Standard Materials
Minecraft's vanilla progression often leaves players wanting more variety in their end-game gear. While diamond has long been the pinnacle, many mods either overpower new materials or make them redundant. The Standard Materials mod strikes a careful balance by introducing two new equipment tiers: obsidian and emerald. This add-on doesn't just add shiny new tools; it thoughtfully adjusts stats to create meaningful choices for survival and adventure.
What Does Standard Materials Add?
This mod introduces a full suite of craftable items, including swords, pickaxes, axes, shovels, hoes, and a complete set of armor. The core concept is simple: obsidian equipment offers exceptional durability, while emerald gear focuses on speed and enchantability. You also get emerald horse armor that can be discovered in naturally generated chests, adding a touch of rare loot to your explorations.
Obsidian Equipment: The Durable Choice
If you are tired of constantly repairing your diamond tools, obsidian gear is a game-changer. With a harvest level of 3, it matches diamond in mining capability. However, its max uses sit at a hefty 2000, compared to diamond's 1561. The trade-off is a slightly slower efficiency rating of 5.0 and an attack damage of 2.0. For armor, obsidian provides a solid 30 max damage absorption, with piece values of {2, 5, 6, 2} for boots, leggings, chestplate, and helmet respectively. Its enchantability of 14 is respectable, making it a reliable workhorse for long mining sessions.
Emerald Equipment: The Enchanter's Dream
Emerald gear is designed for players who love enchanting. While its durability is lower at 400 uses, it boasts an impressive efficiency of 9.0 and an attack damage of 2.5. The standout feature is its enchantability of 20, which is double that of diamond. This means you will get higher-level enchants more frequently, making it ideal for specialized tools like fortune pickaxes or looting swords. The armor set offers 20 max damage, with piece values of {2, 6, 7, 2}, and an enchantability of 18.
How to Get the New Materials
To start crafting, you first need to obtain the raw gems. The process is straightforward: smelt obsidian blocks in a furnace or blast furnace to get the Obsidian Gem. Emerald items, on the other hand, use the standard emerald you already mine. All crafting recipes mirror vanilla patterns, so there is no steep learning curve. If you are using a launcher that supports mod catalogs, you can easily find and install this add-on without manual file management.
Crafting and Smelting Guide
- Smelt Obsidian Blocks to create Obsidian Gems.
- Use standard vanilla crafting grids for tools and armor.
- Find Emerald Horse Armor in dungeon, village, and temple chests.
- All recipes are shaped exactly like their iron or diamond counterparts.
Stat Comparison at a Glance
Understanding the numbers helps you decide which material suits your playstyle. Here is a quick breakdown of the key differences between the new tiers and the classic diamond standard.
- Obsidian Tools: Harvest Level 3, 2000 Max Uses, 5.0 Efficiency, 2.0 Attack Damage, 15 Enchantability.
- Emerald Tools: Harvest Level 2, 400 Max Uses, 9.0 Efficiency, 2.5 Attack Damage, 20 Enchantability.
- Diamond Tools: Harvest Level 3, 1561 Max Uses, 8.0 Efficiency, 3.0 Attack Damage, 10 Enchantability.
- Obsidian Armor: Max Damage 30, Enchantability 14.
- Emerald Armor: Max Damage 20, Enchantability 18.
Compatibility and Installation
This mod is specifically designed for Minecraft version 1.15.2. It requires the Forge loader to run. Before you begin, ensure your Minecraft launcher is set to the correct profile. For a seamless experience, many players use the foxygame.net launcher because it features a dedicated add-on catalog where you can search for "Standard Materials" and deploy it with a single click, bypassing manual mod folder navigation. The launcher also handles version compatibility checks automatically, so you don't have to worry about mismatched Forge versions.
Step-by-Step Install Guide
If you prefer manual installation, the process is simple. First, download the mod file from a trusted source. Then, navigate to your Minecraft directory and open the "mods" folder. Place the downloaded .jar file inside and restart the game. If you are unsure how to install, just search for "how to install" guides specific to your launcher. The foxygame.net launcher simplifies this further by offering auto-updates for your installed mods, ensuring that "Standard Materials" stays current without repeated manual downloads.
Is It Worth Adding to Your Modpack?
Absolutely. The mod author explicitly states that you are free to include this in any modpack. The balanced stats mean it won't break your game's progression. The emerald horse armor is a fun collectible, and the smelting recipe for obsidian gems provides a new use for a block you usually just build with. Whether you are a builder looking for aesthetic armor or a miner seeking unbreakable tools, this add-on delivers value.
For the best experience, always back up your world before adding new mods. Test the gear in creative mode to see if the stats fit your server's difficulty. The enchantability differences alone can change how you approach end-game grinding. If you encounter any bugs, the developer encourages reporting them via the GitHub issues page, which is a sign of active maintenance.
Final Thoughts on Standard Materials
In a sea of overpowered mods, Standard Materials stands out by respecting the vanilla balance. It gives players a reason to revisit mining obsidian and trading with villagers for emeralds. The clear stat hierarchy—durability versus efficiency—adds strategic depth to your tool selection. If you play on 1.15.2 and want a fresh but fair twist on equipment, this mod is a must-try. Remember to check your launcher's compatibility tools to get it running smoothly today.