Biome Shader Switch
by Gvoper
Biome Shader Switch changes the Iris or Oculus shader pack automatically as a player moves between biomes and heights.
What it does
Each biome a player enters can be mapped to a shader, and the mod detects biomes automatically, including modded ones, so no manual setup is needed. Height rules set shaders for specific Y-levels, such as caves at Y≤40 or sky islands at Y≥140. Height rules take priority over biome rules, so a cave shader applies no matter which surface biome sits above it. When no rule matches, a default fallback shader is used.
A configurable switch delay, 3 seconds by default, keeps the shader from flickering while the player runs through biome borders, and a change happens only after the player has stayed in the new biome or height long enough. The in-game config screen opens with the J key, and every rule, threshold and delay can be edited live, with changes applied immediately and no restart.
Architectury API, Fabric API, Iris Shaders and Oculus are required, and the mod works with the Iris and Oculus shader loaders on Fabric and Forge. It is client-side only, so the server does not need it, and it is published for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge across 7 release versions, covering 1.16.5 – 26.3. The code is not open source; it is released under All rights reserved.
Key features
Automatic biome switching
The shader pack changes when the player enters a new biome, with no per-biome setup required.
Height-based rules
Specific Y-levels can carry their own shader, for caves below a threshold or sky islands above one.
Per-biome fallback
Each biome and height rule can name a shader, and a default shader covers any position no rule matches.
Live config screen
The J key opens an in-game screen where biome, height and delay settings are edited and take effect at once.
Gallery
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.
Required 3
Use cases
Who it’s for: Players who run Iris or Oculus shader packs and want the look to follow the terrain they are in, and modpack builders who set shaders per biome or height.
How it compares
Shader Cycler is client-side only, published for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge across 1.20.1 – 1.21.11, and is not open source under All rights reserved. It cycles shaders instead of tying them to location. Iris Caves is a Forge-only mod for 1.20.1, also client-side only and not open source, and covers cave shaders alone. Biome Shader Switch is the wider option, covering biomes and heights on more loaders and versions.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biome Shader Switch | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.16.5 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-10-01 |
| Shader Cycler | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.11 | Client-side only | 2026-07-20 |
| Iris Caves | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client-side only | 2026-07-12 |
Questions
Does Biome Shader Switch need Iris or Oculus?
Does the server need Biome Shader Switch?
Can the switch delay be changed?
In the catalog
Biome Shader Switch is one of 12,078 Decoration mods on ModsFinder, and one of 6,982 Decoration mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from Gvoper
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What the author says
Automatically switches your shader pack based on where you are in the world. Works with Iris (Fabric) and Oculus (Forge) shader loaders. Автоматически меняет шейдер-пак в зависимости от вашего местоположения в мире. Работает с Iris (Fabric) и Oculus (Forge).
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/biome-shader-switch
- Owner
- Gvoper
- Published
- 2025-05-23
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-10-01
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15