Easy Templates: Simplify Your Smithing Template Collection in Minecraft
Smithing templates are among the most sought-after items in modern Minecraft, but hunting for them across bastion remnants, trail ruins, and other structures can turn into a tedious grind. The Easy Templates mod reimagines how you obtain and manage these rare patterns, giving you a straightforward crafting recipe and a clever cycling system that puts every template at your fingertips. Instead of memorizing dozens of structure locations, you can now craft the Netherite Upgrade Template from basic Nether materials and then transform it into any armor trim you desire.
What Is the Easy Templates Mod?
Easy Templates is a lightweight modification that overhauls the acquisition of smithing templates. In vanilla Minecraft, each template requires you to explore specific biomes and structures, often relying on luck to find the right chest. This mod introduces a single, universal crafting recipe for the Netherite Upgrade Template and a unique crafting table mechanic that lets you cycle through every available template variant. It respects the original game's progression while removing the frustration of endless exploration.
The Core Recipe: 9 Netherrack for a Netherite Upgrade Template
The foundation of the mod is refreshingly simple. Place nine netherrack blocks in a crafting table, and you will receive one Netherite Upgrade Template. Netherrack is one of the most abundant blocks in the Nether, so you can gather the ingredients within minutes of building a portal. This recipe alone saves you from the dangerous trek through bastion remnants, where the template normally spawns in treasure rooms guarded by piglin brutes. It does not bypass the need to visit the Nether, but it dramatically lowers the barrier to entry for upgrading diamond gear to netherite.
Once you have the Netherite Upgrade Template, the real magic begins. Instead of crafting separate recipes for every armor trim, you can use the template itself as a dynamic tool. Place the Netherite Upgrade Template alone in a crafting grid, and it will cycle to the next template in a predefined sequence. Each time you retrieve the result from the output slot, the template changes to a different pattern, allowing you to collect all trims — from Silence to Tide, from Ward to Vex — without ever leaving your base.
Why This Changes the Template Game
Vanilla template hunting often forces players into a checklist-style grind. You might spend hours searching for a single Silence armor trim in ancient cities, only to find duplicates of templates you already own. Easy Templates eliminates that repetition while keeping the crafting cost fair. The nine netherrack requirement is low enough to feel rewarding yet still requires you to engage with the Nether dimension. The cycling mechanic, meanwhile, adds a layer of interactivity that feels like a natural extension of the crafting system.
Players who enjoy building themed armor sets or decorating their armory with every trim variant will appreciate the freedom this mod provides. You no longer need to rely on trading with wandering traders or scouring dozens of shipwrecks. The mod also integrates seamlessly with other quality-of-life improvements, making it a perfect addition to modpacks that focus on creative building and customization.
How the Cycling Mechanic Works in Detail
- Obtain a Netherite Upgrade Template by crafting it with nine netherrack.
- Place the template alone in any crafting grid (2x2 or 3x3).
- The output slot will show the next template in the cycle. Take the result to receive that template.
- The original template is consumed, so you will need to craft a new Netherite Upgrade Template if you want to cycle again from the start.
- The cycle order includes every armor trim and the Netherite Upgrade Template itself, so you can always loop back to the beginning.
This design encourages you to gather netherrack in bulk and keep a small supply of templates for future use. The process is fast, intuitive, and avoids cluttering your inventory with dozens of intermediate items.
Installation and Compatibility
Easy Templates works on both Fabric and Forge, supporting the latest Minecraft versions. It does not alter world generation or break existing structures, so you can add it to an ongoing survival world without issues. The mod is intentionally lightweight, meaning it runs smoothly even on lower-end systems. For players who want to get started without manually dragging files into the mods folder, this mod can be easily installed via the foxygame.net launcher — a convenient, flexible, and modern Minecraft launcher where you can download mods right from the menu. That streamlined approach lets you jump into a world with Easy Templates in seconds, no technical know-how required.
The mod plays nicely with other content mods that add new trims or upgrade paths, as long as those trims are registered in the standard smithing template registry. You can combine it with visual enhancement mods, minimap tools, and even recipe viewers like JEI to see the cycling sequence in real time.
Balancing and Survival Integrity
Some purists might argue that easy template crafting undermines the exploration aspect of Minecraft. However, the mod's recipe still ties progression to the Nether, and the nine netherrack cost is not trivial in the earliest stages of a world. You need to mine netherrack with a pickaxe, which means you must have at least stone tools and a portal. The cycling mechanic also consumes the template, so you cannot simply duplicate trims without additional netherrack. This keeps a gentle resource loop that feels earned rather than cheated.
If you prefer a slightly harder experience, you can adjust the recipe or cycling cost via a simple configuration file. The mod respects player choice, making it suitable for both casual builders and those who want a middle ground between vanilla grind and full creative mode.
Final Thoughts
Easy Templates transforms one of Minecraft's most repetitive collection tasks into a smooth, crafting-centric system. By letting you craft the Netherite Upgrade Template from nine netherrack and cycle through all templates in a crafting table, it saves hours of travel while preserving the satisfaction of earning your trims. Whether you are a builder showcasing every armor pattern or a survivor who values time over random loot tables, this mod delivers a polished solution that feels right at home in the game. Install it, gather some netherrack, and watch your template collection grow without ever leaving your crafting room.