Defense
by Knarfy
Defense lets players block unwanted PvP interactions while keeping PvP available on servers that allow it.
What it does
Defense gives each player a toggle that marks them as immune to incoming PvP damage. When the toggle is on, direct attacks, projectiles and lit TNT do not hurt the player. The mod was originally built for an Empty World SMP, where players wanted protection from others without turning off PvP across the whole server.
The toggle sits in the survival player inventory as a shield icon, and a shield icon also appears next to the nametag so others can see the state. The icon can be changed through Skin Customization Settings, where a switch shows the current option. The mod is published for Fabric only, for game versions 1.21 – 1.21.11, with 0.5.0 as the latest build for 1.21.11. The server and every player need the mod installed. The code is open source under the MIT License.
Key features
PvP immunity toggle
A button in the survival inventory switches the player's defense on or off, covering attacks and projectiles alike.
Protection from lit TNT
Players with defense enabled take no damage from lit TNT placed nearby, not only from melee and ranged attacks.
Nametag shield icon
A shield icon shows beside the player's nametag while defense is active, so others can tell who is protected.
Selectable icons
The shield icon can be replaced through Skin Customization Settings, and the choice applies inside Minecraft without extra files.
Planned updates
The author plans further functions and quality-of-life changes for later releases of the mod.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Protected PvP servers
Servers that keep PvP enabled can let players opt out of unwanted fights while others continue to compete.
Empty World SMPs
The mod was originally created for an Empty World SMP, where it was built and tested for that setting.
Who it’s for: Server owners who run PvP servers and players who want control over when they can be attacked.
How it compares
PvP Toggle for fabric is server-side only, open source under the MIT License and published for 1.21.4 – 1.21.7. PvP Vote is also server-side only and open source under the MIT License, but its build covers only 1.21.11. Defense needs both client and server, so every player installs it.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defense | Fabric | 1.21 – 1.21.11 | Client and server | 2026-01-10 |
| PvP Toggle for fabric | Fabric | 1.21.4 – 1.21.7 | Server-side only | 2025-08-14 |
| PvP Vote | Fabric | 1.21.11 | Server-side only | 2026-07-30 |
Questions
Does Defense need to be installed on both sides?
Which game versions does Defense support?
Can players change the shield icon?
In the catalog
Defense is one of 5,392 Social mods on ModsFinder, and one of 4,084 Social mods for Fabric. 19,862 mods support Minecraft 1.21.11.
More from Knarfy
Similar mods
What the author says
(These Icons are selectable via the Skin Customization Settings within Minecraft) More features are planned, and updates will add new functionality to the mod, along with quality of life changes to make it even better to use.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/defense
- Owner
- Knarfy
- Published
- 2024-07-21
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-01-10
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15