Cap Pearl Speed (Paper)
Ender pearls are a staple of Minecraft traversal, but on multiplayer servers they can quickly become a double-edged sword. A single pearl thrown at high speed can force the server to load chunks aggressively, causing tick lag and frustrating gameplay. Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) is a lightweight plugin designed to solve exactly that problem, giving server administrators fine-grained control over how fast a pearl can travel. Whether you want to reduce the range of pearls for balance or protect your server from chunk-loading abuse, this add-on delivers a clean, configurable solution.
Why Use Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) for Minecraft
In vanilla Minecraft, ender pearls inherit the velocity of the player who throws them. A player sprinting, flying with elytra, or launched by a cannon can send a pearl hurtling across dozens of chunks in a single tick. Each chunk load consumes server resources, and when multiple players do this simultaneously, the result is noticeable TPS drops. Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) for Minecraft addresses this by enforcing a maximum speed limit on every pearl, ensuring that no single throw can overwhelm your server's chunk handling.
Beyond performance, many server owners simply want to make ender pearls less overpowered. By capping the speed, you effectively reduce their maximum range, making them a more tactical tool rather than a teleportation cheat. The plugin's default settings are tuned to ignore regular hand-thrown pearls, so everyday gameplay remains untouched while only extreme cases are reined in.
How the Plugin Works
At its core, Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) monitors the velocity of every ender pearl entity on the server. A configurable speed check runs at a set interval (in ticks), and if a pearl exceeds the defined maximum speed, the plugin takes action. You can choose to simply cap the speed, forcing the pearl to slow down, or you can enable the kill-pearl option to destroy any speeding pearl outright. This dual approach gives you flexibility depending on whether you want to gently correct or strictly eliminate problematic throws.
The plugin also includes a developer mode that logs the exact speed of every pearl. This is invaluable when you are first tuning the max-speed value, as it lets you see what speeds naturally occur on your server. The default max-speed of 3.0 is calibrated to only affect pearls shot by cannons or extremely fast-moving players, leaving normal throws completely unaffected. All showcase GIFs you might see use a max speed of 0.1 to visually demonstrate the effect, but that is not the default—your regular pearls will behave normally out of the box.
Configuration Options
Every aspect of Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) is controlled through a simple config.yml file. Here are the key settings you can tweak:
- max-speed – The rough maximum velocity a pearl can travel. Set this lower to reduce range, or higher to only catch extreme cannon shots.
- kill-pearl – When enabled, any pearl exceeding the speed limit is immediately destroyed. Disable it to simply cap the speed without removing the pearl.
- run-every – The tick interval between speed checks. A value of 20 means one check per second, balancing accuracy with performance overhead.
- dev-mode – Logs every pearl's speed to the console. Only enable this while you are adjusting the max-speed, as it can generate a lot of output.
These options make it easy to adapt the plugin to any server style, from hardcore survival to minigame hubs. If you are unsure where to start, leave dev-mode on for a few minutes, observe the logged speeds, and then set your max-speed just above the highest normal throw you see.
How to Install Cap Pearl Speed (Paper)
Installing the plugin is straightforward. First, ensure your server runs Paper or a compatible fork (such as Purpur or Pufferfish) on a supported Minecraft version—the plugin works seamlessly on 1.16.5, 1.17.1, 1.18.2, 1.19.4, and the latest 1.20.x releases. Simply download Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) from your preferred plugin source, then drop the .jar file into your server's plugins folder. Restart the server, and the plugin will generate its default configuration automatically.
If you manage your server through the foxygame.net launcher, adding Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) is even simpler—the launcher's built-in add-on catalog lets you install it with a single click, and it automatically keeps the plugin updated across version changes. Once installed, open plugins/CapPearlSpeed/config.yml, adjust the values to your liking, and reload with /plugman reload CapPearlSpeed or restart the server. No complex dependencies, no database setup—just drop, configure, and enjoy a smoother server.
Performance and Server Health Benefits
Chunk loading is one of the most resource-intensive operations in Minecraft. When a pearl travels at high speed, the server must generate and send chunk data to players almost instantly, which can spike CPU usage and delay other tasks. By capping pearl speed, you directly reduce the frequency and intensity of these chunk loads. The result is a more stable TPS, especially during peak hours when many players are exploring or fighting.
Additionally, the plugin's lightweight design means it adds virtually no overhead itself. The speed check runs only as often as you configure, and the logic is minimal. Server owners who have deployed Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) often report immediate improvements in tick consistency, particularly on survival servers where elytra launchers and pearl cannons are common.
Balancing Gameplay with Precision
While performance is the main focus, the plugin also serves as a subtle balancing tool. In PvP arenas or faction servers, unlimited pearl range can make chasing or escaping trivial. By lowering the max-speed, you force players to use pearls more strategically, closing the gap between experienced and casual players. The kill-pearl option can even be used to create a hardcore rule: any pearl thrown too fast simply vanishes, punishing reckless cannon use.
Because the default settings are so conservative, you can introduce Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) to an existing server without disrupting your community. Players won't notice any difference in their normal throws, but the server will silently prevent the extreme edge cases that cause lag spikes. It is a rare win-win: better performance with zero gameplay friction.
Compatibility and Supported Loaders
Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) is built specifically for the Paper API, meaning it takes full advantage of Paper's optimizations and event system. It is compatible with all major Paper forks and runs on Minecraft versions from 1.16.5 up to the latest 1.20.x updates. The plugin does not work on vanilla, Spigot, or Fabric servers—it requires the Paper environment to function correctly. Always check that your server software matches before you download Cap Pearl Speed (Paper).
For server networks using multiple game modes, you can install the plugin on individual servers or apply it globally through a plugin manager. Its small footprint makes it ideal for large networks where every millisecond of tick time counts.
Final Thoughts
Ender pearls are not going away, but the problems they can cause are entirely manageable. Cap Pearl Speed (Paper) gives you a simple, effective way to keep pearls in check—protecting your server's performance while preserving the core mechanic players love. With a few lines of configuration, you can eliminate chunk-loading lag, balance teleportation range, and gain valuable insight into how pearls behave on your server. Whether you run a small community survival world or a bustling minigame network, this plugin deserves a spot in your server's toolkit.
