Pufferfish's Skills
by Pufferfish
Players who want their own progression tree use Pufferfish's Skills, a framework for building fully configurable skill systems that is installed next to a separate set of skill trees.
What it does
The mod supplies the skill system itself and no skills of its own. Skill layouts are defined in JSON, and a dedicated online editor helps lay out the nodes. An API lets other code extend the system and manage skills. Configuration can be reloaded in a running game with the /reload command, so changes do not need a restart.
Skill trees are installed separately. The author suggests starting with Default Skill Trees for the quickest route into play. A tutorial on creating skill trees and the Default Skill Trees data pack, which can be read and modified, are the suggested routes for authors. Fabric API is required, and the mod is published for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge across 24 release versions, 1.18.2 – 26.3. It runs on client and server, and the client may use a different loader than the server. The code is under a custom license and is not open source; redistribution is not permitted, though using it in a modpack is.
Key features
JSON-driven skills
Skill layouts and their behavior are defined in JSON files, which can be edited directly or through the online editor.
Online skill editor
A browser-based editor is provided to make designing skill layouts easier.
Extensible API
An API lets other mods extend the functionality of the system and manage skills programmatically.
Live reload
Configuration is reloaded with the /reload command, so edits take effect without restarting the game.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.21.x11 of 11 versions with builds
1.20.x4 of 4 versions with builds
1.19.x3 of 3 versions with builds
1.18.x1 of 1 version with builds
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Required by 32 mods
Use cases
Modpack skill progression
Modpack authors can build a custom skill tree and include the mod in a pack, as long as the mod itself is not redistributed.
Skill tree content creation
Authors create skill trees from the tutorial or by adapting the Default Skill Trees data pack.
Who it’s for: Modpack authors and server owners who want a custom progression system, and data pack creators who write skill trees in JSON.
How it compares
Epic Fight: Skill Tree is open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only and targets Forge and NeoForge for 1.20.1 – 1.21.1. KJ's Progression Limiter is Fabric-only for 1.21.1 – 1.21.6 and is open source under CC0 1.0 Universal. Project MMO is not open source, uses the All rights reserved license and covers Forge and NeoForge for 1.16.5 – 26.3.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pufferfish's Skills | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.18.2 – 26.3 | Client and server | 2026-10-08 |
| Epic Fight: Skill Tree | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-08-17 |
| KJ's Progression Limiter | Fabric | 1.21.1 – 1.21.6 | Client and server | 2025-06-21 |
| Project MMO | Forge and NeoForge | 1.16.5 – 26.3 | Client and server | 2026-10-11 |
Questions
Does Pufferfish's Skills need Fabric API?
Does the server need Pufferfish's Skills if players have it?
Can the skills be changed without restarting the game?
In the catalog
Pufferfish's Skills is one of 19,031 Adventure mods on ModsFinder, and one of 10,052 Adventure mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from Pufferfish
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What the author says
Pufferfish’s Skills is a mod that adds a framework to create fully configurable skill systems. It has a dedicated online editor to make designing skills layouts easier. There is also an API which allows extending the functionality and managing skills. This mod is just a framework. You need to install skill trees…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/skills
- Owner
- Pufferfish
- Published
- 2023-03-02
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-10-08
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15