Blocklist
Have you ever felt that vanilla Minecraft is a bit too forgiving when it comes to breaking blocks? Punching a tree with your bare hands to get wood is iconic, but once you have a full set of tools, the game doesn’t care whether you use a pickaxe, shovel, or even a sword to tear through logs, dirt, or stone. The Blocklist add-on changes that by introducing a powerful, configurable system of tool-specific blacklists and whitelists. It’s a small tweak with a huge impact on immersion, making every tool choice matter.
What Exactly Does Blocklist Do?
At its core, Blocklist gives server admins and single-player world owners the ability to define exactly which tools can (or cannot) break specific blocks. You can create a blacklist that prevents a pickaxe from chopping down a tree, or a whitelist that demands a shovel for any dirt-type block. The mod was originally created as a request and, while it may not receive constant updates unless there’s popular demand, it already delivers a stable and highly customizable experience for those who want more control over block breaking logic.
Blacklists vs. Whitelists: Two Ways to Play
Blocklist offers two distinct modes for each tool-block pairing:
- Blacklist mode: You specify which blocks a tool is not allowed to break. For example, add logs to the pickaxe blacklist, and suddenly you can’t mine wood with anything but the correct tool.
- Whitelist mode: You define the only blocks a tool is allowed to break. A shovel whitelist containing dirt, grass, sand, and gravel means the shovel becomes useless against stone or wood, just like in real life.
This flexibility lets you tailor the game to your exact vision. Want a hardcore survival world where every block requires its matching tool? Set up whitelists for all tools. Prefer a less restrictive approach where only a few nonsensical combinations are blocked? Blacklists are your friend.
Why Use Blocklist for Minecraft?
Beyond the obvious role-playing and realism benefits, Blocklist adds a layer of strategic depth. Suddenly, inventory management becomes more important—you can’t just carry a single all-purpose tool. You’ll need to think ahead about which blocks you’ll encounter and pack accordingly. For multiplayer servers, it can enforce class-based gameplay or prevent griefing by limiting what players can break with certain items. It’s also a fantastic educational tool for younger players learning about tool purposes.
Simple Configuration, Big Impact
Blocklist uses straightforward configuration files that let you define rules per tool and per block. You don’t need to be a modding expert to set it up. The mod recognizes standard Minecraft tools (pickaxes, axes, shovels, hoes, and even swords) and allows you to assign any block from the game to their blacklist or whitelist. The examples are intuitive: requiring axes to break logs, shovels to dig up dirt and grass, and pickaxes for stone and ores. Once configured, the rules apply instantly in-game, with no lag or performance hit.
How to Install Blocklist
Getting started with Blocklist is straightforward, especially if you’re familiar with modded Minecraft. The mod is built for the Fabric loader and supports a range of modern versions, including 1.19.2, 1.20.1, and 1.20.4. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:
- Make sure you have the Fabric loader installed for your chosen Minecraft version. You’ll also need the Fabric API, as it’s a required dependency for most Fabric mods.
- Locate a trusted source to download Blocklist. The mod file is typically a .jar that you place into your mods folder.
- Drop the downloaded Blocklist .jar into the
.minecraft/modsdirectory. If you’re using a third-party launcher, the mods folder might be in a different location, but the process is the same. - Launch the game with the Fabric profile. Once loaded, Blocklist will generate a default configuration file you can edit to set your own rules.
If you’re looking for an even smoother experience, the foxygame.net launcher includes Blocklist in its curated add-on catalog, allowing you to install it with a single click and keep it automatically updated alongside your other mods. This eliminates the hassle of manually checking for new versions and ensures compatibility with your current Minecraft setup.
Editing the Blocklist Configuration
After the first launch, you’ll find a blocklist.json file inside the config folder. Open it with any text editor, and you’ll see a clean structure where you can add or remove entries. Each tool has its own section, and you simply list the block IDs under “blacklist” or “whitelist.” The mod uses standard Minecraft block identifiers like minecraft:oak_log or minecraft:dirt, so it’s easy to look up the exact names you need. Save the file and reload the world—no restart required if you use the in-game reload command (if supported).
Compatibility and Performance
Blocklist is designed to be lightweight and compatible with most other mods. Since it only intercepts block-breaking events, it doesn’t alter world generation or add new items, so conflicts are rare. It works seamlessly alongside popular mods like Sodium, Iris, and even large content packs. The mod’s logic is applied server-side, meaning if you install it on a server, all players will be affected without needing to install it client-side (though client-side installation is recommended for single-player).
Supported Minecraft Versions and Loader
Currently, Blocklist is available for Fabric on Minecraft versions 1.19.2, 1.20.1, and 1.20.4. There is no official Forge version at this time, but the Fabric community has embraced it for its simplicity. If you’re running an older or snapshot version, you may need to check compatibility, but the mod’s code is clean enough that it often works on minor version bumps without changes.
Real-World Examples of Blocklist in Action
To give you a better idea of how Blocklist transforms gameplay, here are a few common setups:
- Classic Tool Tiers: Whitelist wooden pickaxes to only break stone and coal ore, iron pickaxes to break iron ore and above, and diamond pickaxes for obsidian and ancient debris. This forces natural progression.
- No More Fist Mining: Blacklist all blocks from the “empty hand” tool, so players must always use a proper tool to break anything. Great for hardcore challenges.
- Shear Precision: Whitelist shears to only break leaves, vines, and wool, preventing accidental destruction of your base’s walls.
- Sword Limitations: Blacklist stone and wood from swords, so they remain combat-only items and can’t be used as makeshift tools.
These examples barely scratch the surface. The mod’s true power lies in how you combine rules across multiple tools to create a cohesive, custom rule set that matches your server’s theme or your personal playstyle.
Is Blocklist Right for Your World?
Blocklist isn’t a flashy content mod—it doesn’t add new blocks, mobs, or dimensions. Instead, it refines a core mechanic that most players take for granted. If you enjoy fine-tuning the survival experience, running a themed server, or simply want to make the game feel more logical, this add-on is a perfect fit. The fact that it was built as a request and may not see frequent updates unless demand grows shouldn’t deter you; the current feature set is complete and stable for the supported versions.
To download Blocklist for Minecraft, head to any reputable mod repository that hosts Fabric mods. Remember to grab the correct version for your game and always keep your Fabric API up to date. Once installed, you’ll wonder how you ever played without this level of control. Whether you’re enforcing that axes break logs or shovels dig dirt, Blocklist turns every block-breaking moment into a deliberate, satisfying choice.