How to Host an RLCraft Server in 2026: Complete Setup Guide

RLCraft is one of the most popular and challenging Minecraft modpacks ever created. With over 120 mods focused on survival, realism, and difficulty, it transforms Minecraft into a hardcore RPG experience. But hosting an RLCraft server comes with unique challenges - this modpack is resource-intensive and requires proper configuration to run smoothly.

This guide covers everything you need to know to set up and host a performant RLCraft server for you and your friends.

What is RLCraft?

RLCraft (Real Life Craft) is a hardcore survival modpack that makes Minecraft significantly more difficult and realistic. Created by Shivaxi, it includes:

Realistic survival mechanics: Temperature, thirst, season changes
Advanced combat: New weapons, armor, and difficult mobs
Skills and leveling: RPG-style progression system
Lycanites Mobs: 100+ new dangerous creatures
Realistic terrain generation: Improved biomes and structures
Death penalties: Lose items on death, corpse recovery mechanics

The modpack is built for Minecraft Java Edition 1.12.2 and requires Forge to run.

RLCraft Server Requirements

RLCraft is one of the most demanding modpacks to host. Here's what you need:

Minimum Requirements

RAM: 6GB allocated to server (8GB total system RAM)
CPU: 2-3 GHz dual-core processor
Storage: 4-5GB free space
Players: 1-3 players maximum
Performance: Expect occasional lag during peak activity

Recommended Requirements (5-10 Players)

RAM: 8-10GB allocated to server
CPU: 3+ GHz quad-core processor (or modern CPU with good single-thread performance)
Storage: 6-8GB free space (grows with world size)
Network: Stable connection with low latency
Performance: Smooth gameplay with proper optimization

Why RLCraft Needs More RAM

Unlike vanilla Minecraft, RLCraft includes:

120+ mods running simultaneously
Lycanites Mobs spawning system (dozens of mob types)
Advanced mob AI and pathfinding
Structure generation mods (Recurrent Complex, Doomlike Dungeons)
Quality of life mods (JEI, Optifine, etc.)

Don't skimp on RAM - under-allocated servers will crash frequently.

Method 1: Installing RLCraft Server Manually

If you want full control over your server configuration, manual installation is the way to go.

Step 1: Install Java 8

RLCraft runs on Minecraft 1.12.2, which requires Java 8. Do not use newer Java versions - they cause compatibility issues.

Windows:

Download Java 8 from Adoptium
Run the installer
Verify installation:
```
java -version
```

Linux:

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-8-jre-headless

# Verify
java -version

macOS:

# Using Homebrew
brew install openjdk@8

# Add to PATH
echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/opt/openjdk@8/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Step 2: Download RLCraft Server Files

Go to the RLCraft CurseForge page
Navigate to the Files tab
Find the latest version (currently RLCraft v2.9.3)
Click the three dots (...) and select Download Server Pack
Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a new folder (e.g., RLCraftServer)

Step 3: Configure Server Files

Navigate to your server folder and edit key configuration files:

1. Accept the EULA

Edit eula.txt:

eula=true

2. Configure server.properties

Open server.properties and adjust these settings:

# Basic Settings
server-port=25565
gamemode=survival
difficulty=hard
pvp=true
max-players=10

# View Distance (lower = better performance)
view-distance=8
simulation-distance=8

# World Settings
level-name=world
level-seed=
spawn-protection=0
allow-nether=true

# Performance Settings
network-compression-threshold=256
max-tick-time=60000

Important: Keep view-distance at 8 or lower. RLCraft generates complex terrain - higher view distances cause severe lag.

3. Optimize JVM Arguments

Create a startup script with optimized Java arguments.

Windows (start.bat):

@echo off
java -Xms8G -Xmx8G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200 -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+DisableExplicitGC -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch -XX:G1NewSizePercent=30 -XX:G1MaxNewSizePercent=40 -XX:G1HeapRegionSize=8M -XX:G1ReservePercent=20 -XX:G1HeapWastePercent=5 -XX:G1MixedGCCountTarget=4 -XX:InitiatingHeapOccupancyPercent=15 -XX:G1MixedGCLiveThresholdPercent=90 -XX:G1RSetUpdatingPauseTimePercent=5 -XX:SurvivorRatio=32 -XX:+PerfDisableSharedMem -XX:MaxTenuringThreshold=1 -Dusing.aikars.flags=https://mcflags.emc.gs -Daikars.new.flags=true -jar forge.jar nogui
pause

Linux/macOS (start.sh):

#!/bin/bash
java -Xms8G -Xmx8G -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:+ParallelRefProcEnabled -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=200 -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+DisableExplicitGC -XX:+AlwaysPreTouch -XX:G1NewSizePercent=30 -XX:G1MaxNewSizePercent=40 -XX:G1HeapRegionSize=8M -XX:G1ReservePercent=20 -XX:G1HeapWastePercent=5 -XX:G1MixedGCCountTarget=4 -XX:InitiatingHeapOccupancyPercent=15 -XX:G1MixedGCLiveThresholdPercent=90 -XX:G1RSetUpdatingPauseTimePercent=5 -XX:SurvivorRatio=32 -XX:+PerfDisableSharedMem -XX:MaxTenuringThreshold=1 -Dusing.aikars.flags=https://mcflags.emc.gs -Daikars.new.flags=true -jar forge.jar nogui

Make it executable:

chmod +x start.sh

Adjust -Xms and -Xmx values based on your available RAM (e.g., -Xms6G -Xmx6G for 6GB).

Step 4: Start the Server

Run your startup script:

Windows: Double-click start.bat Linux/macOS: Run ./start.sh

The first startup will take 5-10 minutes as Forge generates necessary files and loads mods.

Watch for this message:

[Server thread/INFO]: Done! For help, type "help"

Your server is now running on port 25565.

Step 5: Connect to Your Server

Local Connection (same computer):

Direct connect to localhost

LAN Connection (same network):

Find your local IP address
Connect to 192.168.x.x (your local IP)

Remote Connection (internet):

Set up port forwarding (port 25565, TCP/UDP)
Give players your public IP address
Consider using a domain name for easier access

Method 2: Using a Hosting Provider

For better performance, uptime, and ease of use, using a Minecraft hosting provider is recommended.

Benefits of Managed Hosting

No port forwarding: Instant public IP
24/7 uptime: Server runs continuously
Automatic backups: Never lose your world
Better performance: Dedicated server hardware
DDoS protection: Stay online during attacks
Easy mod updates: One-click updates
Support: Get help when issues arise

What to Look For in RLCraft Hosting

When choosing a hosting provider for RLCraft:

Sufficient RAM: Minimum 6GB, recommend 8-10GB
Modern CPUs: Look for recent Intel/AMD processors with high single-thread performance
NVMe storage: Faster world loading and generation
Mod support: Verify they support custom modpacks
Automatic backups: Essential for preventing world corruption
Good support: Modpacks can be tricky to troubleshoot

Optimizing Your RLCraft Server

Even with good hardware, RLCraft needs optimization to run smoothly.

1. Pre-generate Your World

Chunk generation is extremely resource-intensive in RLCraft. Pre-generating your world eliminates lag spikes when players explore new areas.

Install Chunky (works on Forge 1.12.2):

Download Chunky for Forge 1.12.2
Add the JAR file to your mods/ folder
Restart your server
Run pre-generation:

/chunky radius 5000
/chunky start

This generates a 10,000x10,000 block area (5,000 block radius). Warning: This can take several hours. Monitor server console for progress.

2. Configure Lycanites Mobs

Lycanites Mobs is one of the most resource-intensive mods in RLCraft. Adjust spawn rates to improve performance.

Edit config/lycanitesmobs/lycanitesmobs-spawning.cfg:

# Reduce overall spawn weight
spawning {
    # Default: 10, Recommended: 6-8
    I:"Spawn Weight" = 7
}

# Limit mob cap per player
mobcap {
    # Default: 10, Recommended: 6-8
    I:"Mob Cap Per Player" = 7
}

Restart your server to apply changes.

3. Adjust Entity Activation Ranges

Reducing how far away entities are active improves performance significantly.

Edit config/forge.cfg:

entity {
    # How far entities stay active (in chunks)
    I:"Entity Activation Range: Misc" = 16
    I:"Entity Activation Range: Creature" = 32
    I:"Entity Activation Range: Monster" = 32
}

4. Install AI Improvements Mod

AI Improvements reduces server CPU usage by optimizing mob pathfinding.

Download AI Improvements for 1.12.2
Add to your mods/ folder
Restart server

No configuration needed - it works automatically.

5. Limit Item Entities

Thousands of dropped items cause severe lag. Use these server.properties settings:

# Merge nearby item drops
item-merge-radius=2.5

# Despawn items faster
item-despawn-rate=3000

6. Monitor and Restart Regularly

RLCraft servers accumulate memory leaks over time. Set up automatic restarts:

Using a cron job (Linux):

# Restart server daily at 4 AM
0 4 * * * /home/minecraft/rlcraft/restart.sh

restart.sh:

#!/bin/bash
screen -S rlcraft -X quit
sleep 10
cd /home/minecraft/rlcraft
screen -dmS rlcraft ./start.sh

Common RLCraft Server Issues

Server Crashes on Startup

Cause: Not enough RAM allocated Solution: Increase -Xms and -Xmx values in startup script (minimum 6GB)

Cause: Wrong Java version Solution: Install Java 8 (not Java 11, 17, or 21)

Severe Lag During Exploration

Cause: Real-time chunk generation Solution: Pre-generate your world using Chunky

Frequent Mob-Related Crashes

Cause: Too many Lycanites Mobs spawning Solution: Reduce spawn rates in lycanitesmobs-spawning.cfg

"Can't Keep Up!" Messages

Cause: Server TPS dropping below 20 Solution:

Reduce view distance to 6-8
Pre-generate world
Reduce Lycanites spawn rates
Upgrade server hardware

Connection Timeout

Cause: Port forwarding not configured Solution: Forward port 25565 (TCP/UDP) on your router

RLCraft Server Commands

Essential commands for server administration:

Basic Commands

/op <player>              # Give player operator permissions
/deop <player>            # Remove operator permissions
/whitelist add <player>   # Add player to whitelist
/ban <player>             # Ban a player
/pardon <player>          # Unban a player

World Management

/save-all                 # Save the world
/save-off                 # Disable auto-save (use before backups)
/save-on                  # Re-enable auto-save
/difficulty hard          # Set difficulty (RLCraft is meant for hard)

Performance Monitoring

/forge tps                # Check server TPS
/forge track start        # Start tracking lag sources
/forge track stop         # Stop tracking

Lycanites Mobs Commands

/lm spawners              # View active mob spawners
/lm mobevent disable      # Disable all mob events
/lm mobevent enable       # Re-enable mob events

Keeping Your RLCraft Server Updated

RLCraft receives updates that fix bugs and add content. Here's how to update:

Backup First

Always backup before updating:

# Stop server
/stop

# Create backup
zip -r rlcraft-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).zip world/ config/ mods/

Update Process

Download the new server files from CurseForge
Do not overwrite your world folder
Replace mods/ folder with new mods
Replace config/ folder (but backup custom configs first)
Keep your server.properties, eula.txt, and startup scripts
Start the server and test

Rollback if Needed

If the update causes issues:

# Restore from backup
unzip rlcraft-backup-YYYYMMDD.zip

Best Practices for Running an RLCraft Server

1. Set Server Rules

RLCraft is difficult - grief makes it worse. Consider these rules:

No griefing or stealing
No PvP in safe zones
Share resources fairly
Help new players

2. Create a Spawn Protection

Use WorldGuard or similar to protect spawn areas:

Prevents spawn camping
Creates a safe trading zone
Protects community builds

3. Regular Backups

Automate backups to prevent world loss:

#!/bin/bash
# backup.sh
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M)
zip -r backups/world-$DATE.zip world/
# Keep only last 7 days
find backups/ -name "world-*.zip" -mtime +7 -delete

Run via cron:

0 */6 * * * /home/minecraft/rlcraft/backup.sh

4. Install Quality of Life Mods

Consider adding these server-side mods:

LuckPerms: Permissions management
CoreProtect: Rollback grief/damage
Essentials: Basic admin commands

5. Monitor Resource Usage

Use monitoring tools to track server health:

htop (Linux): CPU/RAM usage
Spark: In-game profiling
Server logs: Watch for errors

Conclusion

Hosting an RLCraft server requires more resources and configuration than vanilla Minecraft, but the result is a challenging and rewarding multiplayer experience.

Key takeaways:

Allocate at least 8GB RAM for smooth gameplay
Use Java 8 (not newer versions)
Pre-generate your world to eliminate exploration lag
Reduce Lycanites spawn rates for better performance
Set up automatic backups and restarts
Consider managed hosting for better uptime and performance

With proper setup and optimization, you can run a stable RLCraft server that provides hours of hardcore survival fun for you and your friends.

Ready to start your RLCraft adventure? Whether you choose to host it yourself or use a managed hosting provider, following this guide will help you create a performant server that can handle the modpack's demanding requirements.