MCTools+ (Discontinued): A Forgotten Mod That Expanded Minecraft’s Tool Arsenal
When vanilla Minecraft starts to feel a bit too predictable, mods step in to shake things up. MCTools+ was one of those ambitious projects that aimed to turn the basic tool progression on its head. Instead of just iron, diamond, and netherite, it introduced a whole lineup of fresh materials and weapon types, breathing new life into mining, crafting, and combat. Although development has officially stopped, the mod remains a fascinating snapshot of community creativity and a useful addition for players who enjoy revisiting older versions.
What Exactly Did MCTools+ Add?
The core idea behind MCTools+ was simple: give players more variety without straying too far from Minecraft’s classic feel. The mod expanded the standard tool roster with not just higher-tier versions of existing gear, but also entirely new categories. Alongside the familiar swords, axes, pickaxes, shovels, and hoes, you got access to cleavers—heavy, two-handed weapons that hit harder than swords. The plan was to eventually rename them to claymores, which hints at the developer’s love for medieval fantasy themes.
Every tool and armor piece came in multiple material grades, some based on vanilla resources that normally don’t get their own equipment sets, and others crafted from brand-new ores added by the mod. This gave you a reason to mine blocks you’d usually ignore, like lapis lazuli or redstone, beyond just enchanting and circuitry.
Breaking Down the Material Sets
MCTools+ launched with ten distinct tool and armor sets, split evenly between vanilla-inspired and original creations. Here’s the full list:
Vanilla-Based Materials
- Obsidian – Incredibly durable but slow, perfect for tanky builds.
- Emerald – Faster mining speed and high enchantability, mirroring the gem’s trading value.
- Nether Quartz – A mid-tier option with sharp damage bonuses, ideal for early Nether trips.
- Lapis Lazuli – Balanced stats with a focus on luck and enchantment potency.
- Redstone – Slightly weaker but offered unique utility, like increased attack speed.
Original Mod Materials
- Ruby – A fiery red alternative to emerald with a damage boost.
- Sapphire – Aquatic-themed stats, granting faster underwater mining.
- Gilded Iron – Iron upgraded with gold, blending durability with piglin neutrality.
- Steel Ingots – Smelted from iron and coal, providing a sturdy mid-game bridge.
- Black Diamond – The ultimate end-game material, surpassing even netherite in raw power.
Each set included a full complement of tools and a matching armor tier, so you could fully kit yourself out in obsidian plate or black diamond gear. The cleavers, in particular, stood out as devastating alternatives to swords, though their recipes were slated for rebalancing before the project went quiet.
Why Did Development Stop?
The mod’s journey was cut short due to what the creator, Lemon_Juiced, described as a mistake on their part. The last updates focused on balancing cleaver recipes, improving textures, and renaming items to better fit the vision. There were even talks of adding creative tabs for easier browsing, experimenting with custom trees, and designing a unique dungeon or structure to house the new ores. Unfortunately, with no additional authors stepping in to help with configs and other technical hurdles, the project entered an indefinite hiatus. The developer openly asked for volunteers, but the modding community can be unpredictable, and MCTools+ eventually faded from active development.
Despite this, the mod was always intended to be modpack-friendly, and the creators only asked for proper credit to Lemon_Juiced and mandarins. That open permission means you can still find it bundled in older adventure or RPG packs, keeping the legacy alive.
Is MCTools+ Still Worth Playing Today?
Absolutely. For players who enjoy the simplicity of older Minecraft versions—especially 1.12.2 or 1.16.5 where the mod was most stable—MCTools+ offers a straightforward power progression that doesn’t overwhelm you with complex mechanics. The material variety alone makes mining exciting again, and the cleaver weapon type adds a satisfying weight to combat encounters. If you’re building a custom modpack with a medieval or fantasy theme, these tool sets fit right in without clashing with vanilla aesthetics.
Getting the mod up and running doesn’t have to be a chore either. For those who enjoy experimenting with older mods like MCTools+, getting it running can sometimes be a hassle, but with a modern launcher like foxygame.net, you can easily install mods right from the menu, making the process smooth and flexible. The launcher handles version isolation and dependency checks automatically, so you can jump straight into crafting your first obsidian cleaver without fiddling with files.
What Could Have Been
Reading through the developer’s notes, it’s clear MCTools+ had a lot of untapped potential. Configurable sets would have let server owners disable the more controversial materials like gilded iron or redstone gear. Better textures were on the roadmap, which would have addressed the slightly rough visual style of early builds. And a dedicated dungeon for black diamond or ruby ore would have turned the mod into a full-blown adventure expansion. While we’ll never see those features officially released, the existing content still stands as a solid foundation that other modders could pick up and remix.
Final Thoughts
MCTools+ may be discontinued, but it’s far from forgotten. It captured that pure modding spirit—taking a “pretty plain boring game” and injecting it with personality through new tools, armor, and materials. Whether you’re a nostalgia-driven player revisiting classic mods or a pack curator looking for hidden gems, this mod deserves a spot on your radar. Just remember to credit the original authors if you share your adventures online, and enjoy the satisfying clang of a black diamond cleaver as you carve through the Minecraft world.