MobDetect
Running a busy Minecraft server means constantly balancing performance with player freedom. Too many entities in one chunk can tank TPS, but manually hunting down mob farms or forgotten animal pens is tedious. MobDetect solves that problem by giving you a complete, real-time overview of every entity type in your vicinity. Whether you need to count creepers, find hidden players, or spotlight lag-inducing clusters, this Paper plugin puts the data at your fingertips.
What Is MobDetect for Minecraft?
MobDetect is a lightweight server-side tool built specifically for Paper 1.20.2 and compatible Paper forks. It scans loaded chunks around a player or command sender and returns a detailed breakdown of all living entities, from passive mobs to hostile monsters and even item frames. The primary goal is to help server administrators identify and remove performance hogs—large groups of identical entities that strain server resources. Instead of guessing why TPS drops, you can run a single command and see exactly which mob type is overpopulated.
Beyond entity counting, MobDetect includes a player radar, a graphical GUI, and configurable warnings. It respects permission nodes so you can give moderators access without exposing sensitive admin tools. The plugin is maintained by mehrwehr and receives updates that improve accuracy and add requested features.
Key Features and Commands
MobDetect revolves around two main commands, each with its own permission set and configuration options. Here is how they work in practice.
/near – Player Radar
Typing /near in chat instantly returns a list of all players within your configured radius, along with their exact distance. This is perfect for moderators checking suspicious activity or for players who want to know who is nearby without using external maps. The command ignores any player who holds the mob_detect.ignored_player permission, so staff can stay invisible while scanning. Note that this bypass permission is deliberately not included in the wildcard mob_detect.* to prevent accidental exposure.
- Permission required: mob_detect.players or mob_detect.*
- Configurable radius in config.yml
- Outputs player names and distances
/detect – Entity Census
The /detect command is the heart of the plugin. It scans the area and returns a chat-based list of every entity type and how many of each are present. You can adjust the scan radius and even set population thresholds that trigger automatic warnings when a mob type exceeds a certain count. This proactive alert system lets you catch runaway breeders or chunk-loaded spawners before they crash the server.
- Permission required: mob_detect.detect or mob_detect.*
- Customizable radius and warning limits in config.yml
- Works on all standard entity types, including modded mobs if the server supports them
/detect gui – Visual Entity Browser
For a more intuitive experience, /detect gui opens an inventory-style interface. Each entity type appears as its corresponding spawn egg or representative item. Clicking an item applies a glowing effect to all entities of that type within the scan radius, making them visible through walls. The highlight duration is fully configurable. This visual mode is invaluable for quickly locating a specific mob cluster without scrolling through chat text.
- Permission required: mob_detect.detect.gui
- Glowing highlight duration set in config.yml under detect.highlight_duration
- Clickable items for instant visual feedback
/mobdetect update – Stay Current
Running /mobdetect update displays a clickable text link that leads directly to the latest plugin version. This makes it simple to check for new releases without leaving the game. The permission mob_detect.update controls who can use this command.
How to Install MobDetect on Your Paper Server
Getting started with MobDetect is straightforward. Follow these steps to add the plugin to your server.
- Ensure your server runs Paper 1.20.2 or a compatible fork. MobDetect is designed for this version but often works on nearby Paper builds.
- Download MobDetect from the official source. The plugin file is a standard .jar that you place in your server's plugins folder.
- Restart the server or run a reload command (though a full restart is recommended to avoid issues).
- Verify the plugin loaded by typing /plugins and looking for MobDetect in the list.
- Open the generated config.yml inside the MobDetect plugin folder to adjust radii, warning thresholds, and highlight duration to your liking.
- Assign permissions to staff groups using your permission manager (e.g., LuckPerms). Grant mob_detect.players for /near, mob_detect.detect for /detect, and mob_detect.detect.gui for the GUI.
If you use the foxygame.net launcher, adding MobDetect becomes even simpler: the launcher’s built-in add-on catalog lets you install MobDetect with a single click and automatically keeps it updated to match your server version, so you never have to worry about compatibility mismatches.
Configuration Deep Dive
All behavior is controlled through the config.yml file. Here are the most important settings you can tweak:
- detect.radius – The block radius around the command sender that /detect and /detect gui scan.
- detect.warn_amount – If any entity type exceeds this number, a warning is broadcast to permitted users.
- detect.highlight_duration – How long (in seconds) entities glow after being clicked in the GUI.
- near.radius – The block radius for the /near player radar.
- near.ignore_vanished – Whether to skip players using vanish plugins (requires VanishNoPacket or similar).
Adjusting these values lets you tailor MobDetect to a small survival world or a massive network hub. A lower warn_amount on hostile mobs can alert you to grinders that need throttling, while a generous near.radius helps moderators patrol large event areas.
Why Server Admins Love MobDetect
Performance monitoring often relies on timings reports or external tools, but MobDetect brings entity awareness directly into the game. The ability to see exactly which mobs are piling up—and where—saves hours of investigation. The glowing highlight feature turns a dry list into an interactive hunt. And because it’s a Paper plugin, it integrates seamlessly with your existing permission setup and requires no client-side mods.
Another standout is the ignored player permission. Many radar plugins force staff to toggle visibility separately; MobDetect bakes it into the command itself, reducing the risk of accidentally revealing a vanished admin. The update command also keeps the plugin fresh without needing to visit a website, though you can always manually download MobDetect if you prefer.
Common Use Cases
- Lag troubleshooting: Run /detect when TPS drops to instantly spot 300 chickens crammed into one chunk.
- Moderation: Use /near to check if a reported player is actually online and nearby before intervening.
- Event management: Highlight all zombies during a survival event to make them easier for participants to see.
- Farm auditing: Regularly scan your world to ensure no player has built an oversized mob farm that violates server rules.
Permissions Summary
Here is a quick reference for all MobDetect permission nodes:
- mob_detect.* – Grants access to all commands except the ignored player bypass.
- mob_detect.players – Allows use of /near.
- mob_detect.detect – Allows use of /detect.
- mob_detect.detect.gui – Allows use of /detect gui.
- mob_detect.update – Allows use of /mobdetect update.
- mob_detect.ignored_player – Makes a player invisible to /near scans (not included in wildcard).
Final Thoughts
MobDetect fills a niche that every Paper server owner eventually needs: a fast, in-game entity audit. Its dual command approach—text and visual—caters to both quick checks and deep investigations. The configuration is flexible enough to adapt to any playstyle, and the permission system keeps control where it belongs. Whether you’re chasing lag, managing a community, or simply curious about what lurks in the shadows, MobDetect for Minecraft is a plugin that deserves a permanent spot in your server’s toolkit. Download MobDetect today and take the guesswork out of entity management.