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Heartcore (Hardcore Alternative)

by sol_syntax

Heartcore is a Fabric survival mod that changes the heart pool, so a player starts with 6 hearts and loses one at each death.

FabricClient and serverMIT License1.21.1

What it does

A player begins a Heartcore world with 6 hearts, two fewer than the standard 10. Each death removes one heart, and a player who runs out of hearts is moved to Spectator mode, where they can watch the world but cannot play in it. The mod was made as a modpack by sol_syntax for players who found standard hardcore too harsh and standard survival lacking tension.

Hearts come back through crafting. A Homunculus Heart is made from rotten flesh with alchemy, and eating one grants the player 1 heart. An enchanted golden apple surrounded by rotten flesh can be crafted at a crafting table into a Heartcore heart. Heart items do nothing once a player already has the full 10 hearts. Heartcore needs Fabric API and Fabric Language Kotlin, both of which must be installed on the Fabric loader for 1.21.1.

Key features

  1. Reduced starting hearts

    New worlds begin with 6 hearts, two fewer than the standard amount, so early fights carry more risk.

  2. Heart loss on death

    Each death costs one heart, and running out switches the player to Spectator mode.

  3. Homunculus Heart

    Rotten flesh and alchemy produce a heart item that restores one heart when eaten.

  4. Golden apple heart recipe

    A crafting recipe combines an enchanted golden apple with rotten flesh to make a heart item.

Compatibility

Latest build for each game version and loader.

1.21.11.0.0
ReleaseBetaAlphaNot available

Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.

Requirements

Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.

Required 2

Fabric APILightweight and modular API providing common hooks and intercompatibility measures utilized by mods using the Fabric toolchain.
Required
Fabric Language KotlinThis is a mod that enables usage of the Kotlin programming language for Fabric mods.
Required

Questions

Does Heartcore need Fabric API?

Yes. Fabric API and Fabric Language Kotlin are both required dependencies, so both must be installed alongside Heartcore.

Does Heartcore have to be installed on the server?

Yes. A server running it needs every connecting player to have it too.

What happens when a player already has 10 hearts?

Eating a Homunculus Heart has no effect once a player is at the vanilla maximum of 10 hearts.

What the author says

Made for the Heartcore modpack! Is hardcore too annoying, and survival too easy? With this mod, you start with 6 hearts instead of 10, and every time you die, you lose a heart. Fear not, though, as crafting a Heart with a golden apple can add hearts back, up to the vanilla 10! A heart made out of rotten flesh and…
sol_syntax, on the Modrinth page

Official listing

Owner
sol_syntax
Published
2026-01-18
Updated on Modrinth
2026-01-18
Facts verified
2026-10-15
Open on ModrinthCompare