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Godlike.Host offers modded Minecraft server hosting with one-click modpacks, a built-in mod installer and up to three free backups a day.
For current Pixelmon releases, install the NeoForge server for the pack’s Minecraft version, use the Java release required by that Pixelmon line, and give the process at least 6 GB of RAM (8 GB is a sensible starting point for a small group). Pixelmon 9.3.x on Minecraft 1.21.1 uses Java 21 and NeoForge. After installing the server files, set memory in user_jvm_args.txt, start the generated script, let the first run finish its expected shutdown, then start it again. Every player must use the identical Pixelmon pack and loader version.
Pick the Pixelmon line before installing anything
Pixelmon’s loader and Java requirements depend on the Pixelmon release line, not simply on the Minecraft version shown in a launcher. Select the exact pack version you intend to run, then match the server, client and Java runtime to that choice.
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| Pixelmon line | Minecraft version | Loader | Java requirement | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.3.0 and newer | 1.21.1 | NeoForge | Java 21 | Use the NeoForge server installer for 1.21.1. |
| 9.2.0–9.2.10 | 1.20.2 | NeoForge | Java 17 | Install the 1.20.2 NeoForge server and run it with Java 17. |
| 9.1.x and older | Depends on the legacy pack | Older lines use Forge | Java 8 | Follow the documentation bundled with that specific legacy pack. |
Tutorials that tell you to install Forge for Pixelmon 9.3.x are outdated. Forge remains relevant to older Pixelmon lines, including 1.16.5 and 1.12.2-era packs, but it is not the loader for current 9.3.x servers.
The unresolved 1.16.5 Java question
Published instructions disagree for some 1.16.5 packs. The Pixelmon Wiki states that Java 8 is required for versions before 9.2.0, while a Cubes Hosting guide lists Java 17 for 1.16.5. Those statements may refer to different pack builds or installation environments. Do not guess: check the release notes or server instructions for the exact 1.16.5 pack, and test the server with that documented Java executable.
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- 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).
Decide where the server will run
You can run the server on a computer you control or use a managed Minecraft host. The modpack files are the same, but the operational work is different.
| Approach | You are responsible for | What the platform handles | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-hosted | Choosing NeoForge or Forge, installing the correct Java version, allocating RAM, placing the pack files, starting and stopping the process, updates, backups and network access. | Nothing beyond the operating system and hardware you provide. | People who want control, local access and the ability to tune the installation. |
| Managed host | Selecting the correct Pixelmon release, uploading or installing the pack, setting player permissions and maintaining the world. | Usually the server software, Java runtime and memory controls through a modpack installer or control panel. | Groups that prefer a web panel and do not want to maintain Java or server processes themselves. |
A managed installer can reduce setup mistakes, but it does not remove the need to match the clients’ modpack and loader versions. For a self-hosted installation, keep the server in a dedicated folder rather than mixing it with a client instance or unrelated worlds.
Plan RAM and the machine before installing
Published Pixelmon guidance is advisory rather than a controlled benchmark. The Pixelmon Wiki gives about 6 GB as a minimum; Connecthosting’s 2026 guidance also lists 6 GB minimum and 8 GB recommended for a small NeoForge 1.21.1 group. Treat those numbers as starting allocations, not guarantees.
| Use case | Starting allocation | Adjustment signal |
|---|---|---|
| Small private group on a current NeoForge pack | 8 GB recommended | Increase it if several players explore new terrain simultaneously or the process reports memory pressure. |
| Absolute lower bound for a current server | About 6 GB | Expect little headroom for extra mods, large worlds or many concurrent players. |
| Larger or busier server | More than 8 GB | Choose an amount based on player count, added mods, view distance and observed heap use. |
Do not assign all system memory to Java. The operating system, file cache and other services need room, and a machine that begins swapping can perform worse even when the Java heap is large. Leave additional headroom when the same computer is used for the game client, voice chat or other applications.
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- 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).
Other practical prerequisites
- Use a machine that can stay powered for the hours your group plays.
- Use a dedicated server directory with enough free storage for the world, logs, backups and future pack updates.
- Install the Java runtime that belongs to the selected Pixelmon line before launching the server.
- Keep a copy of the original server-pack archive and a backup of the world before changing versions.
- If friends connect from outside your home network, plan for whatever firewall and router configuration your network requires; the exact controls vary by operating system and router.
Install the NeoForge server for Pixelmon 9.3.x
These steps apply to Pixelmon 9.3.0 and newer on Minecraft 1.21.1. For a 9.2.x or legacy pack, substitute the Minecraft version, loader and Java runtime required by that line.
- Create a clean folder. Make a directory such as
Pixelmon-Serverin a location you can find easily. Avoid a protected system folder so the server can create files and logs. - Download the NeoForge installer. Obtain the installer that targets Minecraft 1.21.1. Launch it and choose Install Server, then select the new server folder. Installing the client option is not enough; the server option creates the libraries and launch files the dedicated process needs.
- Let the installer finish. Keep the generated libraries, configuration files and scripts together. If the installer reports that Java is unsupported, stop and install Java 21 rather than forcing it with a different runtime.
- Add Pixelmon’s server files. Download the server-pack ZIP for the exact Pixelmon release from CurseForge, or install the server through ATLauncher. Extract or install into the NeoForge server directory as instructed by that pack. Do not combine files from different Pixelmon releases.
- Check the directory. You should see the NeoForge libraries and launch files alongside the Pixelmon server files. A client-only mod folder is not a substitute for the server pack.
Set the Java heap in user_jvm_args.txt
NeoForge’s generated files normally include user_jvm_args.txt. Open that file in a plain-text editor and set the maximum heap to the amount you selected. A simple starting configuration for a small group is:
-Xms8G
-Xmx8GIf the machine can spare only the minimum allocation, use 6G instead. The important point is that the value matches the memory you actually intend to reserve and that the host operating system still has headroom. If the file already contains an -Xmx entry, edit that entry rather than adding several competing values.
Optional garbage-collection flags
Pixelmon’s performance guidance provides examples using fixed heap sizes and G1 garbage collection. You can use those examples as a starting point, but they are not a universal benchmark or a promise of better performance on every machine. Apply one change at a time, record the result, and remove a flag that causes warnings or instability. Memory size, CPU speed, world activity and extra mods all affect the outcome.
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- 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.
Start the server and complete the first-run cycle
- Windows: run
run.batfrom the server folder. If Windows hides extensions, confirm that you are launching the generated batch file and not opening the text file in an editor. - macOS or Linux: run the matching generated start script from a terminal in the server directory. If the operating system blocks execution, grant the script permission according to that operating system’s normal file-permission controls, then run it again.
- Watch the console. The first launch creates libraries, configuration files and the initial world. Pixelmon server setups commonly shut down after this first initialization. That shutdown is expected; it is not, by itself, evidence of a failed installation.
- Start the same script a second time. On the next launch, the generated files are present and the server should continue to its normal running state. Read the console for a clear “done” or ready indication before trying to connect.
- Stop cleanly. Use the server console’s normal stop command instead of closing the terminal window. A clean stop reduces the chance of world or region-file corruption.
If the process exits before creating its files, read the first error in the console and the latest log. The most common version-specific causes are an incorrect Java runtime, the wrong loader, or server files from a different Pixelmon release.
Make every player use the same pack
A Pixelmon server is not compatible with an approximately matching client. Each player should install the same Minecraft version, Pixelmon release, NeoForge or Forge loader build, and modpack contents. Launchers such as CurseForge, Prism Launcher and Modrinth can manage a shared instance, but the launcher brand does not replace version matching.
Give players a reproducible installation
- Tell players the exact pack name and release number, such as Pixelmon 9.3.x for Minecraft 1.21.1.
- Have everyone install that pack through the same distribution source when possible, rather than assembling individual mods by hand.
- Confirm that the launcher selected NeoForge for a 9.3.x pack; selecting Forge produces a loader mismatch even when Minecraft itself is 1.21.1.
- Ask players to remove obsolete copies of Pixelmon or duplicate mods from the instance’s
modsfolder. - Distribute any server-required configuration or additional mods as part of a single documented pack so clients do not drift apart.
When a player receives a “missing mods,” “mod list mismatch” or incompatible-loader message, compare the client’s instance profile with the server’s pack rather than repeatedly restarting. The error usually identifies the missing or differently-versioned component.
Verify the server before inviting the group
- Launch the server twice successfully, including the expected first-run restart.
- Confirm the console is using the intended Java executable and that the heap value in
user_jvm_args.txtis being applied. - Join locally with a test client that has the exact same pack and loader.
- Travel a short distance, open inventories, use Pixelmon machines and load a few new areas while watching the console for errors.
- Stop the server cleanly, restart it and confirm that the world and player data persist.
- Only then give the connection details to other players.
This short test separates installation problems from load problems. If the server fails with one player, fix the version or Java setup first; if it works locally but struggles when several people explore, review memory and performance settings.
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Tune performance without guessing
Start with the recommended memory allocation and the default NeoForge configuration. Change one variable at a time so you can identify what helped. The Pixelmon performance guide’s fixed-heap and G1GC examples are useful starting points, but they should be tested on your own hardware.
When to increase memory
- The process repeatedly approaches its heap limit while players are active.
- Garbage-collection pauses become frequent as new terrain and entities are loaded.
- Adding a documented server-side mod or increasing the player group pushes the original allocation beyond its comfort zone.
Increase memory only when the machine has unused physical RAM. A larger heap cannot compensate for an incompatible Java version, a wrong loader or a broken mod.
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- The console reports a Java class-version or unsupported-runtime error.
- Players are rejected for missing or mismatched mods.
- The first launch exits during installation before a world is created.
- The operating system is swapping because too much memory was assigned to Java.
Resolve those conditions directly instead of adding RAM. Keep a dated note of each change so you can return to the last working configuration.
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| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The installer or launch script says Java is the wrong version. | The Java runtime does not match the Pixelmon line. | Use Java 21 for 9.3.x, Java 17 for 9.2.0–9.2.10, or the documented legacy runtime. Make sure the start script points to that installation. |
| The server starts with Forge errors on Pixelmon 9.3.x. | A legacy tutorial or Forge installer was used. | Rebuild the folder with the 1.21.1 NeoForge server installer and the matching 9.3.x server pack. |
| The first launch closes by itself. | Normal first-start initialization. | Run the generated start script again after the initial files and configuration have been created. |
| Players get a mod-list or loader mismatch. | The client and server use different pack, loader or Minecraft versions. | Compare the complete instance profiles and reinstall the client from the exact server-pack release. |
| The process reports out-of-memory errors. | The heap is too small for the current group or added content. | Move from 6 GB to 8 GB or higher if physical RAM allows; otherwise reduce the workload and remove unnecessary additions. |
| The server cannot find Pixelmon classes or assets. | Client files were copied instead of the server-pack files, or files from multiple releases were mixed. | Make a clean directory, reinstall NeoForge, then add the server pack for one exact Pixelmon release. |
| The server runs but is unstable after JVM tuning. | An optional flag is unsuitable for the machine or conflicts with another setting. | Return to the last working user_jvm_args.txt, then reintroduce one documented change at a time. |
Backups, updates and version changes
Pixelmon and NeoForge requirements can change between releases. Before an update, stop the server cleanly and copy the entire world directory, configuration files and the current server-pack archive to a separate location. Record the old Pixelmon version, Minecraft version, loader and Java runtime.
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Install a new release in a separate directory first. Do not overwrite a working world until the new server starts, reaches its ready state and passes a test login. If the new release changes Minecraft, NeoForge or Java requirements, update all three deliberately; changing only the mod JAR can leave an unusable installation.
Keep the old directory until players have confirmed that their inventories, worlds and Pixelmon data load correctly. This gives you a rollback path if a pack update introduces a startup error or a mod incompatibility.
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- Choose the exact Pixelmon release.
- Map it to the required Minecraft version, loader and Java runtime.
- Create a dedicated server folder.
- Run the loader installer’s Install Server option.
- Add the matching CurseForge server-pack ZIP or install the server through ATLauncher.
- Set
-Xmxinuser_jvm_args.txtto at least 6G; use 8G for a small current-pack group when the machine can spare it. - Start
run.baton Windows or the corresponding script on macOS/Linux. - Restart after the expected first-start shutdown.
- Test with a client using the identical modpack and loader version.
- Back up the working world before inviting players or changing versions.
What the correct setup looks like
For a current small-group server, the dependable baseline is Pixelmon 9.3.x on Minecraft 1.21.1, NeoForge, Java 21, and an 8 GB heap where the host machine has enough spare memory. A 6 GB allocation is the practical lower bound cited by Pixelmon guidance, while larger groups and heavier mod collections require additional capacity based on observed use. Older Pixelmon lines require their own loader and Java combination, so the release number must remain the anchor for every installation decision.
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