En Garde!
En Garde! changes shields so that a timed press of the block key performs a parry, letting players negate incoming mob attacks without losing health.
What it does
Blocking with a shield in vanilla lets it absorb most damage, and the mod reshapes that by adding a parry window. A player who raises the shield just before a mob strikes bounces the attack back, while raising it too early or too late gives the usual block. The author describes the goal as keeping shields strong without being overpowered, so a well-timed parry is rewarded but blocking stays useful.
Modded shields are supported. The author notes that a datapack item tag can be filled with shield item ids so that shields from other mods also use the parry rules, and nearly every value in the mod can be changed through its configuration file. Fabric API and MidnightLib are required, and Mod Menu is optional for the settings screen. En Garde! is server-side only, so players join without installing it, and the mod is open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, with builds for 1.21.4 – 1.21.11.
Key features
Timed parry
Raising a shield just before a hit reflects the attack, while blocking late or early works like the usual shield block.
Adjustable balance
The author describes the mod as configurable across nearly all of its values, so server owners can tune the parry rules.
Modded shield support
A datapack item tag can list shields from other mods so they follow the same parry rules.
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 2
Optional 1
Use cases
Balancing combat on a server
Server owners who find vanilla shields too strong can use the parry window to reward timing without removing blocking.
Modpacks with custom shields
Pack makers can add shields from other mods to the item tag so they share the parry behavior.
Who it’s for: Server owners and modpack makers who want shields to reward timing, and players who prefer combat that depends on precise input.
How it compares
Parry Mod is a Fabric mod for 1.21.1 – 1.21.11 that needs both the client and the server, and it is not open source under the MIT License. SG Shield is client-side only, open source under the MIT License and published for 1.21.6 – 1.21.8. More Extra Shield Variants is open source under the MIT License and runs on client and server for 1.21 – 1.21.1, so it covers shield variants rather than parrying.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| En Garde! | Fabric | 1.21.4 – 1.21.11 | Server-side only | 2025-10-03 |
| Parry Mod | Fabric | 1.21.1 – 1.21.11 | Client and server | 2026-01-30 |
| SG Shield | Fabric | 1.21.6 – 1.21.8 | Client-side only | 2025-07-23 |
| More Extra Shield Variants | Fabric | 1.21 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2025-02-10 |
Questions
Does En Garde! need to be installed on the client?
Which dependencies does En Garde! require?
Does En Garde! work with shields from other mods?
Which game versions does En Garde! support?
In the catalog
En Garde! is one of 7,555 Cursed mods on ModsFinder, and one of 4,235 Cursed mods for Fabric. 19,862 mods support Minecraft 1.21.11.
More from KiCKinTheBucket
Similar mods
What the author says
Have you ever felt fighting mobs was a little TOO easy with a shield? Do you miss shields not being so extremely overpowered against mobs? Yeah? Well this might just be the mod for you!
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/en-garde
- Owner
- KiCKinTheBucket
- Published
- 2025-09-30
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-10-03
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15