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The most reliable way to host a Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) server is to use Minecraft Java Edition 1.20.1, Forge, the matching Kimetsu no Yaiba client and server packs, and identical mod versions on every computer. Download the 1.20.1 release 2.1.2 files, install the supplied Forge server in a clean folder, accept the EULA, configure the world, then forward the server port and allow Java through your firewall. Friends must use the same Minecraft version, Forge loader, pack release, and dependencies.
This guide covers self-hosting on your own computer and explains what to verify if you choose a managed host instead.
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Choose one compatible version branch
Kimetsu no Yaiba is distributed for Minecraft Java Edition on Forge 1.20.1 and 1.16.5. Treat each branch as a separate ecosystem: a 1.20.1 client cannot join a 1.16.5 server, and files from different pack revisions can produce missing-mod, registry, or handshake errors.
| Minecraft branch | Loader | Pack information | What to download |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.20.1 | Forge | CurseForge lists release 2.1.2. The matching server file is named KimetsuNoYaiba(Demon-Slayer)+Server-[2.1.2]. The opened file page shows an upload date of September 8, 2026. |
1.20.1 client pack and the 2.1.2 server pack |
| 1.16.5 | Forge | Supported by the project, but a comparable current release number is not stated here. | 1.16.5 client and server files from the same release |
For a new installation, 1.20.1 is the practical choice because the current file listing identifies a complete client/server pair. Download both files from the same project page and record the exact release number in your server notes. Download counts shown on the project pages—272,757 on CurseForge and 379.7K on Modrinth—are snapshots from 2026, not permanent popularity rankings.
#1 Best Overall
- DELUXE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, three Bedrock add-ons, three exclusive Character Creator items, and 700 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
Prepare the files and server computer
Use a dedicated directory
Create a new folder used only by this server, separate from your personal client instance. The folder will contain the Forge libraries, mods, configuration, world data, logs, and backups. Keeping it separate prevents a client-only mod or an old configuration from being copied into the server accidentally.
- Use a local drive with enough free space for the initial world, growth, logs, and several backups.
- Choose a computer that can remain powered on while friends play.
- Keep your operating system, Java installation, and server files under an account that can read and write the directory.
- Do not edit or replace files while the server process is running.
Install a compatible Java runtime
Mojang states that Java Edition hosting requires a compatible Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to launch the server jar. Install the Java version required by the selected Forge build, then confirm that the command used by the supplied launcher or start script resolves to that installation. The official server setup is for Java Edition only; Bedrock clients cannot connect to this Forge server.
Download a matching client and server pack
- Select Minecraft 1.20.1 and the Forge platform on the project file page.
- Download the client pack for the exact release you selected.
- Download the server pack with the same release number. For the current 1.20.1 listing, that is release 2.1.2 and the file named
KimetsuNoYaiba(Demon-Slayer)+Server-[2.1.2]. - Save the server archive outside your normal client instance, extract it into the dedicated server directory, and preserve the folder structure supplied by the pack.
- Give friends the client-pack instructions, not a copy of your server world or private server configuration.
Never combine a 1.16.5 client with a 1.20.1 server, or a 2.1.2 client with another server revision. Even when Minecraft starts, internal registries can differ and the connection will fail during the mod handshake.
Install and perform the first Forge boot
Run the supplied launcher
- Open the dedicated server directory.
- Run the launcher or start script included with the server pack. If the pack instead provides Forge installer instructions, install the server into this directory and use the generated Forge launch files.
- Wait for the first process to finish generating libraries, configuration folders, and initial files. The first launch can take longer than later starts.
- Stop the process cleanly after generation completes. Do not close the terminal abruptly while files are being written.
Accept the EULA
After the first boot, open eula.txt in the server directory. Read the agreement and change the EULA value to acceptance only if you agree to it. Save the file, then start the same Forge launcher again. A server that has not recorded EULA acceptance will stop during startup.
Rank #2
- ULTIMATE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, five Bedrock add-ons, five exclusive Character Creator items, and 1000 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
Keep client-only mods out of the server
The server pack should already contain the required server files. Do not copy every file from a client mods folder into the server. A visual, performance, or interface mod may be client-only. Add a mod to the server only when its documentation explicitly identifies it as server-safe and compatible with your exact Forge and Minecraft versions.
Configure the world before opening it to friends
Stop the server before editing configuration. The main vanilla settings are in server.properties; Kimetsu no Yaiba and related mods also create files under the Minecraft config directory.
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| Setting or area | What to decide | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | How dangerous mobs and combat should be | Choose the value that fits your group before creating a long-term world. |
| Game mode | Survival, creative, or another supported mode | Set the default for new players; grant exceptions deliberately. |
| Whitelist | Whether only named players may join | Enable it for a private friends-only server and add each player’s exact Minecraft name. |
| View distance | How many chunks the server sends and simulates | Lower values reduce CPU, memory, and network load; raise them only after checking performance. |
| Server port | The TCP port used by Java clients | Keep the default Java port 25565 unless another service or network policy requires a different port. |
config files |
Mod-specific gameplay and multiplayer behavior | Change one option at a time, retain a backup, and document the new value. |
Kimetsunoyaiba Tweaks exposes multiplayer configuration as TOML files in the config directory. Make changes with the server stopped, then restart and inspect the log for errors. Keep a copy of the original file so you can revert a setting that prevents startup.
Make the server reachable outside your home
Allow Java through the computer firewall
Your operating system may block inbound connections even when the Forge process is running. Create an inbound firewall rule for the Java executable used by the server, or allow the application when the operating system prompts you. If you changed the server port, the firewall rule must allow that chosen TCP port.
Rank #3
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that is unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world full of surprises.
- SURVIVAL ADVENTURES — Face mysterious foes, travel across varied landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play solo or join friends in local split-screen and cross-platform play across console, mobile, and PC. Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
- COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.
Forward the port on your router
- Give the host computer a stable private address on your local network, preferably through a DHCP reservation.
- Open the router’s port-forwarding page.
- Forward the server’s TCP port to the host computer’s private IP address. Use the same external and internal port unless your network design requires translation.
- Save the router rule and restart it only if the router requires that step.
- Share your public address and port with trusted players; do not publish it publicly.
Mojang notes that players outside the local network may need both firewall changes and port forwarding. A successful connection from another computer on your Wi-Fi proves only that the LAN path works. Test from a separate network, such as a phone hotspot, with the server running. If the external test fails, check the host firewall, router destination address, port number, and whether your internet provider places the connection behind carrier-grade NAT.
Reduce unwanted access
- Use the whitelist for a private group.
- Keep the server software and mods on a known release; do not install unverified jars sent by strangers.
- Back up before granting operator permissions or changing gameplay commands.
- Share the address only with people who should have access.
Make every client match the server
Each player should install the client pack for exactly the same Minecraft version, Forge loader, Kimetsu no Yaiba release, and dependency revisions as the server. A player can have the correct main mod and still fail to connect if a library is older, newer, or missing.
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- Use Minecraft 1.20.1 and the Forge loader selected for the server.
- Install the same Kimetsu no Yaiba pack release, currently 2.1.2 for the identified 1.20.1 pair.
- Install the matching versions of Kimetsunoyaiba, Mob Player Animator, Player Animator, GeckoLib, and KnY Worlds when those files are part of the server pack.
- Install PlayerAnimator and MobPlayerAnimator on both client and server; Kimetsunoyaiba Tweaks specifically requires this arrangement.
- Remove OptiFine. The Kimetsunoyaiba Tweaks troubleshooting guidance identifies it as incompatible.
- Do not add extra performance, shader, or cosmetic mods until a clean client can join successfully.
When distributing instructions, tell players to launch the Forge profile created for this pack rather than an unmodded Minecraft profile. If the launcher offers multiple installations, verify the profile’s game directory so files are not being installed into a different instance.
Start, stop, update, and back up safely
Normal startup and shutdown
Start the server with the same Forge launcher or script used during first boot. Wait until the console reports that the server has finished loading before connecting. To shut down, use the console’s normal stop command and wait for the process to close; this lets the world save cleanly.
Rank #4
- Skins! We have biome settlers, city folk, town folk, and more!
- The Nether and all its inhabitants. Fight Ghasts and make friends with Pigmen
- Cross platform play for up to five players between Pocket Edition and Windows 10
- Revamped touch controls, controller support, and a controller mapping screen
- Enhanced Weather effects! Accumulating snow and more
Back up before changes
- Stop the server and wait for the process to exit.
- Copy the world directory, the
configdirectory, and the server files to a separate storage location. - Record the Minecraft version, Forge version, pack release, and date in the backup name or a text note.
- Start the server and confirm that the world loads before deleting the older backup.
Keep more than one restore point. A recent backup protects against a bad mod update, while an older backup can recover a world after corruption that was discovered days later.
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Updating the pack
Never overwrite a running server. Stop it, make a complete backup, then replace or update files according to the new pack’s instructions. Update the clients to the identical release before inviting anyone back. If the new release changes world data, keep the old backup until you have played long enough to confirm that chunks, player inventories, and modded structures are intact.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot the failures players see most often
Forge crashes while loading
Kimetsunoyaiba Tweaks troubleshooting guidance calls out Forge 47.4.0 for loading crashes on the 1.20.1 branch. Verify the installed Forge build before changing unrelated files. Also confirm that Kimetsunoyaiba, Mob Player Animator, Player Animator, GeckoLib, and KnY Worlds are their 1.20.1 versions. Remove OptiFine and retry with only the files supplied by the pack.
Missing-mod or wrong-version errors
Read the first missing or incompatible mod named in the client error rather than deleting random files. Compare the server’s mods directory with a clean client installation and check Minecraft, Forge, and every dependency version. A registry error usually means the two sides loaded different content; rebuilding both sides from the same release is safer than copying individual jars until the error disappears.
Best Value
- Play and share with friends on console, mobile and Windows 10
- discover community creations in the new in-game store
- access new mini games and game modes through servers
Named characters do not spawn
The Tweaks FAQ explains that enhanced spawning can prevent Hashira, Kizuki demons, and other named characters from appearing outside raids, quests, and special biomes. If your group expects them in ordinary exploration, stop the server, open the relevant mod configuration, disable enhanced spawning as appropriate, and restart. The setting affects gameplay generation; it is not evidence that the mod failed to load.
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The project documents animation synchronization for LAN and dedicated servers. Confirm that PlayerAnimator and MobPlayerAnimator are installed on both sides and that clients are not running different revisions. Check the server log and the mod’s multiplayer TOML configuration if synchronization remains inconsistent.
Friends cannot connect, but LAN works
- Have the host connect locally first to confirm the server is running.
- Check that the router forwards the selected TCP port to the host’s current private IP.
- Confirm that the operating-system firewall allows the Java process.
- Test from a separate internet connection, not the same Wi-Fi.
- Verify that the external address has not changed and that the internet connection is not behind a carrier-grade NAT that blocks inbound forwarding.
- Make sure the joining player is using the exact modded Forge profile; a network fix cannot solve a mod handshake mismatch.
The server stops during startup
Read the final error and the earliest stack trace in the log, then undo the last configuration or mod change. Restore the most recent working copy of config or the server files if necessary. Do not delete the world as a first response; world data is often recoverable when the problem is a mismatched mod or malformed configuration.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
A managed host can install and run the server for you, while self-hosting gives you direct control over files, network settings, and logs. A hosting listing advertises automatic installation of the Kimetsu no Yaiba pack for Forge Minecraft 1.20.1, and the project’s Modrinth page links to Modrinth Hosting. Those references do not constitute endorsement by Mojang or the mod authors.
| Decision factor | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront and monthly cost | No hosting subscription, but you provide the computer, electricity, storage, and internet connection. | Recurring service cost; the exact price depends on allocation and location and is not stated here. |
| Setup effort | You install Java and Forge, configure the router and firewall, and maintain the files. | The provider may automate pack installation and network access. |
| Mod and configuration control | Full access to server jars, configs, scripts, and logs. | Control depends on the provider’s panel, file access, and mod policy. |
| Backups and recovery | You design, schedule, and test your own backups. | Check whether backups are automatic, retained, downloadable, and restorable before subscribing. |
| CPU and RAM | Limited by your computer and what else it is running. | Verify the assigned CPU, RAM, storage, and whether resources are shared or upgradeable. |
| Latency and capacity | Depends on your home upload capacity and your friends’ distance from it. | Choose a geographic location and player limit that fit the group. |
| Support and cancellation | You troubleshoot Forge, Java, and networking yourself. | Read support hours, cancellation terms, refund rules, and data-export procedures. |
| Pack compatibility | You can pin the exact Forge and pack revision yourself. | Ask the provider to confirm support for the exact 1.20.1 release and server-pack file before paying. |
Whether you self-host or rent a server, keep your own offline backup and record the exact pack and Forge versions. A one-click installer is useful only if it installs the same files your clients use and gives you a way to recover the world.
Quick Recap
Pre-launch checklist
- Minecraft Java Edition branch selected and recorded.
- Forge version installed on the server and every client.
- Matching Kimetsu no Yaiba client and server release downloaded.
- Required dependency versions agree on both sides.
- Java runtime launches the supplied Forge script.
- EULA accepted in
eula.txt. server.propertiesreviewed for mode, difficulty, whitelist, view distance, and port.- Firewall rule and router forwarding tested from a separate network.
- World,
config, and server files backed up before public access. - OptiFine and other unverified client additions removed until the clean pack connects.
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