5 Ways to Disable Upper Recipes in Minecraft

If you're an avid Minecraft player, you've likely encountered moments where you wish to limit or completely disable upper recipes. Whether it's for creating a unique survival experience, enforcing specific gameplay modes, or just for fun, controlling what your players can craft can redefine the game's challenge and excitement. Here are five effective ways to disable upper recipes in Minecraft, each with its own set of steps and considerations:

1. Using CraftTweaker Mod

CraftTweaker is an immensely popular mod that allows players to adjust recipes, add new ones, or remove existing ones. Here’s how you can use it to remove upper recipes:

• Install CraftTweaker: First, download and install the mod from its official repository or through platforms like CurseForge.
• Create a Script: In your game’s mods folder, create a folder named ‘scripts’. Inside, create a file named ‘main.zs’ or whatever name you prefer.
• Edit the Script:

          // Remove a specific upper recipe
          recipes.remove( minecraft:gold_block );
  
      // To remove all upper recipes
      for recipe in recipes.all {
          if(recipe.name.toLowerCase().contains("upper") || recipe.name.toLowerCase().contains("top") ) {
              recipes.remove(recipe.output);
          }
      }
      </pre>
  </li>
  <li><b>Load Game:</b> Load or reload your game to apply these changes. Ensure your CraftTweaker is set to read and execute scripts automatically on load.</li>
  
  
  

2. Edit Game Files Directly

For those who don’t want to use mods, editing game files directly can be an option, although it’s risky:

• Access the Data Packs: Navigate to your Minecraft game folder, go to ‘saves’, then to your world folder, and find the ‘datapacks’ folder.
• Create a New Data Pack: Create a new folder named ‘no_upper_recipes’ or similar. Inside, create ‘data’, then ‘minecraft’, and finally ‘recipes’. In this last folder, create a JSON file for each recipe you want to disable.
• Edit JSON File: For each item, write:

          {
              “type”: “minecraft:crafting_shapeless”,
              “group”: “upper”,
              “ingredients”: [
                  {
                      “item”: “minecraft:air”
                  }
              ],
              “result”: {
                  “item”: “minecraft:air”,
                  “count”: 0
              }
          }
          

  This essentially disables the recipe by requiring air as an ingredient.
• Reload Data Packs: In-game, use the command ‘/reload’ to apply the changes.

⚠️ Note: Directly editing game files can corrupt your world if not done correctly.

3. Using Minecraft Commands

Minecraft’s command blocks allow for complex gameplay manipulation, including disabling recipes:

• Obtain Command Blocks: Enable cheats in your game or enter creative mode, then give yourself command blocks.
• Create Command Block: Place the command block in the game and power it with redstone.
• Set Command: Type the following command:

          /execute as @a[tag=upper] run recipe give @s upper_recipe
          

  Replace ‘upper_recipe’ with the specific recipe you want to disable.
• Condition: This method requires setting conditions for players to not have access to these recipes.

4. Disable Recipes in Custom Maps

If you’re creating a custom map or server:

• Use WorldEdit: Utilize WorldEdit to manage and edit large sections of your map, including recipes.
• Command Blocks: Incorporate command blocks to execute commands that disable recipes upon map load.
• Packaging: Package these settings into your map or server files so that players load them automatically.

5. Server Plugin Solutions

For server operators:

• Install Plugins: Look for plugins like ‘Essentials’ or ‘Recipe Manager’ that offer recipe manipulation tools.
• Configure Plugin: Adjust the plugin settings to disable the upper recipes you specify.
• Restart: Restart the server or reload the plugin for changes to take effect.

To wrap up, controlling what can be crafted in Minecraft provides an avenue for unique gameplay experiences. Each method above offers different levels of complexity and customization, allowing server administrators, map creators, and individual players to tailor the crafting system to their needs. Whether it's through advanced modding, direct file editing, or server-side plugins, the ability to disable upper recipes opens up a world of possibilities for game design and creativity within Minecraft.

Why would I want to disable upper recipes in Minecraft?

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Disabling upper recipes can create a challenge, force players into different gameplay styles, or make room for custom challenges and events in your game world.

Is it safe to edit Minecraft game files?

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Editing game files directly can be risky. Mistakes can lead to game crashes or corrupted worlds, so always back up your world before making any changes.

Can these methods be used on public servers?

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Yes, particularly methods involving server plugins or custom map design, can be effectively implemented on public servers to control crafting possibilities.

Are there any server performance issues to consider when disabling recipes?

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Most methods have minimal impact on performance. However, extensive use of command blocks or complex plugins might cause lag in larger worlds with many players.

How can I re-enable a recipe I’ve disabled?

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To re-enable a recipe, you would typically undo the actions taken to disable it. For mods like CraftTweaker, comment out or remove the disabling lines from your script file, reload or restart the game. For direct file edits, restore your backups or recreate the original recipe files.