Balloons
by tomalbrc
Balloons lets server owners attach custom balloon models to players through commands and a config file, and the balloons stay on after death.
What it does
Balloons is a server-side Fabric mod that attaches balloon models to players. Each balloon is defined in a config file and linked to an item. Model files in the Blockbench (.bbmodel) and Animated Java (.ajblueprint) formats are supported, and each file's name, minus its extension, serves as the identifier the config refers to. The models are shown with item displays, and client players need a generated resourcepack for them to appear.
Permanent attachment depends on an equipped item with the minecraft:equippable component, or on the Trinkets mod. Balloons relies on DB-Bundle and Polymer, both required dependencies. Storage for player data can use MongoDB, MariaDB, PostgreSQL or SQLite, with connection details set in the config. The mod is open source under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later, and its source code and issue tracker are public.
Key features
Custom balloon models
Balloon models are attached to players and can play a named animation, with the segment layout set per balloon.
Commands for balloons
Simple commands give or remove a balloon, and attach a balloon with an ID such as test:one to a player.
Permissions and selection
Vanilla permission levels and permission nodes control who can use balloons, and players can be given a selection menu.
Menu and message settings
Button positions, menu heights and titles are adjustable in the config, and player-facing messages are editable strings.
Respawn behavior
A balloon reappears immediately after the player respawns, as long as it stays attached.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Use cases
Server events
Server owners can hand out balloons to players for events or rewards with a single command.
Who it’s for: Server owners and pack makers who want custom balloon models on a Fabric server. Players only need a resourcepack to see the models.
How it compares
Custom Item Models is a server-side Fabric mod under the MIT License, covering 1.21.4 – 26.3, and it is open source. Up and Away runs on client and server with Fabric 1.21 and is also open source under the MIT License. Soaring Skies is client and server on Fabric for 1.21.8 only, and it is not open source.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balloons | Fabric | 1.21.5 – 26.3 | Server-side only | 2026-10-01 |
| Custom Item Models | Fabric | 1.21.4 – 26.3 | Server-side only | 2026-09-24 |
| Up and Away | Fabric | 1.21 | Client and server | 2024-07-10 |
| Soaring Skies | Fabric | 1.21.8 | Client and server | 2025-11-16 |
Questions
Does Balloons need DB-Bundle and Polymer?
Do players need to install Balloons?
Can balloons stay after a player dies?
In the catalog
Balloons is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 5,930 Management mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from tomalbrc
Similar mods
What the author says
A small serverside mod for Fabric that lets you attach custom balloon models to players using commands. This mod lets you define balloons in a config file. Balloons can be permanent (persist after death, does not require them to be equipped) or based on items with the minecraft:equippable component or using trinkets
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/balloons-fabric
- Owner
- tomalbrc
- Published
- 2025-05-30
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-10-01
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15