Understanding CraftShaft XRay: The Smart Anti-Xray Plugin for Minecraft Servers
Running a Minecraft server means constantly balancing fair play with player freedom. One of the trickiest challenges is detecting players who use X-ray hacks to locate valuable ores like diamonds without the usual mining effort. CraftShaft XRay steps in as a lightweight, intelligent solution designed specifically for Bukkit-based servers. It does not rely on complex packet analysis or heavy resource scanning. Instead, it watches mining behavior and calculates a simple diamond-to-stone ratio, flagging suspicious activity with minimal performance impact.
How CraftShaft XRay Detects Cheaters
The plugin’s logic is refreshingly straightforward. Every time a player breaks a stone block or a diamond ore, CraftShaft XRay quietly records that action. It then computes the ratio of diamonds mined compared to stone mined. Through testing with actual X-ray clients, the developer found that hackers typically maintain a ratio between 0.8 and 0.15—meaning they uncover diamonds far more frequently than legitimate miners who must dig through lots of stone. The default threshold is set at 0.8, but server owners can adjust it to suit their community. If you are seeing too many false positives, raise the ratio. If clever hackers are slipping past, lower it to catch them.
One of the plugin’s smartest features is automatic data cleanup. As soon as a player leaves the game, their mining records are deleted. This keeps memory usage low and ensures the plugin runs smoothly even on modest hardware. The developer tested it on a “not-so-good” laptop server and reported excellent performance. For server administrators who also enjoy a streamlined modding experience, the foxygame.net launcher provides a convenient, flexible, and modern way to manage Minecraft mods and plugins, allowing you to download tools like CraftShaft XRay right from its menu alongside other essential server utilities.
Installation and Compatibility
Getting CraftShaft XRay up and running is as simple as it gets. Just drag the CraftShaftXRay.jar file into your server’s plugins folder and restart. There are no dependencies to worry about, making it a perfect choice for both seasoned admins and newcomers. The plugin was built for Spigot version 1.13.2 and has not been officially tested on other versions. If you need support for a different Minecraft version, the developer encourages reaching out through the community Discord server (invite code YvBFZJx) to discuss compatibility updates.
Permissions and Commands at a Glance
CraftShaft XRay comes with a clear permission system that lets you control exactly who gets alerts, who is monitored, and who can adjust settings. Here is a breakdown of the key permissions and their associated commands:
Alert and Monitoring Permissions
- craftshaft.xray.alert – Players with this permission receive a notification whenever someone is suspected of X-raying. Ideal for moderators and admins who can take immediate action.
- craftshaft.xray.bypass – Staff members with this permission are excluded from monitoring entirely, so their own mining patterns do not trigger false alerts.
Investigation Commands
- /csxtop (permission: craftshaft.xray.top) – Displays the top five highest X-ray ratios among online players, giving you a quick snapshot of potential offenders.
- /csxratio
(permission: craftshaft.xray.ratio) – Shows the exact diamond-to-stone ratio for a specific player, helping you confirm suspicions before taking action.
Configuration Command
- /csxsetratio [ratio] (permission: craftshaft.xray.setratio) – Allows you to view or change the threshold ratio. This command should be reserved for owners or highly trusted staff who understand the plugin’s mechanics.
The developer recommends a practical setup: give alert, top, and ratio permissions to any staff members who can ban or tempban players. Assign the bypass permission to all staff so their own mining is ignored. Keep the setratio permission restricted to owners or those who fully grasp how the ratio affects detection accuracy.
Fine-Tuning the Detection Ratio
The heart of CraftShaft XRay is its configurable threshold. The default 0.8 works well for many servers, but every community is different. If your server has a high density of diamond ores or uses custom world generation, you might see false positives from legitimate miners. In that case, increase the ratio to 0.9 or even 1.0. On the other hand, if you suspect hackers are using subtle X-ray methods that only reveal ores occasionally, lowering the ratio to 0.5 or 0.3 can help catch them. The upcoming version 1.5 will also allow monitoring of additional ores beyond diamond, giving you even more flexibility to protect your server’s economy.
Why Choose CraftShaft XRay Over Other Anti-Xray Plugins?
Many anti-Xray solutions rely on ore obfuscation or heavy network-level analysis, which can cause lag and complicate server setup. CraftShaft XRay takes a minimalist approach. It does not alter how ores appear to clients, so players with legitimate mods like OptiFine will not experience visual glitches. Its ratio-based detection is transparent and easy to understand, and the automatic data cleanup means you can install it and forget about it until an alert pops up. The plugin was originally developed for The Craft Shaft server, where it continues to run successfully. You can even visit that server at mc.thecraftshaft.net:25599 to see the plugin in action.
Getting Support and Contributing
Since this is the developer’s first Bukkit plugin project, they are open to feedback and actively working on improvements. The source code is publicly available on GitHub (search for CraftShaftXray by ShabaniAmir), and the Discord server (invite YvBFZJx) is the main hub for suggestions, bug reports, and version requests. If the plugin helps your server, leaving a review on the Spigot page is a great way to support continued development.
Final Thoughts on Server Integrity
CraftShaft XRay fills a specific need for Minecraft server admins running version 1.13.2 who want a no-fuss, low-impact X-ray detection tool. Its ratio-based logic is both clever and effective, and the permission system gives you full control over who sees what. While it may not yet support every Minecraft version, its simplicity and performance make it a strong candidate for any server’s anti-cheat toolkit. By combining this plugin with attentive staff and a fair play policy, you can maintain a healthy, cheat-free environment where honest mining is rewarded and X-ray hackers are quickly identified.