Simple Minecraft Mod Creation Guide for Beginners: How to Make Your First Mod

Minecraft is a game known for its creativity and endless possibilities, and one of the most exciting aspects of Minecraft is the ability to modify the game itself. By creating mods, you can add new items, mobs, and blocks, or even change the game's mechanics entirely. In this guide, we’ll walk you through creating your very first Minecraft mod—a simple Magic Apple item that gives players special effects when consumed. This guide is perfect for beginners, and no prior modding experience is required.

Read: Minecraft A-Z: The Ultimate 2025 Guide for Beginners

Read: What Should I Do Next? Helping Your Kids Turn Their Minecraft Passion into a Future in Coding

Read: Minecraft vs Roblox: Which One is Better for Learning New Coding Skills?

Read: What is Minecraft Coding? (with Fun Coding Projects!)

What is a Minecraft Mod?

A Minecraft mod (short for modification) is a change made to the game that adds, alters, or removes features. Mods can be anything from adding new blocks and mobs to changing the game mechanics entirely. Minecraft modding allows you to fully customize your gaming experience, and it’s a great way to learn programming and game design.

Getting Started: Prerequisites

Before you begin coding, you'll need a few things set up. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

1. Install Minecraft Forge

To create mods for Minecraft, you'll need Minecraft Forge, a modding platform that allows you to load and manage mods in the game.

How to install Minecraft Forge:

1. Download Minecraft Forge:

   • Visit the official Minecraft Forge website.

   • Select the version of Minecraft you want to mod and download the "Installer" for your operating system.

2. Install Forge:

   • Open the downloaded installer file and choose “Install Client.”

   • Once installed, open the Minecraft Launcher, select the Forge profile, and click "Play" to ensure it’s working correctly.

2. Install Java Development Kit (JDK)

Minecraft mods are written in Java, so you’ll need to have the Java Development Kit (JDK) installed.

1. Download the JDK from the Oracle website.

2. Install it and make sure it’s properly set up on your system.

3. Install a Code Editor (IDE)

To write and compile your mod, you’ll need an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA.

1. Download and install Eclipse from the Eclipse website or IntelliJ IDEA from the IntelliJ website.

2. Set up your IDE to start writing and running your mod.

4. Set Up the Modding Kit (MDK)

Now that you have Forge and Java set up, it’s time to download the Mod Development Kit (MDK) from the Minecraft Forge website. Extract the files to a folder and open the project in your IDE.

5. Set Up the Modding Project

Open your IDE (e.g., Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA) and import the Forge MDK as a new Gradle project. This will allow you to start building your mod using the Minecraft Forge API.

Creating Your First Mod: The Magic Apple

In this guide, we'll create a simple mod that adds a Magic Apple to Minecraft. This item will grant players special effects when eaten, such as extra health or speed boosts. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Create Your Mod Class

Start by creating a Java class for your mod. This class will handle the registration of your items and mod initialization.

In the src/main/java directory, create a new Java class called MagicAppleMod.java.

package com.example.magicapple;

import com.mojang.logging.LogUtils;
import net.minecraft.client.Minecraft;
import net.minecraft.network.chat.Component;
import net.minecraft.network.chat.TextComponent;
import net.minecraft.world.effect.MobEffects;
import net.minecraft.world.item.Item;
import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemGroup;
import net.minecraft.world.item.FoodProperties;
import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;

Here’s what the code does:

• Imports: We import necessary Minecraft classes, including logging tools and items.

• Logger: We set up a logger to track events in the mod.

Step 2: Register the Magic Apple Item

Now we need to register the Magic Apple item. We’ll use Deferred Register for item registration, which ensures that items are only registered when the game starts.

import net.minecraft.core.Registry;
import net.minecraft.world.item.Item;
import net.minecraft.resources.ResourceLocation;

public class MagicAppleMod {
    public static final String MODID = "magicapple";
    public static final Logger LOGGER = LogManager.getLogger();
    public static final DeferredRegister<Item> ITEMS = DeferredRegister.create(Registry.ITEM, MODID);
    
    public static final RegistryObject<Item> MAGIC_APPLE = ITEMS.register("magic_apple", 
        () -> new Item(new Item.Properties().food(new FoodProperties.Builder().nutrition(4).saturationMod(0.3F).build())));

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        LOGGER.info("Welcome to Minecraft Modding!");
    }
}

Explanation:

• Deferred Register: The DeferredRegister object registers items in a deferred manner, ensuring the game doesn't crash from attempting to register items too early.

• MAGIC_APPLE: This is our custom item. It's registered with the name "magic_apple" and given properties (4 nutrition and 0.3 saturation).

Step 3: Add Special Effects to the Magic Apple

Now, let’s make the Magic Apple item do something special when eaten. In this case, we want it to give the player a health boost and a speed boost for 10 seconds (200 ticks).

We’ll create a custom class called MagicAppleItem to define the behavior of the item.

import net.minecraft.world.effect.MobEffects;
import net.minecraft.world.item.Item;
import net.minecraft.world.item.ItemStack;
import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
import net.minecraft.world.entity.player.Player;

public class MagicAppleItem extends Item {
    public MagicAppleItem() {
        super(new Item.Properties().food(new FoodProperties.Builder().nutrition(4).saturationMod(0.3F).build()));
    }

    @Override
    public ItemStack finishUsingItem(ItemStack stack, Level world, Player player) {
        super.finishUsingItem(stack, world, player);
        player.addEffect(new MobEffectInstance(MobEffects.HEALTH_BOOST, 200, 1));  // Health Boost for 10 seconds
        player.addEffect(new MobEffectInstance(MobEffects.SPEED, 200, 1));  // Speed Boost for 10 seconds
        return stack;
    }
}

Step 4: Register and Initialize Your Mod

Next, we need to register our custom MagicAppleItem and ensure it gets loaded when Minecraft starts.

Add the following code to the MagicAppleMod.java file to initialize the mod.

public class MagicAppleMod {
    public static final String MODID = "magicapple";
    public static final Logger LOGGER = LogManager.getLogger();
    public static final DeferredRegister<Item> ITEMS = DeferredRegister.create(Registry.ITEM, MODID);
    
    public static final RegistryObject<Item> MAGIC_APPLE = ITEMS.register("magic_apple", 
        () -> new MagicAppleItem());  // Use our custom MagicAppleItem class

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        LOGGER.info("Welcome to Minecraft Modding!");
    }

    public static void registerItems() {
        // Register all items for the mod
        ITEMS.register(FMLCommonSetupEvent::enqueue);
    }
}

Here we register the Magic Apple item using the MagicAppleItem class.

Step 5: Build and Run Your Mod

Now that you've written your mod, it’s time to test it! Here’s how to run your mod:

1. Build the Mod: In your IDE, run the build task to compile your mod. In Eclipse, this can be done by running Gradle > build; in IntelliJ, choose Build > Build Project.

2. Test the Mod: Launch Minecraft using the Forge profile from the Minecraft Launcher. If everything is set up correctly, your mod should work in the game!

Step 6: Testing the Magic Apple

Once your mod is running in Minecraft:

1. Open your inventory and search for Magic Apple.

2. Right-click or use the Magic Apple in your inventory to eat it. You should notice the health and speed boosts taking effect!

Finally,

Congratulations! You’ve just created your first Minecraft mod—a simple Magic Apple item with special effects. You learned how to:

• Set up your modding environment.

• Create and register a new item.

• Add custom behavior to your item (like special effects).

• Test your mod in Minecraft.

Next Steps:

• Experiment with adding new blocks, mobs, or even entirely new gameplay mechanics.

• Dive deeper into Minecraft modding by exploring more advanced tutorials.

• Share your mods with friends or upload them to Minecraft modding websites!

Minecraft modding is a fun and educational way to learn programming, game development, and creative problem-solving. Keep experimenting, and enjoy the process of creating your own custom Minecraft content!

Read: A Complete Minecraft Guide for Kids Aged 8-13

Read: FAQ in Minecraft: Parents' Answers to Kids' Common Questions in 2025

Pinecone Coding Academy's Kids Coding Program

At Pinecone Coding Academy, we are passionate about making coding accessible and enjoyable for kids aged 8-17. Our program is designed to inspire and equip young learners with the skills they need to thrive in the digital world.

Click here to discover a coding class that matches your teen's or child's interests.

What We Offer:

• Engaging Curriculum: Our courses introduce students to popular programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and HTML/CSS, laying a strong foundation for future learning.

• Hands-On Projects: Students participate in project-based learning, creating real applications that they can showcase, from interactive games to personal websites.

• Mentorship and Support: Our experienced instructors provide guidance, helping students navigate challenges and discover their coding potential.

• Community Connection: By joining Pinecone, students become part of a vibrant community of peers, fostering collaboration and friendship as they learn.

Try a Free Session!

If your child is curious about coding, Pinecone Coding Academy offers a free introductory session for kids aged 8-17. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore programming in a fun and engaging way.