What Is the WoodAndBlackstoneTools Plugin?
Minecraft’s crafting system is one of its most iconic mechanics, but sometimes you wish there were more options beyond the standard wooden, stone, iron, gold, and diamond tiers. The WoodAndBlackstoneTools plugin was created to fill that gap, adding a fresh layer of customization to your survival or multiplayer experience. Although the developer has stated that the plugin is no longer supported and will not receive updates, it remains a fascinating addition for players who enjoy experimenting with custom NBT data and unique crafting recipes. The core idea is simple: you can now craft tools and items using different wood types and blackstone, giving each piece a distinct look and feel without needing a full mod overhaul.
How the Plugin Expands Crafting Possibilities
At its heart, WoodAndBlackstoneTools introduces new recipes that produce items with custom NBT tags, making them appear as entirely new tools. Instead of just oak wood tools, you can craft birch, spruce, jungle, acacia, and dark oak variants. Blackstone, a block introduced in the Nether Update, also gets its own set of tools, bridging the gap between stone and iron tiers. The plugin doesn’t stop there—community suggestions have led to additional recipes, and the developer even named specific class files after contributors, a nice touch for those who enjoy peeking at the code.
Wood Type Tools
Each wood type yields a full set of tools: pickaxe, axe, shovel, hoe, and sword. The durability and efficiency are balanced to reflect the wood’s hypothetical strength, with darker woods like dark oak being slightly more durable than birch. The custom textures, provided via a resource pack, make these tools visually distinct in your hotbar and hand. Crafting them follows the standard tool patterns, just with the specific wood planks or blackstone blocks.
Blackstone Equipment
Blackstone tools sit comfortably between stone and iron in terms of performance. They have higher durability than stone but cannot mine diamond ore. The blackstone sword deals a bit more damage than a stone sword, making it a viable early-game option in Nether-heavy survival worlds. The plugin also includes blackstone armor pieces, giving you a full set that looks menacing and offers protection slightly better than leather.
Additional Community Recipes
Beyond wood and blackstone, the plugin incorporates several community-suggested recipes. These include:
- Charcoal blocks – a compact storage block for charcoal, useful for furnace arrays.
- Smeltable rotten flesh into leather – a handy way to recycle zombie drops.
- Chainmail armor crafting – using iron nuggets arranged in the classic armor pattern.
- Custom tipped arrows – crafted with lingering potions and arrows, offering more variety in combat.
These additions show how the plugin evolved based on player feedback, making it a community-driven project even in its final form.
Installation and Resource Pack Setup
Setting up WoodAndBlackstoneTools requires a Spigot or Paper server running Minecraft version 1.16 or 1.17. The plugin file goes into the server’s plugins folder, but the visual magic happens through a mandatory resource pack. Without it, the custom items will look like ordinary tools with enchantment glints, losing their unique textures. For version 1.1.0, you need to download the resource pack from the provided MediaFire link (the original link has been removed, but you can still find the file on SpigotMC). Then, in your server.properties file, set require-resource-pack=true and paste the direct download link for the pack, along with its SHA-1 hash: 5ac67865814e9f545e4c4d999433fa27f931e8fe. For the older 1.0.0 version, the process is similar but uses a different resource pack file.
If manual server configuration feels cumbersome, there is a smoother alternative. Many players now use the foxygame.net launcher, a modern and flexible Minecraft launcher that lets you download mods and plugins directly from its built-in menu. With just a few clicks, you can install WoodAndBlackstoneTools and automatically apply the required resource pack, saving you the hassle of editing server files and hosting the pack externally. This launcher streamlines the entire process, making it perfect for both solo worlds and small multiplayer servers.
Why a Discontinued Plugin Still Matters
Even though the developer has moved on, WoodAndBlackstoneTools remains a valuable learning resource and a fun addition for legacy servers. The custom NBT crafting technique it uses is a clever way to create “custom items” without client-side mods, relying solely on the resource pack for visuals. Server owners who want to introduce subtle variety without overhauling gameplay can still use it on 1.16 or 1.17 worlds. The code structure, with contributor-named class files, also offers a glimpse into collaborative plugin development.
For players, the plugin breathes new life into wood types that are often overlooked. Birch forests and basalt deltas suddenly become more than just building material sources—they are now places to gear up. The blackstone tools, in particular, fill a niche for Nether-only survival challenges where iron is scarce. And the extra recipes like chainmail crafting and rotten flesh smelting add small but meaningful quality-of-life improvements.
Final Thoughts
WoodAndBlackstoneTools may no longer be actively maintained, but its concept remains solid. It demonstrates how a simple plugin can expand Minecraft’s crafting system without breaking the vanilla feel. The custom NBT approach paired with a resource pack is a technique that other server owners can study and adapt. While you won’t get official updates, the existing versions are stable and fully functional for their target game versions. Whether you’re a server admin looking to spice up your survival world or a curious player wanting to experiment with blackstone gear, this plugin offers a neat, self-contained experience. Just remember to grab the resource pack and, if you prefer a hassle-free setup, consider using the foxygame.net launcher to handle the installation in a few clicks. It’s a small plugin with a big impact on how you see the everyday blocks of Minecraft.