Spellbind
Spellbind lets a datapack author define custom spells, which fire when a player uses a specified item near a targeted mob.
What it does
A spell is declared in a datapack. It names the item that triggers it, the attacking distance in blocks, the mob entity ID the spell applies to, optional NBT criteria that narrow the target to mobs with a specific tag, and a series of actions. Once the spell is set up, a player who holds the right mouse button with the item in hand casts it, and the spell is applied to a matching mob within range.
The mod is a framework rather than a finished set of spells. Its examples include an apple that affects a pig with a given NBT tag up to 10 blocks away, and a sweet berry that affects a mob within 3 blocks. The included example datapack contains two spells, both enabled by default, and shows the actions a spell can run: giving potion effects, sending titles to online players, setting max health, and teleporting using relative coordinates.
Spellbind is client and server, so the server and every player need the mod. It is published for Forge only, with a single build, 1.0.0-alpha, for 1.16.5, released on 2022-03-06 under the MIT License. The source code is public, and the mod is open source.
Key features
Item-triggered spells
A spell is bound to any item ID, such as minecraft:apple, and fires when the player uses that item.
Target and range settings
Each spell sets an attacking distance as a float in blocks and a mob entity ID, with minecraft:pig as the example.
NBT criteria
An NBT criterion limits a spell so that only mobs carrying a specific NBT tag are affected.
Vanilla reload action
A spell finishes by running the vanilla reload command, so changes to the datapack take effect in game.
Example spells
The example datapack contains two spells that run potion, title, health and teleport actions.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
How it compares
Iron's Spells More Interaction is a Forge option for 1.20.1 that uses a different interaction model and is not open source. BarrelSpell is a Forge mod for 1.20.1 – 1.20.6 under the MIT License, not open source. Spelled is open source under the MIT License and covers 1.16.5 – 26.1.2 on Forge and NeoForge, so it reaches further in versions and loaders than Spellbind, which targets 1.16.5 only.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spellbind | Forge | 1.16.5 | Client and server | 2022-03-06 |
| Iron's Spells More Interaction | Forge | 1.20.1 | Client and server | 2026-09-30 |
| BarrelSpell | Forge | 1.20.1 – 1.20.6 | Client and server | 2026-05-18 |
| Spelled | Forge and NeoForge | 1.16.5 – 26.1.2 | Client and server | 2026-07-11 |
Questions
Which loader does Spellbind use?
Does the server need Spellbind?
Are spells set up in code or in a datapack?
In the catalog
Spellbind is one of 7,216 Magic mods on ModsFinder, and one of 3,927 Magic mods for Forge. 5,992 mods support Minecraft 1.16.5.
More from RisingInIris2017
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What the author says
2️⃣ Specify an item ID. This item should be "usable": You are able to hold your right mouse button to use it. Foods or Bows for example. 3️⃣ Specify your spell's attacking distance: how far (in blocks) can your spell reach.
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/spellbind
- Owner
- RisingInIris2017
- Published
- 2022-03-06
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2022-03-06
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15