Tncnd's Manhunt Compasses
Setting up a Minecraft manhunt has always been a chore. You need datapacks, config files, and a lot of patience to get the tracking working just right. Tncnd's Manhunt Compasses throws all that out the window. This is a server-side mod that hands you a working compass with a single command, locks it onto any player you name, and then gets out of your way. It is the cleanest, most direct way to run a manhunt that you will find.
What Does Tncnd's Manhunt Compasses Do?
The core idea is beautifully simple. You run /compass give to receive a Manhunt Compass. This is a lodestone compass, but its needle locks onto a player of your choosing. Type /compass track Steve, and the needle swings to point at Steve. He runs, it follows. He dives into a Nether portal, and the needle spins uselessly until you follow him through, at which point it locks straight back on. That is the entire mod. It does one thing and does it perfectly.
This is a server-side only mod. You put it on the server, and every hunter can join with a completely vanilla client and still see the needle move. There is no trick to it. The Manhunt Compass is a real vanilla compass carrying real vanilla lodestone data, exactly what you would get by right-clicking a lodestone. Every Minecraft client since 1.16 already knows how to draw that needle. The mod just keeps rewriting where it points. That also means no resource pack, no texture download, and nothing to go out of date.
Commands at a Glance
You do not need an operator babysitting the game. The commands are designed so that every player can arm themselves and pick a target instantly.
/compass give- Gives you a Manhunt Compass. Anyone can use this./compass give <player>- Operators can give one to someone else./compass track <username>- Locks your compass onto that player. Usernames tab-complete from whoever is online./compass stop- Stops tracking and blanks your compass./compass status- Shows who you are tracking and whether the needle is live.
Same-Dimension Tracking, On Purpose
The needle only works while you and your target share a dimension. Cross into the Nether and it spins until you follow them. This is not a limitation; it is the balance. A compass that pierces dimensions turns a manhunt into a formality, because the runner can never break line of sight. Making them earn the portal escape is what keeps the chase interesting.
Two smaller touches work in the same spirit. If your target logs off, the needle freezes at their last known position rather than snapping back to world spawn. It will not quietly announce that they have left. Also, the compass is lodestone-textured from the moment you get it, so it never looks like a spare compass rattling around your inventory.
Supported Minecraft Versions and Loaders
Tncnd's Manhunt Compasses for Minecraft requires Fabric Loader and Fabric API. There is one jar per Minecraft range, and the split is not arbitrary. Each break is a real one. Mojang replaced item NBT with data components in 1.20.5, renamed every component read method in 1.21.5, reworked permissions in 1.21.11, and shipped the first unobfuscated Minecraft in 26.1. Every range was checked symbol by symbol against the real mappings, so a jar that claims to support your version actually does.
+mc1.20.1- Minecraft 1.20.1, Java 17+mc1.20.2-1.20.4- Minecraft 1.20.2 to 1.20.4, Java 17+mc1.20.6- Minecraft 1.20.6, Java 21+mc1.21.1-1.21.8- Minecraft 1.21.1 to 1.21.8, Java 21+mc1.21.9-1.21.11- Minecraft 1.21.9 to 1.21.11, Java 21+mc26.1-26.2- Minecraft 26.1 to 26.2, Java 25
That is six jars covering fourteen Minecraft versions. For those who prefer a managed experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers a one-click install for Tncnd's Manhunt Compasses, pulling the correct jar for your chosen Minecraft version automatically and keeping it updated without any manual file swapping.
How to Install Tncnd's Manhunt Compasses
Knowing how to install this mod is straightforward. First, ensure you have Fabric Loader installed on your server. Then, download Tncnd's Manhunt Compasses for Minecraft from the official source, making sure to grab the jar that matches your server's Minecraft version. Place the jar into your server's mods folder, alongside the Fabric API jar. Restart the server, and you are done. There is no client install for your players, which is the whole point.
Tracking Details and Notes
Tracking lasts for the server session. After a restart, you will need to run /compass track again. The compass is identified by its name. Rename it in an anvil and it stops tracking; rename any compass to "Manhunt Compass" and it starts. On 1.20.1 to 1.20.4, the compass has no lore line under its name, which is purely cosmetic.
If you are looking to streamline your setup even further, the add-on catalog within the foxygame.net launcher lists Tncnd's Manhunt Compasses alongside other server utilities, allowing you to manage mod profiles and version compatibility from a single dashboard before you even launch the game.
Final Thoughts
Tncnd's Manhunt Compasses is a masterclass in focused modding. It does not try to be a full manhunt suite with timers, teams, and scoreboards. It simply gives you a working compass that tracks a player, and it does that flawlessly. The server-side nature means zero friction for your friends, and the dimension-locked tracking keeps the gameplay honest and exciting. Whether you are a content creator looking for a quick setup or a group of friends wanting a spontaneous chase, this mod delivers. Download Tncnd's Manhunt Compasses, drop it on your server, and start the hunt.