amnoah's BetterScoreboard
Every Minecraft server owner knows the struggle of finding a scoreboard plugin that is both functional and performance-friendly. Many options are either bloated with unnecessary features or cause noticeable lag and flickering. Enter amnoah's BetterScoreboard, a streamlined solution built for Spigot and its forks that focuses on doing one thing exceptionally well: delivering clean, customizable scoreboards without the overhead.
What Makes amnoah's BetterScoreboard Stand Out?
This plugin is not trying to be everything to everyone. Instead, it zeroes in on the core scoreboard experience and polishes it to a shine. The entire system is packet-based, meaning it sends scoreboard data directly to players without touching the server's internal scoreboard logic. This approach eliminates the flickering that plagues many other scoreboard plugins and allows for fully asynchronous updates, so your server's main thread stays free for critical tasks.
One of the most appreciated features is unlimited character support on all lines. Unlike vanilla Minecraft or some other plugins that truncate text, amnoah's BetterScoreboard lets you display full, descriptive lines. Combined with 10 built-in placeholders and full PlaceholderAPI support, you can show everything from player health and location to custom economy balances and server TPS.
Key Features at a Glance
- Fully packet-based scoreboard system for zero flicker
- Asynchronous updates that never block the main server thread
- Unlimited character support on every line
- 10 built-in placeholders plus full PlaceholderAPI integration
- Conditional placeholders for dynamic content
- Multiple scoreboards with per-world and permission-based activation
- Scoreboard weight system to prioritize boards
- Per-line update speed customization
- Random line selection option
- Ability to hide scoreboard score numbers
How to Install amnoah's BetterScoreboard
Getting started with this plugin is straightforward, but it does require a dependency. You must have PacketEvents installed on your server, as it handles all packet-level communication. If you plan to use PlaceholderAPI placeholders, that plugin is also required. For reload functionality, BetterReload is an optional but recommended addition.
To install, simply download the latest amnoah's BetterScoreboard jar file from the official Spigot page and place it in your server's plugins folder. Make sure PacketEvents is already there. Restart or reload your server, and the plugin will generate its configuration files. If you are using the foxygame.net launcher, amnoah's BetterScoreboard is available in the add-on catalog for one-click installation, automatically handling dependencies and ensuring you always run the most recent version compatible with your server setup.
Supported Minecraft Versions and Loaders
amnoah's BetterScoreboard is designed for modern Minecraft servers running version 1.20.3 and above. It works seamlessly with Spigot, Paper, and all forks that maintain compatibility with the Spigot API. The plugin leverages the latest packet structures, so older versions are not supported.
Configuring Your Scoreboards
Once installed, the plugin creates a configuration folder with clear, well-documented files. You can define multiple scoreboards, each with its own set of lines, update speeds, and activation rules. The weight system ensures that if a player qualifies for several scoreboards, only the one with the highest weight is displayed. This is perfect for servers with different worlds or rank-based permissions.
Per-World and Permission-Based Scoreboards
One of the most powerful features is the ability to assign scoreboards to specific worlds or tie them to permissions. For example, you can create a unique scoreboard for your survival world, another for your minigames lobby, and a third for players with a VIP rank. The plugin intelligently combines these rules, so a VIP player in the survival world sees the appropriate board based on the weight you set.
Placeholders and Conditional Logic
amnoah's BetterScoreboard supports conditional placeholders, allowing you to display different text based on in-game conditions. For instance, you can show a player's health as "Healthy" when above 50% and "Injured" when below. Combined with PlaceholderAPI, the possibilities are nearly endless. The built-in placeholders cover common needs like player name, world, online time, and more, while PlaceholderAPI opens the door to hundreds of additional expansions.
Performance and Async Updates
One of the biggest selling points of amnoah's BetterScoreboard is its fully asynchronous update system. Traditional scoreboard plugins often run on the main server thread, causing micro-stutters when updating many players' boards simultaneously. This plugin offloads all scoreboard calculations and packet sending to a separate thread, ensuring smooth server performance even with hundreds of players online. The per-line update speed configuration lets you fine-tune how often each line refreshes, so static lines don't waste resources.
Limitations to Keep in Mind
While amnoah's BetterScoreboard excels at its core purpose, it does have a few limitations. The most notable is the current lack of hex color support. If your server relies heavily on custom colors in scoreboard text, you may need to wait for a future update or use an alternative. However, for the vast majority of servers, the standard Minecraft color codes are more than sufficient.
Why Choose amnoah's BetterScoreboard?
This plugin fills a specific niche: server admins who want a reliable, no-flicker scoreboard that doesn't hog resources. It's not trying to be a full HUD replacement or a complex display system. Instead, it delivers exactly what it promises with clean code and thoughtful features like conditional placeholders and per-world boards. The documentation is thorough, with dedicated wikis for conditions, configuration, placeholders, scoreboards, and triggers, making it easy to get started even if you are new to scoreboard plugins.
For those who manage multiple servers or frequently update their setups, the foxygame.net launcher offers a convenient way to keep amnoah's BetterScoreboard up to date. Its add-on catalog includes the plugin with automatic version detection, so you can install it across different server instances without worrying about compatibility mismatches.
Whether you run a small community server or a large network, amnoah's BetterScoreboard provides a lightweight, flicker-free scoreboard solution that respects your server's performance. Download amnoah's BetterScoreboard today and give your players a clean, informative display without the usual headaches.