Polymesh
by phe
Polymesh is a Forge library that renders glTF 2.0 models in the 1.20.1 client, letting other mods draw animated meshes for items, entities and block entities.
What it does
Polymesh loads glTF 2.0 models in two forms: .gltf files that reference external buffers and textures, and .glb files with everything embedded. It can draw rigid models, deforming skins and blend-shape morphs, and it can read node transforms and glTF extras metadata. Morph target names taken from Blender shape keys can be looked up by name.
Animation playback is controllable, including speed and transitions between clips. Models can be selected for entities, block entities and items, with distance settings for the base model. Skin and morph deformation are calculated on the CPU. When the Iris or Oculus shader pack is active with the default setting, the renderer uses the Minecraft vertex consumer so that the pack controls lighting, and emissive, metallic and roughness textures are applied where the model defines them.
Polymesh can also calculate physics mesh collisions from the model geometry. A developer guide with registration examples and API options is included for mods that build on it. Only the client needs the mod, so servers run without it, and the license is the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 or later, with the source code public.
Key features
glTF 2.0 loading
Reads .gltf files with relative buffers and textures, and .glb files with embedded textures.
Animated and skinned meshes
Renders static meshes, skinned meshes and morph targets, with control over animation speed and clip transitions.
Entity and block entity models
Attaches models to entities, block entities and items, with camera distance settings for the base model.
Physics mesh collisions
Builds collision geometry from model meshes so that other mods can use it for physics interactions.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
How it compares
Model Loader0 is a Forge and NeoForge option for 1.20.1 that is not open source under the MIT License; either side can run it, and neither needs it. EveryThingMorph is a Forge mod for 1.20.1 that covers morph targets, released under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only and open source, and it needs both client and server. Polymesh is client-side only and is open source under the LGPL v3.0 or later.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polymesh | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client-side only | 2026-09-15 |
| Model Loader0 | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 | Client or server, optional | 2026-09-17 |
| EveryThingMorph | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client and server | 2026-03-11 |
Questions
Does Polymesh need to be installed on the server?
Which Minecraft version does Polymesh support?
Which model formats can Polymesh load?
In the catalog
Polymesh is one of 3,514 Library mods on ModsFinder, and one of 1,576 Library mods for Forge. 34,764 mods support Minecraft 1.20.1.
More from phe
Similar mods
What the author says
Polymesh renders glTF 2.0 models in Minecraft Forge and NeoForge 1.20.1. Mods can use it to render items, entities, and block entities. If a mod uses Polymesh, install Polymesh. Put polymesh-1.0.0-forge.jar in the Minecraft mods folder. This file includes the jgltf and Jackson dependencies.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/polymesh
- Owner
- phe
- Published
- 2026-05-14
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-09-15
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15
