Retro Knockback
by Andriyko69
Retro Knockback changes how mobs are pushed back when struck, reviving the beta-era feel of combat on NeoForge 1.21.1.
What it does
Hits from players against mobs send the target back with a sideways push that older Minecraft releases used, so each strike reads as more immediate. The behavior is controlled by a small set of values for forward push and upward lift, plus an optional beta simulation mode that applies an adjustable sine multiplier to the motion.
The mod runs on the server alone, so players join without installing it. Its single purpose is the knockback behavior, and it adds no blocks, items or interface. Optional debug commands let a server owner check the effect in game. The code is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later, and the source code and issue tracker are public. A single build is published for NeoForge, for 1.21.1.
Key features
Beta-style mob knockback
Mobs are pushed back in the manner of beta-era releases, which makes melee hits feel more immediate than in current versions.
Configurable forward push
The strength of the horizontal push that a mob receives when struck can be adjusted in the config file.
Configurable upward lift
The vertical lift applied during a knockback is set by its own value, separate from the forward push.
Beta simulation mode
An optional mode applies an adjustable sine multiplier to the knockback motion to reproduce the beta response curve.
Debug commands
Optional in-game commands let a server owner test the knockback settings without restarting the world.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Classic combat on a server
A server that wants melee to match older releases can run the mod with its default values and adjust them later.
Tuning the hit feel
Owners who want a stronger or softer push can change the forward and upward values and test them with the debug commands.
Who it’s for: Server owners who want mob knockback to match the older beta-style combat feel. Players need nothing installed, since only the server runs the mod.
Questions
Does Retro Knockback have to be installed on the client?
Which loader and version does Retro Knockback support?
Does Retro Knockback change how the knockback is calculated?
In the catalog
Retro Knockback is one of 29,952 Game mechanics mods on ModsFinder, and one of 12,140 Game mechanics mods for NeoForge. 32,366 mods support Minecraft 1.21.1.
More from Andriyko69
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What the author says
RetroKnockback brings back a more old-school feel to mob knockback. It changes knockback behavior to simulate a beta-style response, making hits feel more immediate and retro compared to modern Minecraft.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/retroknockback
- Owner
- Andriyko69
- Published
- 2026-03-06
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-03-06
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15