Pokecraft [discontinued]
If you have ever dreamed of exploring the blocky world of Minecraft while catching, battling, and evolving your favorite Pokémon, then Pokecraft [discontinued] was the mod that made that dream a reality. Although the project has been officially discontinued, its legacy lives on in the hearts of players who experienced its unique take on the Pokémon formula. This article dives deep into everything this beloved mod offered, from its revamped combat system to its hidden temples and biome-specific spawns.
A Fresh Take on Pokémon Battles
Unlike many Pokémon mods that replicate the turn-based RPG combat, Pokecraft [discontinued] completely removed that formula in favor of something far more dynamic and action-oriented. Battles happen in real-time. To initiate a fight, you need to draw a wild Pokémon's attention by hitting it with your fist or any weapon. This provokes the creature into chasing you, and that is your cue to send out your own Pokémon. By clicking on your Pokémon, you issue orders, and it will proceed to attack the provoked rival, kicking off an intense brawl.
This system rewards aggressive play and quick thinking. The more battles your Pokémon participates in, the stronger it becomes, and the faster it can evolve. A handy tip from the original mod description suggests that if you stumble upon a village, you can attack the Iron Golem to give your Pokémon some serious training. It is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that adds a layer of strategy not often seen in other mods.
Evolution: Beyond Just Fighting
While most Pokémon in Pokecraft [discontinued] evolve through combat, there are notable exceptions that require the use of elemental stones. For example, Eevee can evolve into Jolteon with a Thunder Stone, Flareon with a Fire Stone, or Vaporeon with a Water Stone. Other stone-based evolutions include Exeggcute to Exeggutor using a Leaf Stone, Staryu to Starmie with a Water Stone, Vulpix to Ninetales via a Fire Stone, and Pikachu to Raichu using a Thunder Stone. This variety ensures that players must explore and gather resources to complete their Pokédex.
Exploring Unique Structures
Pokecraft [discontinued] introduced two distinct structures to the Overworld. The first is a rare Ancient Temple, which has a 1% chance of spawning in jungle biomes. These temples are packed with high-tier loot, but the real prize lies on the first floor. There, you will find a peculiar rock shaped like chiseled stone bricks. Interacting with this block will invoke the mythical Pokémon, Mew.
The second structure is a simple Pokéball found in any biome. Right-clicking it will drop a specific HM. If you are in a mountain, forest, or meadow biome, you will receive HM Flight. For HM Surf, you need to find this structure in the sea or near rivers. These HMs are essential for traversing the world and accessing new areas.
Where to Find Pokémon in the Wild
The mod distributed 42 different Pokémon species across various biomes, encouraging exploration. Here is a quick breakdown of where to find specific types:
- Forests: Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree, Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Pikachu, Eevee, Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Rattata, and Raticate.
- Taiga: Fox-like Pokémon such as Vulpix, Ninetales, and Eevee.
- Savanna, Badlands, and Desert: Fire-type and Ground-type Pokémon.
- Beaches, Rivers, and Oceans: Magikarp, Gyarados, Staryu, Starmie, Squirtle, Wartortle, and Blastoise.
- Frozen Ocean: Lapras.
- Mountains: Flying-types like Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Spearow, and Fearow.
- Jungle: Exeggcute, Exeggutor, and Jolteon.
Riding and Using HMs
At the time of its final update, only a select few Pokémon could use the available HMs. For HM Flight, players could ride Pidgeotto and Pidgeot. For HM Surf, Lapras was the only option. The mod's creator noted that more Pokémon, such as Gyarados, Tentacruel, and Dewgong, were planned for future updates, but the discontinuation halted those plans.
If you are looking to relive the experience, you can still find guides on how to install the mod. Many players seek to download Pokecraft [discontinued] from archived sources, and while the official page is gone, community mirrors exist. For those who prefer a streamlined process, the foxygame.net launcher offers a curated add-on catalog that simplifies managing legacy mods like this one, ensuring that even discontinued content can be launched with a few clicks. The launcher's version compatibility tools are particularly useful for matching this mod with the correct Minecraft build.
Notable Additions and Removals
The final version of Pokecraft [discontinued] for Minecraft included a fully functional Pokédex that shows crafting recipes and hints at future forms like Alola, Galar, and Hisui. It also featured automatic regeneration for defeated Pokémon, meaning the world never runs out of creatures to catch. Several older models were redesigned to look better, including Venusaur, Charmeleon, Pikachu, Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Caterpie, Weedle, Blastoise, and Charizard.
However, some features were temporarily removed in the last update. These included Alolan forms, Pokémon Centers, Pokémon Trainers, PC storage, and Pokémon Potions. The creator stated these were temporary and would return, but the discontinuation meant they never did.
Final Thoughts on Pokecraft [discontinued]
Despite its abrupt end, Pokecraft [discontinued] remains a standout mod for its innovative combat and immersive world. It proved that a Pokémon mod could feel fresh and exciting without copying the mainline games. While you may no longer be able to get official updates, the mod still works for those who know how to install it correctly. Whether you are a veteran player or a newcomer curious about its mechanics, tracking down a copy is worth the effort. The dynamic battles, the thrill of finding Mew, and the joy of soaring on a Pidgeot are experiences that any Minecraft and Pokémon fan should try at least once.