GuardsCraft
Every ruler knows that a kingdom is only as strong as its defenders. GuardsCraft brings that truth to life in Minecraft, letting you recruit, equip, and command a personal army of loyal guards. Whether you need a frontline of swordsmen or a backline of crossbowmen, this add-on transforms your base into a fortified stronghold. With new weapons, defensive structures, and even a configurable guard system, GuardsCraft gives you the tools to protect your realm from any threat.
What Is GuardsCraft?
GuardsCraft is a content-rich mod for Minecraft that introduces recruitable NPC guards, unique weapons, and deployable defenses. Instead of fighting alone, you can hire melee and ranged units to patrol your territory, attack enemies, or hold strategic positions. The mod also adds a crown-based economy, where you earn currency by slaying mobs or smelting gold nuggets, then spend it at recruitment desks to enlist your troops. With nine distinct guard types and a growing arsenal of medieval weaponry, GuardsCraft turns your world into a dynamic battlefield.
Recruiting Your Guards
To start building your army, you first need crowns — the mod’s special currency. You can obtain crowns by defeating hostile mobs or by smelting gold nuggets. Once you have enough, craft a recruitment desk. There are two types: one for melee units and one for ranged units. Right-click a desk to open its GUI, where you’ll see available guards and their hiring costs. Hover over each button to read a description written by your loyal servant, then spend your crowns to enlist the guard of your choice.
Melee Units
GuardsCraft offers six melee guards, each with distinct gear and combat style. The Milician is a basic frontline fighter, while the Swordman brings a balanced offense. The Lancer uses reach to keep enemies at bay, and the Malletman crushes armored foes with blunt force. The Axeman can disable shields, and the Halberdier combines slashing and thrusting for versatile attacks. All melee guards can follow you or hold a position, making them perfect for both offensive raids and defensive patrols.
Ranged Units
For distance combat, GuardsCraft provides five ranged specialists. The Javelinier hurls piercing javelins, while the Bowman and Heavy Bowman rain arrows from afar. The Crossbowman delivers powerful, accurate shots, and the Naphtha Thrower unleashes fiery projectiles that can ignite enemies and structures. Ranged guards excel at holding elevated positions or supporting melee troops from behind fortifications.
Commanding Your Troops
Once hired, guards are not just passive mobs — they respond to your orders. Right-click a guard to make them follow you, or sneak and right-click to toggle between offensive and defensive stances. In defensive mode, a guard will stand their ground and attack any hostile that comes near, but they won’t follow you. This simple command system lets you set up patrols, guard posts, or a mobile strike force. If a guard gets injured, you can heal them by right-clicking with food, keeping your army battle-ready without needing potions.
New Weapons for You and Your Guards
GuardsCraft doesn’t just arm your recruits — it also gives you new weapons to wield. The Lance offers extended reach for mounted or foot combat. The Halberd combines an axe blade with a spear tip for sweeping and thrusting attacks. The Mallet is especially effective against armored enemies, crushing through plate and mail. The War Axe can disable shields (though this feature is still being refined), and the Knife provides a quick, lightweight option. For ranged fighters, the Javelin and Naphtha throwable fire weapon add tactical variety. These weapons can be used by both you and your guards, letting you equip your army exactly as you see fit.
Defensive Structures
Beyond mobile troops, GuardsCraft adds static defenses to fortify your base. The Cheval de Frise is a spiked fence that blocks enemy movement and damages anyone who tries to pass through. Stakes work similarly but are buried in the ground, dealing lethal damage to mobs that fall onto them. Caltrops slow down approaching enemies, giving your guards more time to react. For fiery traps, craft a Pitch Oven to produce pitch — a highly flammable liquid made by desiccating wood logs inside barrels. Bury pitch in the ground, then ignite it with a fired arrow or a lighter to create blazing hazards. A Brazier allows your bowmen to shoot flaming arrows, perfect for setting pitch traps ablaze from a safe distance.
Configuration and Customization
GuardsCraft includes a config file that lets you tailor the mod to your playstyle. After installing the mod and launching Minecraft, a guardscraft-common.toml file generates in your config folder. Inside, you can adjust guard health, attack damage, armor values, and even the crown cost for each unit. This means you can make guards tougher for hardcore worlds or cheaper for a faster start. The mod’s flexibility ensures it fits seamlessly into any modpack or survival challenge.
How to Install GuardsCraft
GuardsCraft is currently built for Minecraft version 1.16.5 and requires the Forge mod loader. To install manually, download the mod file from CurseForge or Modrinth and place it into your .minecraft/mods folder after installing Forge for 1.16.5. Make sure you have the correct Forge version installed, then launch the game. The config file will generate automatically on first run. If you prefer a streamlined experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers GuardsCraft in its built-in add-on catalog, enabling one-click installation and automatic version compatibility checks so you can jump straight into commanding your guards without manual setup.
With its blend of recruitable NPCs, new armaments, and deployable defenses, GuardsCraft redefines how you protect your Minecraft domain. Raise your army, fortify your walls, and let your loyal guards do the fighting while you rule from the throne.