Fancy VFX
Fancy VFX adds client-side particle and visual effects to explosions, lightning, projectiles, experience orbs and status effects in Minecraft 1.20.1.
What it does
Players who want more visual feedback in combat and exploration can add effects such as Better Explosions, Better Lightnings, Experience Orbs Trails, Arrow Trails and Shooting VFX. Underwater explosions get their own effect and sound, though that feature needs Effective. Projectile Landing Effects, a Light Aura, Damage VFX, smoke while sprinting and visual markers for applied status effects round out the set.
The mod runs on Fabric and Quilt for the single game version 1.20.1. Fabric API is required on both loaders, and Effective is optional. Only the client needs it, so a server can stay vanilla and players join without installing anything. The code is not open source; the mod is released under All rights reserved, while its bundled libraries Cardinal Components API, Lodestone and MidnightLib are included inside the jar. The latest file for both loaders is 1.2.7, dated 2025-06-17.
Key features
Explosion effects
Explosions gain added particles, and underwater blasts show their own effect and accompanying sound.
Lightning and projectile effects
Lightning strikes get an enhanced look, and projectiles leave trails and a visual burst when they land.
Experience orb trails
Experience orbs are drawn with trailing particles as they move toward the player.
Status effect and damage markers
Applied status effects and damage events are marked with visual effects, and a light aura and sprint smoke add ambient detail.
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 1
Optional 1
Embedded 3
Use cases
Who it’s for: Players on Fabric or Quilt who run Minecraft 1.20.1 and want extra particles and effects on their own client. Servers do not need to run the mod, and players who only play single-player can install it as well.
How it compares
Colorful Orbs is also client-side only and open source under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 only, with builds for Fabric and Quilt across 1.20.1 – 1.20.6, so it covers a wider version range. Elytra Contrails Mod is client-side only and open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1 only, published for Fabric 1.20.1 – 26.3, and focuses on elytra flight trails rather than a general effects set. Fancy VFX is not open source and targets only 1.20.1.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fancy VFX | Fabric and Quilt | 1.20.1 | Client-side only | 2025-06-17 |
| Colorful Orbs | Fabric and Quilt | 1.20.1 – 1.20.6 | Client-side only | 2024-10-19 |
| Elytra Contrails Mod | Fabric | 1.20.1 – 26.3 | Client-side only | 2026-10-09 |
Questions
Does Fancy VFX need Fabric API?
Which feature needs Effective?
Does a server need Fancy VFX installed?
Which game versions does Fancy VFX support?
In the catalog
Fancy VFX is one of 12,078 Decoration mods on ModsFinder, and one of 6,982 Decoration mods for Fabric. 34,764 mods support Minecraft 1.20.1.
More from maxmag_change
Similar mods
What the author says
## A Fabric client-side mod improving Minecraft's ambience through particles, visual effects. - Better Underwater Explosions (Requires Effective)
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/fancy-vfx
- Owner
- maxmag_change
- Published
- 2024-11-04
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-06-17
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15