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Running a modpack with friends? Godlike.Host offers modded Minecraft server hosting with one-click modpacks (CurseForge, FTB, Technic) and free DDoS protection.
Host Solo Leveling – Shadows with the project’s dedicated server pack for Minecraft Java Edition 1.20.1 on Forge. Download Solo_Leveling_Shadows_Server_Pack.zip from the pack’s CurseForge Files area, install a compatible Java runtime, extract the pack into its own folder, start the included Forge server launcher, and make every player use the matching client profile. The current listed release is SLS-1.1.5, updated September 7, 2026.
The pack contains more than 400 mods, custom quests, a gate-progression system, and multiplayer features. It therefore needs more care than a vanilla server: version mismatches, insufficient memory, blocked firewall traffic, and router configuration are the usual causes of failed connections. The author does not publish a tested minimum RAM figure, so treat memory as a tuning task rather than relying on a made-up number.
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What you need before installing
Prepare the host computer and all players before downloading anything. This pack is a Java/Forge modpack; it is not a Bedrock Dedicated Server package.
- Minecraft Java Edition: The server and clients must use Minecraft 1.20.1.
- Forge: Use the Forge build required by the current Shadows pack and keep it identical on the server and every client.
- Compatible Java runtime: Java hosting requires a suitable JRE. A related Solo Leveling Forge project documents Java 17, which is useful compatibility guidance, but check the Shadows server-pack README before choosing a particular Java 17 patch release.
- Dedicated storage: Keep the server in a separate folder with room for the world, logs, configuration files, and backups.
- Network access: Local players can use the host’s local connection. Remote players generally require a firewall rule and router port forwarding.
- Administrative access: You need permission to install Java, open the host firewall, and change router settings if friends will connect over the internet.
The official Minecraft Java server software is free to download, but the game license, Java installation, and network administration are still your responsibility. Read Minecraft’s EULA before enabling the server for the first time.
#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).
Download the correct server and client files
Find the server pack
- Open the Solo Leveling – Shadows project on CurseForge and go to its Files area.
- Select the current release you intend to run. The listing identifies SLS-1.1.5 as the current release as of September 7, 2026.
- Download the file named
Solo_Leveling_Shadows_Server_Pack.zip. Do not substitute the ordinary client profile for the server archive. - Record the release number and download date in a small text file beside the server folder. That makes it easier to identify which clients and backups belong together.
Give every player the matching client profile
Each player should install the client profile for the same Shadows release. Minecraft 1.20.1, Forge, and every mod version must align. A client with one extra mod, an older library, or a different Forge build can fail during the handshake even when the server itself starts normally.
Do not mix files from different pack releases to solve an isolated error. First compare the release number, Minecraft version, Forge version, and the contents of the mods folder. If the server was updated, update every client as one coordinated change.
Install Java and prepare the server folder
Install a compatible Java runtime
Install the Java runtime required by the pack on the machine that will run the server. The related Solo Leveling Forge documentation points to Java 17; use that as a starting point and then follow the Shadows pack README if it specifies a different build or patch requirement. Confirm that the Java executable used by the server is the one you just installed, especially on systems with multiple Java versions.
A Java version mismatch commonly appears as an immediate launcher failure, an unsupported class-file message, or a server that closes before creating its configuration files. If that happens, check the Java version in the terminal and inspect the server pack’s README before changing mods.
Extract the archive
- Create a dedicated folder such as
SoloLevelingShadows-Serveroutside your Downloads directory. - Extract the entire contents of
Solo_Leveling_Shadows_Server_Pack.zipinto that folder. Preserve the archive’s directory structure. - Do not run the server from inside the ZIP file, and do not place it in a client instance’s folder.
- Keep the original ZIP as a clean rollback copy. Make a second copy before applying any pack update.
The extracted files should include the Forge server launcher or the corresponding server JAR supplied by the pack. Use the launcher included with that release rather than downloading an unrelated Forge installer and assembling the pack manually.
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).
Start the Forge server for the first time
- Open the extracted server folder.
- Run the included Forge server launcher. Depending on the operating system and pack release, this may be a platform-specific script or a server JAR. Follow the README’s launch instruction if the filenames differ.
- Allow the first run to finish. Forge and the pack may create libraries, configuration files, logs, and a world directory before stopping.
- Open the generated
eula.txt, read Minecraft’s EULA, and changeeula=falsetoeula=trueonly if you agree to it. - Start the same included launcher again and watch the console until the server reports that it is ready for connections.
Do not close the console while the world is saving or while Forge is still loading mods. The first startup can take considerably longer than later starts because the large pack must initialize hundreds of mods and generate its data.
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A successful startup should leave a running server process and create or load a world. If the process exits, read the last section of the log rather than repeatedly restarting it. Errors about missing mods, duplicate mods, Java, or Forge point to different fixes; changing RAM will not repair a missing file or a version mismatch.
Choose memory and performance settings
The project page does not publish a tested minimum RAM requirement. Because the pack contains more than 400 mods, its resource demand is materially higher than a vanilla server, but there is no authoritative number to copy into a launch command. Start with a conservative allocation appropriate to the host’s physical memory, then tune it while observing startup time, tick delay, and operating-system pressure.
A practical tuning method
- Leave enough memory for the operating system, Java overhead, and other services. Do not assign all installed RAM to Minecraft.
- Start the server with the pack’s supplied launcher and note whether it reaches a ready state without the operating system swapping.
- Join with one client and travel through a representative area. Watch for repeated lag spikes, long pauses during chunk generation, or a steadily growing process size.
- Increase the allocation only when logs or system monitoring show memory pressure. If the host begins swapping, reduce the allocation or move the server to a machine with more physical memory.
- After each change, stop the server cleanly and retain the previous working launcher settings so you can roll back.
Memory is only one limit. CPU speed affects Forge startup and world generation, storage latency affects chunk loading, and a weak upload connection can make remote play feel slow even when the server has free RAM.
Configure a local connection
Test locally before exposing the server to the internet. Start the server, launch the matching client profile, and connect to localhost from the same computer. This isolates mod and server problems from router and firewall problems.
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.
If the host and player are on the same home network but using different computers, use the host’s local network address. The exact address depends on the operating system and network, so obtain it from the host’s network settings rather than guessing. A successful local test confirms that the server is listening and that the client pack matches.
Let friends join remotely
Open the host firewall
Permit the Java server process, or the server’s listening port, through the host operating system’s firewall. Apply the rule to the network profile you actually use and avoid disabling the firewall globally. If a security suite has its own firewall, create the equivalent exception there as well.
Forward the server port on the router
- Give the host computer a stable local address, preferably through a DHCP reservation in the router.
- Open the router’s port-forwarding page.
- Forward the Minecraft Java server port shown in the server configuration to the host’s local address. Use the protocol required by the server and router; the standard Java setup normally uses TCP, but follow the pack or server configuration if it specifies otherwise.
- Save the router rule and restart networking only if the router requires it.
- Test from a connection outside your home network. Testing only from inside the same LAN can produce a false result on routers that do not support hairpin connections.
Friends should connect with your public IP address or a DNS name that points to it, plus a port if the server is not using the default. Never give strangers administrative credentials, console access, or files containing private server data.
When port forwarding does not work
- Works on localhost but not on the LAN: Check the host firewall and confirm that the server is listening on the expected local address and port.
- Works on the LAN but not for friends: Recheck the router rule, public IP address, and internet-facing firewall. Some internet connections use carrier-grade NAT, which prevents inbound forwarding; in that case ask the provider about a public address or use managed hosting.
- Friends reach the server but are rejected: Compare their Minecraft, Forge, pack, and mod versions with the server.
- Connection drops during exploration: Check upload capacity, CPU load, storage activity, and server tick health before changing client graphics settings.
Keep server and clients synchronized
Treat a pack update as a coordinated migration, not as a single-file replacement.
- Stop the server normally so the world is saved.
- Copy the complete world directory, server configuration, scripts, and any custom settings to a dated backup location.
- Write down the current release number and the last known working client version.
- Download the new server pack and matching client profile from the same release listing.
- Extract the new server into a separate folder rather than overwriting the working installation.
- Move only explicitly supported custom files, following the new pack’s README. Avoid carrying old mod JARs or configuration files forward without checking compatibility.
- Start the new server and test with one updated client before inviting everyone back.
- Keep the old folder and backup until the new world has been tested successfully.
Backups should include the world and configuration, not just the ZIP download. A clean copy lets you recover from a corrupt world, an incompatible update, or an accidental configuration change.
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
Self-hosting or managed hosting?
Self-hosting removes a recurring hosting bill and gives you direct control over files, scripts, mods, and backups. It also makes you responsible for Java, operating-system updates, firewall rules, router forwarding, power failures, backups, and keeping the machine online.
A managed Minecraft host can simplify public networking and uptime because the provider supplies an internet-facing server environment. You still need to upload the correct Forge pack, keep client versions aligned, and verify that the plan supports a large modpack. The project page identifies BisectHosting as a partner and advertises a first-month discount; treat that as a project disclosure, not as a guaranteed current price or term, and verify the provider’s current compatibility and conditions before buying.
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| Consideration | Self-hosting | Managed hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Cost pattern | No recurring host bill, but you provide the computer, electricity, storage, and internet connection. | Recurring subscription cost in exchange for a provider-operated server. |
| File and mod control | Direct access to the server folder, Forge launcher, logs, and backups. | Control depends on the provider’s panel, file access, and modpack support. |
| Setup effort | Install Java, extract the pack, accept the EULA, configure the firewall, and possibly forward a router port. | Networking is usually simpler, but you must still install or select the correct Forge pack and configure the server. |
| Home-network exposure | Remote play normally requires an inbound firewall rule and port forwarding. | The provider supplies the public endpoint, so your home router does not need to accept game traffic. |
| Backups and recovery | You design and test your own backup schedule and rollback copies. | Backup tools and retention depend on the provider; confirm them before relying on the service. |
| Support | You troubleshoot Java, Forge, mods, hardware, and networking yourself. | Provider support may help with the hosting platform, but modpack-specific errors remain your responsibility. |
Choose self-hosting when you want maximum control and already have a reliable, always-on machine. Choose managed hosting when router access, uptime, or maintenance is the main obstacle and the provider confirms support for this Forge pack.
Why Bedrock Dedicated Server is not the route for this pack
Mojang documents Bedrock Dedicated Server as a separate product with its own requirements, including 4 GB RAM, roughly 180 MB to 1 GB of storage, broadband, and supported Windows or Linux versions. Those figures do not describe Solo Leveling – Shadows. The CurseForge project is listed for Java Edition 1.20.1 with Forge, so installing Bedrock Dedicated Server will not run this modpack.
Common failure modes and precise fixes
The launcher closes immediately
Confirm that Java is installed and that the included launcher is using the intended Java executable. Then read the final lines of the log for a Java, Forge, or missing-library error. Re-extract a clean server pack if files were moved or partially overwritten.
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
A player receives a mod-list or registry mismatch
Compare the client’s release number, Minecraft version, Forge build, and mod files with the server. Remove manually added mods unless the pack documentation explicitly permits them. Update the server and all clients together instead of replacing one JAR at a time.
The server reports that the EULA is not accepted
Stop the process, open the generated eula.txt, review the license, and change the value to eula=true only if you agree. Save the file in the server folder and start the included launcher again.
World generation is extremely slow
Let the first startup and initial chunk generation finish before judging normal performance. Check CPU, disk activity, and memory pressure. Generate new areas gradually with a small number of players, and avoid allocating so much RAM that the operating system starts swapping.
Only the host can connect
Use localhost only on the host. Other players need the host’s LAN address when they are at home, or the public IP/DNS name after firewall and router forwarding are configured. Verify the server port in its configuration and test from outside the home network.
Quick Recap
Final launch checklist
- Server pack:
Solo_Leveling_Shadows_Server_Pack.zipfrom the intended CurseForge release. - Minecraft: Java Edition 1.20.1 on server and clients.
- Loader: the Forge version required by that release.
- Java: compatible runtime, with Java 17 as corroborating guidance from related Solo Leveling Forge documentation; verify the Shadows README.
- Agreement: Minecraft EULA reviewed and accepted before setting
eula=true. - Memory: tuned against actual startup, tick, CPU, disk, and operating-system behavior; no published minimum is available.
- Networking: localhost tested first, then firewall and router forwarding configured for remote players.
- Maintenance: dated world/configuration backups made before every pack update.
- Clients: every player installed the matching profile with identical Minecraft, Forge, and mod versions.
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