Guns and Explosions: Turn Your Minecraft World Into a Battlefield
Vanilla Minecraft combat has its charms, but sometimes a diamond sword just does not cut it. If you have ever wanted to blow a crater into a mountain with a rocket launcher or pick off mobs with an AK-47, the Guns and Explosions add-on delivers exactly that fantasy. This compact mod arms you with a small but potent arsenal, all craftable from familiar materials, and it slots neatly into the classic Forge modding setup that most players already use.
What Weapons Does Guns and Explosions Add?
The mod keeps its scope tight, which is part of its appeal. Instead of drowning you in dozens of half-finished guns, it gives you a handful of tools that each feel distinct and genuinely fun to use. Every item is craftable in survival, so you do not need creative mode to enjoy the chaos.
- AK-47 — a rapid-fire rifle that shreds through hostile mobs and makes short work of a pillager raid.
- Rocket Launcher — heavy ordnance for when you want a very loud, very large hole in the terrain.
- TNT Bow — a bow that fires explosive arrows, perfect for ranged demolition.
- Dynamite and Dynamite Thrower — the thrower is required to launch dynamite, so craft both before you head out.
- Four new TNT variants — extra explosive flavors that change how you approach mining and traps.
Because the recipes lean on vanilla ingredients like gunpowder, iron, and string, you can get your first weapon up and running within your first few in-game days. That accessibility is what makes Guns and Explosions for Minecraft such an easy recommendation for survival players who want a bit more firepower without a total overhaul.
Supported Versions and Loader
Minecraft 1.17.1 and 1.16.5 on Forge
The add-on is built for the Forge mod loader and ships in two builds: one for Minecraft 1.17.1 and one for Minecraft 1.16.5. Forge is the only supported loader here, so Fabric players will need to switch or run a separate profile. Match your Forge version to your game build for the smoothest experience — the recommended release for 1.17.1 is 37.0.109, while 1.16.5 pairs best with 36.2.0. Using an older Forge build is the most common cause of crashes or missing recipes, so double-check that number before you launch.
If you would rather skip the manual file juggling entirely, the foxygame.net launcher handles the whole process for you: it lists Guns and Explosions in its built-in add-on catalog, installs it with a single click, and keeps it updated whenever a new build drops.
How to Install Guns and Explosions
Installing the mod manually takes only a few minutes, and the steps below are written for Windows. Mac and Linux users can follow the same logic but will need to locate their own .minecraft directory.
- Confirm that Forge is installed for your target version (1.17.1 or 1.16.5).
- Obtain the correct .jar file for your game version.
- Open your Downloads folder and copy the .jar file.
- Navigate to C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\.minecraft and open the mods folder. Create it if it does not exist.
- Paste the .jar file into the mods folder.
- Launch Minecraft using the Forge profile and enjoy your new arsenal.
When you download Guns and Explosions, always grab the build that matches your exact game version. Dropping a 1.17.1 jar into a 1.16.5 mods folder will not work, and it is the mistake new players make most often. Once installed, load a test world and craft a TNT bow first — it is the cheapest way to confirm everything registered correctly.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Mod
Explosives are destructive by design, so a little planning goes a long way. Keep your rocket launcher away from your storage room, and consider building a dedicated blast range where you can test the new TNT types without wrecking your base. The dynamite thrower pairs wonderfully with a high vantage point, letting you rain explosives down on mob farms or siege a friend's fortress in multiplayer. Just remember that explosions can destroy dropped items, so never fire a rocket into a pile of loot you actually want to keep.
Final Thoughts
Guns and Explosions is a focused, no-nonsense weapons add-on that respects your time. It gives you a rifle, a rocket launcher, an explosive bow, and a pile of dynamite without burying you in complicated tech trees or dependency chains. If you are running Forge on 1.16.5 or 1.17.1 and want combat to feel a little more dangerous, this is an easy pick — just keep your base well away from the blast radius.