Runic Races
by otectus
Runic Races is a Forge add-on for Origins that gives each player one race from a family-based selection, with 37 races that each have one active ability and a single passive strength and weakness.
What it does
The mod runs on Origins and needs it installed alongside. It replaces the default origin choice with a two-step Family and Race selection, so a player first picks a family and then a race inside it. By default the Origins screen shows only this layer and hides the vanilla origins, while the disableDefaultOriginLayer option in runic races-common.toml restores the standard screen so origins from other add-ons appear next to the family and race choices.
Race content is defined in datapacks. A built-in datapack can be toggled in config, a template for extra races lives under examples/datapacks/runic races extra races, and Origins merges layer membership across datapacks. Changes to the config take effect after a server restart, since a reload alone does not apply them. The client-side file controls the HUD position and appearance, while the common file holds debug logging. The mod is open source under the MIT License, with source code and an issue tracker published, and its files target Minecraft 1.20.1 on Forge only.
Key features
37 races in 7 families
Each race has exactly one active ability and one passive strength and one weakness, and races are grouped into seven families.
Flap and fold wings
Gliding is unbound by default: flap upward to gain height and cancel the glide to stop.
Race height scaling
With Pehkui installed, each race sets its own height, so families read at a glance in a crowd.
Ready glow and state cues
Ambient state effects, passive state particles and a state-rune pulse show a race's condition on screen.
Preserved selections
Existing players keep their race when the old KubeJS Runic Races datapack is removed from kubejs/data.
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
How it compares
MrBoss's Fantasy Races is a Forge mod for 1.20.1, client and server, under the MIT License, and it is not open source. Runic Curiosities is a Forge mod for 1.20.1 – 1.20.6, client and server, under All rights reserved and not open source. JDi Origins is open source under the MIT License and runs on both Fabric and Forge for 1.20 – 1.20.1.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runic Races | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client and server | 2026-09-04 |
| MrBoss's Fantasy Races | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client and server | 2024-01-05 |
| Runic Curiosities | Forge | 1.20.1 – 1.20.6 | Client and server | 2026-10-04 |
| JDi Origins | Fabric and Forge | 1.20 – 1.20.1 | Client and server | 2026-02-04 |
Questions
Does Runic Races need Origins?
Do players and the server both need Runic Races?
How is the default origin layer turned back on?
In the catalog
Runic Races is one of 7,216 Magic mods on ModsFinder, and one of 3,927 Magic mods for Forge. 34,764 mods support Minecraft 1.20.1.
More from otectus
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What the author says
A flagship Origins add-on for the Runecraft modpack. 37 deeply designed races across 7 families, each with exactly one active ability, one passive strength, and one weakness — plus environmental interactions and deep integration with Runecraft's mod ecosystem. Pick a family first, then a race within it. With Pehkui…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/runic-races
- Owner
- otectus
- Published
- 2026-06-18
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-09-04
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15