Critical Stun (Better Crits)
Critical Stun adds a stun effect to critical hits, so landing consecutive crits on a mob builds up knockback until the target is sent launching.
What it does
A critical hit that lands on a target stuns it and knocks it back. When hits chain together, the knockback grows with each one. After a configurable number of consecutive hits, the mob is launched away. Players are not affected, and bosses are excluded from the effect, so the mechanic applies to ordinary mobs only.
Every threshold for the stun, the knockback growth and the launch count can be changed in the mod's configuration. The mod is built on NeoForge and runs on client and server, so the server and every player need it. Files are published for 1.21.1 – 1.21.9 under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only, and the source code and issue tracker are public. The mod is open source.
Key features
Stun on critical hits
A critical hit that connects stuns the target and pushes it back, interrupting its movement for a moment.
Chained knockback
Each consecutive critical hit adds more knockback, so a sustained combo pushes the mob farther.
Launch after consecutive hits
Once a set number of consecutive hits is reached, the mob is sent launching into the air.
Configurable values
The stun strength, knockback growth and launch count can all be adjusted in the configuration file.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
1.21.x9 of 9 versions with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Combat in adventure worlds
Players fighting ordinary mobs in adventure maps can use chained crits to keep enemies off balance and control the fight.
Multiplayer servers
Server owners who want a crit-focused combat style can tune the thresholds for their players without changing the rest of the game.
Who it’s for: Players who enjoy melee combat with critical hits, and server owners who want a stun and knockback mechanic on ordinary mobs. Bosses and players are left out of the effect.
How it compares
Crit Combo is a Forge and NeoForge mod for 1.20.1 – 1.21.11 that works on client and server and is released under All rights reserved, so its source is not open. New Better Combat is an open source NeoForge mod under the MIT License for 26.1.2 – 26.2, which also runs on client and server. The Underworld Mod is a NeoForge mod for 1.21.1 – 1.21.8 that is server-side only and is not open source.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Stun (Better Crits) | NeoForge | 1.21.1 – 1.21.9 | Client and server | 2025-10-07 |
| Crit Combo | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.11 | Client and server | 2026-08-31 |
| New Better Combat | NeoForge | 26.1.2 – 26.2 | Client and server | 2026-06-26 |
| The Underworld Mod | NeoForge | 1.21.1 – 1.21.8 | Server-side only | 2025-07-20 |
Questions
Does Critical Stun need NeoForge?
Does the server need Critical Stun?
Are bosses and players affected by the stun?
In the catalog
Critical Stun (Better Crits) is one of 19,031 Adventure mods on ModsFinder, and one of 8,588 Adventure mods for NeoForge. 13,427 mods support Minecraft 1.21.9.
Similar mods
What the author says
BetterCrit rewards consecutive critical hits, on all mobs excluding players and bosses. Should have almost zero effect on perfomance and is comprised of only a few mixins.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/critical-stun-better-crits
- Owner
- krakendestrium
- Published
- 2025-10-07
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-10-07
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15