Old Combat Datapack

NOTICE: 1.21.2-1.21.4 is supported and most features are available, but doesn't have sword blocking and is not a priority when it comes to updates and feature compatibility. 1.21.1 is not supported and the pack doesn't work on 1.20 and below at all.

Some features require my mod Andrew's Datapack Utilities to work/function properly, but the pack will still work without it. Without it, some features won't work as well and some don't work at all.

Questions/Issues? Post them in my discord as they are more likely to get seen there. Find it on the sidebar.

This 1.21.6 datapack aims to restore the pre-combat update mechanics as much as possible using a datapack. The datapack restores sword blocking, removes the attack speed mechanic, restores the old axe damages, disables the offhand, and so much more! Examples of what is possible can be found in the features section below.

Customizability

Each mechanic is togglable. A few settings have other associated settings that allow more customizability of that setting. To access the chat-based configuration menu, run:

/function oldcombat:config

Note: A new configuration menu that relies on 1.21.6's dialog feature is currently in the works to make your configuration experience much better (and also give Bedrock users with operator on a geyser server access to a way to configure the pack). Hoping to release it soon.

Features

Too many to list here! See them for yourself in-game!

Here are examples of what's possible:

• Bringing back 1.8's combat system (which is already done using the pack's default settings
• Bringing back Beta 1.7.3 and earlier's mechanics
  • such as the old hunger system (where food heals health directly and hunger doesnt exist (and therefore sprinting and swimming is off-limits). Requires Andrew's Datapack Utilities or a player data modification mod) and no food stacking and instant eating/drinking (currently both no food stacking and instant eating are the same setting, will become separate soon)
• Completely breaking Reverting Minecraft 1.2.1's changes to mob ai, that added pathfinding
  • A bit buggy and resource-intensive, but also funny to look at
• Breaking physics and the game
  • Not a great idea

Notes

This datapack will likely cause lag and/or break on servers with many players, it is not recommended to use this datapack outside of singleplayer or smaller servers unless the server runs on a NASA computer

This pack was created with the help of the MC-Build project. Without the project this pack wouldn't have been as easy to make. You can see the MC-Build Github Repository here: https://github.com/mc-build/mcb

For Modpack creators

You may use this pack in any of your modpacks, but asking me first is always nice.

For Developers

You may depend on, make mods (somehow) for, and help contribute to this project. However, if you wish to publish this project elsewhere/post a fork of this project, I would like if you asked me for permission beforehand.

For Content Creators/Streamers

I am completely fine with, and even encourage, creating of content with this project. If you do, please credit this project and maybe link to this page if you use this in your content/stream.

Why?

1.21.5 snapshot 25w04a (Which added the blocks_attacks item component that can be added to an item, including swords, to make it block like a shield, and has a lot of settings) gave me an idea. What if you could fit almost the entire 1.8 combat system into a datapack? 25w04a gave me the rest of the tools to do this (blocks_attacks), so I decided to work on it. It also gave me a chance to try out an alternate datapack language called MC-Build (see above) that compiles into a normal datapack, and I don't regret that decision, as it's been extremely helpful. A while later, I created my Fabric (and recently, NeoForge) mod Andrew's Datapack Utilities which gave me the rest of the tools I needed (player data modification and entity velocity manipulation) to recreate the 1.8 combat system nearly 1:1.

What's special about this datapack is that it's a datapack which means you can use it without a mod, (mostly, Andrew's Datapack Utilities is required for some parts of the pack) and it doesn't require anything at ALL on the client, only the server/singleplayer world, (though the fabric/forge/neoforge/quilt version of the pack is available for easier access).