ModsFinder

Dynamic Lights

by Tschipcraft

With Dynamic Lights, torches, lanterns and enchanted gear held or worn by players and mobs emit light, and the server handles it without any client-side install.

FabricForgeNeoForgeQuiltServer required, client optionalCustom license1.17 – 26.2

What it does

Supported entities and items such as torches, glowstone and enchanted gear give off light when a player or mob holds or wears them, or when they sit in an item frame. The light comes from the light block added in Snapshot 21w13a. The mod is built as a data pack at its core and also ships as a mod for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt, with files for 1.17 – 26.2.

Because the logic runs on the server, players connecting from a vanilla client see the lighting without installing anything. Settings are managed in game with the command /trigger tschipcraft.menu or /function tschipcraft:menu, which also resets or removes the pack. Fabric API is required on Fabric, and Quilted Fabric API or Quilt Standard Libraries is required on Quilt. MidnightLib, Mod Menu and ModMenu Badges Lib are optional. Mining Helmet (Now Dyable) and Light Shield both require this mod.

Key features

  1. Supported item list

    More than 50 vanilla items are supported out of the box, and a complete list is kept on the project page.

  2. Five light levels

    Each supported item is assigned one of five brightness steps, ranging from dim to the brightest setting.

  3. Water-sensitive items

    Some items react to water, change their light, and play a sound when they are submerged.

  4. Enchanted gear glows

    Enchanted items emit light level 6 by default, while Fire Aspect, Riptide and trident-style items emit level 9.

  5. Modded inventory slots

    Support for common modded inventory slots lets light come from items placed in them.

Compatibility

Latest build for each game version and loader.

26.x4 of 4 versions with builds
26.21.9.3+modNot available1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
26.1.21.9.3+modNot available1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
26.1.11.9.3+modNot available1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
26.11.9.3+modNot available1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.x12 of 12 versions with builds
1.21.111.9.3+modNot available1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.101.9.3+modNot available1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.91.9.3+modNot available1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.81.9.3+modNot available1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.71.9.3+modNot available1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.61.9.3+modNot available1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.51.9.3+mod1.9+mod1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.41.9.3+mod1.9+mod1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.31.9.3+mod1.9+mod1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.21.9.3+mod1.9+mod1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.21.11.9.3+mod1.9+mod1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.211.9.3+mod1.9+mod1.9.3+mod1.9.3+mod
1.20.x7 of 7 versions with builds
1.19.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.18.x3 of 3 versions with builds
1.17.x2 of 2 versions with builds
ReleaseBetaAlphaNot available

This mod also publishes snapshot builds. Snapshots are not shown in the matrix.

Requirements

Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.

Required 2

Quilted Fabric API (QFAPI) / Quilt Standard Libraries (QSL)The standard libraries of the Quilt ecosystem. Essential for your modding experience on Quilt!
Required
Fabric APILightweight and modular API providing common hooks and intercompatibility measures utilized by mods using the Fabric toolchain.
Required

Optional 3

MB
ModMenu Badges LibMore badge!!!
Optional
Mod MenuAdds a mod menu to view the list of mods you have installed.
Optional
MidnightLibCommon library providing a lightweight configuration system
Optional

Required by 2 mods

Mining Helmet (Now Dyable)1.20 – 26.3Light Shield26.1.2

How it compares

Full comparison

Dynamic Lighting is the same family of server-side lighting, under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 only, with files for 1.17 – 26.2 on Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt. Light It Up is also server-side, under All rights reserved, for 1.19.4 – 26.3 on the same four loaders. Lightweight Lights is server-side too, licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 or later, and covers 1.20 – 1.21.4.

ModLoadersGame versionsEnvironmentUpdated
Dynamic LightsFabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt1.17 – 26.2Server required, client optional2026-06-24
Dynamic LightingFabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt1.17 – 26.2Server required, client optional2026-06-21
Light It UpFabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt1.19.4 – 26.3Server required, client optional2026-10-10
Lightweight LightsFabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt1.20 – 1.21.4Server required, client optional2025-06-22

Questions

Does Dynamic Lights need to be installed on every player's client?

No. The mod works on the server alone, so players can join a server that runs it without installing anything.

Why might blocks fall when a light updates?

On the versions up to 1.21.4, each light change also fires a block update, so gravity-affected blocks like sand or gravel can drop.

Which loader should a server use for Dynamic Lights?

Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt all have files, but Forge only gets native support on older builds, so pick a loader that matches the server version.

In the catalog

Dynamic Lights is one of 19,031 Adventure mods on ModsFinder, and one of 10,052 Adventure mods for Fabric. 13,894 mods support Minecraft 26.2.

Adventure mods19,031Fabric modsMods for 26.213,894

More from Tschipcraft

All projects
Make Bubbles Pop1.17 – 26.3Spawn Animations1.16 – 26.3More Mobs1.14 – 26.3Armed Stands1.20 – 26.3Death Animations [WIP]1.16 – 1.17.1

Similar mods

Sound Physics Remastered1.19 – 26.3Advancement Plaques1.12.2 – 26.3JourneyMap1.7.10 – 26.3Exposure1.19.2 – 1.21.1Boat Item View1.16.5 – 26.3Shoulder Surfing Reloaded1.7.10 – 26.3

What the author says

This data pack/mod brings dynamic lighting to Minecraft without any client-side requirements. Supported entities and items (like torches, glowstone, or enchanted gear), held or worn by players, mobs, or placed in item frames, will emit light using the light block) added in Snapshot 21w13a. -> For a complete list of…
Tschipcraft, on the Modrinth page

Official listing

Owner
Tschipcraft
Published
2023-01-01
Updated on Modrinth
2026-06-24
Facts verified
2026-10-15

Tags

AdventureGame mechanicsUtilityEquipment
Open on ModrinthCompare