Raven Anticheat review
A free, focused choice for small servers needing configurable cheat checks and punishments.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Raven Anticheat is a self-hosted Minecraft server plugin for detecting movement, building, combat, aim, velocity, and malformed-packet cheats. It is aimed at solo administrators and small server operators running Paper or Spigot. The plugin uses ProtocolLib for packet-level analysis and provides checks for flight, speed, scaffold, NoFall, reach, hitbox, aim, velocity, bad packets, and timer hacks.
Its main strength is breadth within a focused anti-cheat plugin. Administrators can configure checks and sensitivity through an in-game GUI, while persistent offense tracking supports escalating responses from warnings and kicks to temporary bans and bans. Three aim-detection modes, velocity and knockback analysis, and malformed-packet detection extend coverage beyond basic movement checks. ProtocolLib is a required integration for the packet-level approach, so deployment includes that dependency alongside the Raven plugin.
Raven is free and standalone, with a single-server deployment model. Its published compatibility centers on Paper and Spigot 1.20.4 or newer, with major versions 1.21, 26.1, and 26.2 listed as tested. There is no web dashboard or cross-server synchronization, which limits its fit for networks that need centralized administration. Pick Raven for a small server that wants broad configurable checks without a paid plan; choose another plugin if centralized multi-server management or a broader platform ecosystem is a priority.
Raven Anticheat pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Covers movement, combat, aim, velocity, packet, and GUI checks
- Configures checks and sensitivities through an in-game GUI
- Supports escalating warn, kick, temporary-ban, and ban actions
- Where it doesn't
- Requires ProtocolLib for packet-level detection
- Runs on a single server without cross-server synchronization
- Compatibility is centered on Paper/Spigot 1.20.4 and newer
Raven Anticheat fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update