Bow Upgrade
by MeNotCloy
Bow Upgrade changes how bows are crafted and what they drop, adding an Emerald Bow and a Netherite Bow recipe to Fabric worlds.
What it does
The mod lets players craft a Netherite Bow with a simpler recipe, so the stronger bow is reachable earlier in a playthrough. An Emerald Bow is added as a separate weapon, and it is tied to the wealth theme of the emerald material. Killing mobs with a bow can also drop emeralds at a chance, giving players a way to collect them while fighting.
The mod runs on the server only, so players join without installing anything, and it needs Fabric API to load. Source code is public and the code is released under the MIT License, making the project open source. Files are published for Fabric alone, for 1.21.5 and 1.21.11, and the latest file is 1.0 for 1.21.5. A NeoForge port is planned by the author but is not yet available.
Translations are included in English and Russian. The first release was published on 2026-05-11 and the last update followed on 2026-05-16.
Key features
Netherite Bow recipe
The recipe for the Netherite Bow is simplified, so players can build it without a long material chain.
Emerald Bow
An Emerald Bow is added as a weapon that carries the emerald theme into the bow line.
Emerald drops from bow kills
Mobs killed with a bow can drop emeralds at a set chance, supplying the material for emerald gear.
English and Russian text
Item names and interface text are translated into English and Russian.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Early Netherite bows
Players who want a Netherite Bow sooner can craft it with the simpler recipe instead of waiting for later progression.
Emerald collection
Players gathering emeralds for trade or gear can collect them from bow kills while exploring or fighting.
Who it’s for: Players on Fabric who use bows as a main weapon and want an emerald-based bow path, and server owners who want the change without requiring a client install.
How it compares
360 no scope is a Fabric mod for 1.21.11 that is server-side only, and its license is All rights reserved, so it is not open source. Hovering/箭不如飞 is a Fabric mod for 1.21.1 – 1.21.11 under All rights reserved, and it works on either side, and neither needs it. Consistent Bow Damage is a server-side only Fabric mod for 1.19.2 – 1.20.1 released under the MIT License, so it is open source. Bow Upgrade is also server-side only with MIT licensing, but it targets 1.21.5 and 1.21.11.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bow Upgrade | Fabric | 1.21.5 – 1.21.11 | Server-side only | 2026-05-16 |
| 360 no scope | Fabric | 1.21.11 | Server-side only | 2026-07-04 |
| Hovering/箭不如飞 | Fabric | 1.21.1 – 1.21.11 | Client or server, optional | 2026-05-26 |
| Consistent Bow Damage | Fabric | 1.19.2 – 1.20.1 | Server-side only | 2023-06-05 |
Questions
Does Bow Upgrade need Fabric API?
Does a player need to install Bow Upgrade?
Is a NeoForge version available?
In the catalog
Bow Upgrade is one of 17,631 Equipment mods on ModsFinder, and one of 8,894 Equipment mods for Fabric. 19,862 mods support Minecraft 1.21.11.
Similar mods
What the author says
Netherite tools, swords, armor — but what about bows?
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/bow-upgrade
- Owner
- MeNotCloy
- Published
- 2026-05-11
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-05-16
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15