestnut Wolf to old growth spruce taiga, Rusty Wolf to sparse jungle, Spotted Wolf to savanna plateau and Striped Wolf to wooded badlands. Pale Wolf is the default. Where several variants share a biome, each has an equal chance to spawn there.
All variants are tameable. A bred pup takes the variant of one of its parents. From version 2.0.0 the mod also adds sound variants named Angry, Big, Classic, Cute, Grumpy, Puglin and Sad. Installation needs Architectury API on every loader, and Fabric API on Fabric and Quilt. Installation covers the server and each player's game. The code is under the MIT License, and the source code is open source.
Key features
Biome-based variants
Eight wolf variants spawn in matching biomes, from pale taiga wolves to striped badlands wolves.
Breeding inheritance
A bred wolf pup takes the variant of one of its parents, so variants carry through a tamed pack.
Sound variants
Version 2.0.0 adds seven wolf sound variants, which change the bark of the wolves.
Equal spawn chance
When two or more variants share a biome, each one spawns with the same probability.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
1.20.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.19.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.18.x3 of 3 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 2
Required by 1 mod
Use cases
Older worlds
Players on older releases can add the newer wolf variants without waiting for an update.
Biome-themed packs
Modpack builders can use the variants to give each biome a distinct wolf population.
Who it’s for: Players who want the newer wolf variants on older versions, and server owners who run a survival world with tamed wolves.
How it compares
MoreWolf is a Forge-only mod for 1.20.1 – 1.20.6 with client and server environment, under All rights reserved and not open source. Wolf Variant Eggs covers Fabric, Forge and Quilt for 1.20.5 – 1.21, also client and server, under All rights reserved and not open source. Pibble Mod is a Fabric-only mod for 1.21.1 – 1.21.5, client and server, under the MIT License and open source, so it targets a later range than Backported Wolves.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backported Wolves | Fabric, Forge and Quilt | 1.18 – 1.20.4 | Client and server | 2026-03-23 |
| MoreWolf | Forge | 1.20.1 – 1.20.6 | Client and server | 2025-07-18 |
| Wolf Variant Eggs | Fabric, Forge and Quilt | 1.20.5 – 1.21 | Client and server | 2024-07-26 |
| Pibble Mod | Fabric | 1.21.1 – 1.21.5 | Client and server | 2025-04-04 |
Questions
Does Backported Wolves need Architectury API?
Must the server have Backported Wolves installed?
Which Minecraft versions are supported?
Do bred wolves keep their variant?
In the catalog
Backported Wolves is one of 11,058 Mobs mods on ModsFinder, and one of 5,189 Mobs mods for Fabric. 13,907 mods support Minecraft 1.20.4.
More from EmilSG
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What the author says
If you want to start a new server, Bisect Hosting is a good place to start! Use the code: Clutter to get 25% off! Since Minecraft recently added more variants of the wolf that has been with us for so long, I figured we shouldn't have to wait until the next update to play with them.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/backported-wolves
- Owner
- EmilSG
- Published
- 2024-03-07
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-03-23
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15