Kill to Spectate
by schultz_IHNE
Kill to Spectate changes what happens after a player dies, switching a player killed by another player into Spectator mode while other deaths keep the player in Survival or Adventure.
What it does
A player killed by another player is switched automatically into Spectator mode, so the defeated player can keep watching the match without leaving the server. Deaths from other causes, such as mobs, falls, lava or other environmental damage, leave the player in their current game mode instead.
The mod is a simple server-side change to how deaths are handled, and it is meant for PVP servers where defeated players stay in the game as observers. Only the server runs it, so players join without installing anything.
The mod is published for Forge 1.20.1 only. Its latest file, 1.2.1, dates from 2026-05-17, and the first release was published on 2026-05-10. The code is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only.
Key features
Spectator after PvP death
A player killed by another player is moved into Spectator mode automatically, with no command needed.
Survival kept for other deaths
Deaths from falls, mobs, lava and other environmental causes leave the player in Survival or Adventure.
Watching without leaving
Defeated players stay on the server and can follow the fight, which suits competitive PVP play.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
PVP servers
Server owners running player-versus-player games can let defeated players keep watching instead of disconnecting.
Who it’s for: Server owners and administrators who run PVP games on Forge 1.20.1 and want defeated players to keep watching the match.
How it compares
Keep Xp is also server-side only and published for Forge 1.20.1, but it is licensed under the MIT License and is not open source. NoMoreF3+F4 is server-side only, open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only, and covers 1.20.1 – 1.20.4, so it reaches more game versions. BadSpectators covers 1.20.1 – 1.20.6 and runs on client and server, so every player needs it, while Kill to Spectate needs only the server.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kill to Spectate | Forge | 1.20.1 | Server-side only | 2026-05-17 |
| Keep Xp | Forge | 1.20.1 | Server-side only | 2024-03-22 |
| NoMoreF3+F4 | Forge | 1.20.1 – 1.20.4 | Server-side only | 2026-02-11 |
| BadSpectators | Forge | 1.20.1 – 1.20.6 | Client and server | 2026-01-31 |
Questions
Does Kill to Spectate need to be installed on the client?
Which deaths switch a player to Spectator mode?
Which Forge versions does Kill to Spectate support?
In the catalog
Kill to Spectate is one of 8,016 Management mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,698 Management mods for Forge. 34,764 mods support Minecraft 1.20.1.
Similar mods
What the author says
Kill to Spectate is a simple server-side Minecraft mod that changes how player deaths are handled. This mod is perfect for PVP servers where you want defeated players to continue watching the game without leaving it entirely.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/kill-to-spectate
- Owner
- schultz_IHNE
- Published
- 2026-05-10
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-05-17
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15