Compatibility
Minecraft: Java Edition
Platforms
Supported environments
Tags
Creators
Details
Return By Death Fabric
Return By Death Fabric is a Re:Zero-inspired Fabric mod that adds a curse-like death rewind system to Minecraft.
Players do not start with Return by Death by default. To unlock it, you must find a rare Shadow Witch Shrine and make contact with the Shadow Witch. Once cursed, death no longer works normally. Instead, you return to rare automatic checkpoints while your inventory, position, health, hunger, XP, entities, time, and nearby world changes are restored.
This mod is still a work in progress. More features, polish, balance changes, and bug fixes are planned for future updates. Suggestions are welcome, so feel free to comment ideas, feedback, or bugs you find.
Multiplayer Support
Return By Death works in multiplayer. When a player returns by death, the timeline can rewind for affected nearby players as well, depending on the server/host configuration.
Server/host-controlled settings decide things like checkpoint timing, player rewind behavior, Unseen Hand player targeting, and whether checkpoint messages are shown. Random players cannot override these settings for the whole server.
Recommended for singleplayer, LAN, Essential-hosted worlds, or trusted multiplayer servers.
Features
- Return by Death death rewind system
- Rare automatic checkpoints
- Shadow Witch Shrine structure
- Custom Shadow Witch NPC
- Witch dialogue UI
- RBD level progression
- Inventory, health, hunger, XP, and position restoration
- World time rewind
- Block, entity, and explosion rewind support
- Villager profession, trades, reputation, XP, and trade cooldown rewind support
- Multiplayer player rewind support
- Forbidden Unseen Hand ability at RBD V
- Mod Menu config support
- Admin/testing commands
How to Unlock Return by Death
Find a rare Shadow Witch Shrine and interact with the Shadow Witch. After making contact with her, you unlock Return by Death.
By default, players must find the Shadow Witch to unlock Return by Death. If you want players to start with Return by Death automatically instead, this can be changed in the Mod Menu config settings.
Meeting the Witch again can deepen your curse and increase your RBD level. The final upgrade requires an offering by default.
RBD Progression
RBD I - Return by Death
Unlocked by meeting the Shadow Witch for the first time.
This gives you the basic Return by Death curse. When you die, you return to your latest checkpoint instead of dying normally. Your position, inventory, XP, health, hunger, effects, nearby blocks, entities, explosions, and time are restored as much as possible.
RBD II - Lingering Memory
Unlocked by meeting the Shadow Witch again after RBD I.
This level gives the player vague memories of the failed timeline after returning. These hints can help you understand what killed you without fully revealing everything.
RBD III - Mercy Return
Unlocked by deepening the curse again.
This level allows rare Mercy Return effects during repeated death loops. If you keep dying in a short time window, there is a small chance for a stronger return effect to help you escape the loop.
RBD IV - Deeper Rewind
Unlocked by deepening the curse again.
This is mostly a filler/progression level for the player. Internally, it can improve parts of the rewind system, but it is mainly a step before reaching the final authority.
RBD V - Forbidden Authority
Unlocked by reaching the final curse level through the Shadow Witch.
By default, the final upgrade requires a tribute. Once unlocked, RBD V grants the forbidden Unseen Hand ability.
Unseen Hand lets you pull and damage targets with an invisible force. In multiplayer, whether it can affect other players depends on the host/server settings.
Finding the Shrine
The Shadow Witch Shrine is a rare worldgen structure that can generate in forest and taiga-type biomes in the Overworld.
For testing or admin use:
/locate structure returnbydeath:witch_shrine
Notes
Return by Death is a complicated rewind system, so some edge cases may still need testing. Large explosions, modded inventories, complex multiplayer item transfers, and unusual entity behavior may not always rewind perfectly.
Please report bugs or leave suggestions in the comments. Future updates may add more Witch content, progression, abilities, multiplayer polish, balancing, and more Re:Zero-inspired mechanics.


