Better MC Beginner Guide
Better MC adds 393 mods to Minecraft, which can be overwhelming for new players. This guide walks you through the first steps, essential tools, and a recommended progression path.
Essential Tools to Learn First
Your most important tool in Better MC.
- Press E to open your inventory (shows all items on the right)
- Hover over any item and press R to see its crafting recipe
- Hover over any item and press U to see what it's used in
- Use the search bar at the bottom to find items by name
Learn JEI first. You'll use it constantly.
Your guided progression system with 100+ quests.
- Look for the book icon in the upper-left corner of your screen
- Click it to open the quest system
- Quests are organized by tabs/dimensions
- Follow the quests for guided progression and rewards
The quest book tells you what to do and in what order.
Always-on navigation aid.
- Minimap appears in the corner of your screen automatically
- Press M to open the full world map
- Set waypoints to remember important locations
- Shows nearby mobs and structures on the map
Press M regularly to track where you've been.
Fast travel network across the world.
- Found in villages — interact to activate
- Once activated, you can teleport between any activated Waystones
- Place your own crafted Waystones at your base
- Essential for fast travel across long distances
Activate every Waystone you find. You'll thank yourself later.
Your First Day in Better MC
Better MC starts like vanilla Minecraft, but the world is packed with new structures, mobs, and items. Here's what to do on day one:
- Punch trees and craft basic tools — this part works the same as vanilla Minecraft. Get a wooden pickaxe, then stone tools.
- Open JEI (press E) and scroll through the item list on the right. Notice there are thousands of new items. Don't panic — you'll learn them over time.
- Find a village — villages are more common in Better MC. When you find one, activate the Waystone there by right-clicking it.
- Open the Quest Book (book icon, upper-left of screen). Read the first few quests to understand what the modpack expects you to do.
- Explore nearby structures — Better MC adds dozens of new structures (towers, dungeons, ruins). They have much better loot than vanilla, including iron and diamond gear early on.
- Build a starter base and craft a Waystone to place there. This becomes your home teleport point.
- Start a farm — Farmer's Delight adds new crops like tomatoes, onions, rice, and cabbage. Cooking meals gives better food buffs than raw items.
Early Game Progression (Days 1-5)
Looting structures is faster than mining for iron. Explore towers, dungeons, and ruins for iron gear, diamonds, and enchanted items. Always bring a shield — some structures have dangerous mobs.
Visit multiple villages and activate every Waystone you find. This creates a fast travel network so you never have to walk thousands of blocks again. Place one at your base too.
Open the Quest Book and start completing objectives. Early quests teach you basic modpack mechanics and reward you with useful items. This is the best way to learn what Better MC offers.
The Backpacked mod lets you craft a backpack for extra inventory space. You'll need leather and wool. Press the keybind to open it. This is essential because you'll be collecting far more items than vanilla.
Build a standard enchanting table setup (bookshelves + enchanting table). Enchanted gear is important because new mobs and bosses hit harder than vanilla enemies.
Better MC adds many new hostile mobs. Don't explore at night without armor. Some structures have mini-bosses that can one-shot unarmored players. Bring food, a shield, and backup gear.
Mid Game Progression
Once you have iron or diamond gear and an enchanting setup, you're ready for the mid game. This is where Better MC's dimensions open up.
| Goal | How | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Get diamond/netherite gear | Mine at Y-level -59 or loot end-game structures | Required for harder bosses and dimensions |
| Enter the Nether | Standard obsidian portal | Improved with BetterNether — new biomes, mobs, structures |
| Fight Overworld bosses | Find Ferrous Wroughtnaut in underground structures, Barako in Savanna villages | Good practice for harder bosses, drops unique items |
| Enter the Aether | Build a Glowstone frame (like a Nether portal) and pour a Water bucket inside | Easiest new dimension — good entry point for modded content |
| Complete Aether dungeons | Progress through Bronze, Silver, and Gold dungeons in order | Unique armor, weapons, and resources only found here |
| Enter Twilight Forest | Dig a 2x2 pool of water, surround with flowers, throw in a Diamond | Large dimension with forced boss progression chain |
Late Game & Endgame
The late game is where Better MC truly shines. Multiple dimensions, boss chains, and powerful gear await.
The Twilight Forest forces you to fight bosses in order. Each boss unlocks access to the next area. The full chain is: Naga → Lich → Minoshroom → Hydra → Knight Phantom → Ur-Ghast → Alpha Yeti → Snow Queen. You cannot skip ahead — the forest blocks your path until the previous boss is defeated.
Two dimensions to explore: Everbright (bright, icy) and Everdawn (dark, fiery). Access them through Turquoise and Pyrope stone gateways found in dungeons. Each has its own bosses and unique materials.
Enter through the portal in an Ancient City (deep underground in the Deep Dark biome). This dimension is dangerous and contains Warden-tier enemies. Bring your best gear and plenty of healing.
The hardest bosses in the modpack. Fight the Harbinger and Netherite Monstrosity in the Nether, and the Leviathan in the ocean. These require endgame gear and preparation.
The Ender Dragon fight is significantly harder than vanilla. The dragon has new attacks, more health, and the End itself has new structures to explore afterward.
The final challenges: Ancient Remnant, Ender Guardian, and Ignis. These are the hardest fights in Better MC and require the best gear, enchantments, and strategy to defeat.
10 Tips for New Players
1. Learn JEI
Press R on any item to see its recipe. This one shortcut saves hours of confusion.
2. Loot Structures Early
Structures give better gear than mining. You can find iron and diamond equipment in the first hour.
3. Activate Every Waystone
Each Waystone you activate is a free teleport point. Build a network early and travel becomes trivial.
4. Follow the Quest Book
The quest system tells you what to do next and rewards you for it. Don't ignore it.
5. Don't Rush Dimensions
Prepare properly before entering new dimensions. Bring good gear, food, and backup equipment.
6. Craft a Backpack
Extra inventory space is essential with 393 mods worth of items to collect.
7. Start with the Aether
The Aether is the easiest new dimension. Glowstone frame + water bucket to enter.
8. Twilight Forest Is Linear
You must fight bosses in order: Naga first, Snow Queen last. The forest blocks your path until each boss falls.
9. Keep Backup Gear
Store a spare set of armor and tools in a chest before boss fights. Deaths happen.
10. Use the World Map
Press M to open Xaero's World Map. Track explored areas, set waypoints, and never get lost.
What to Explore Next
Now that you know the basics, dive deeper into Better MC with these guides:
Get the modpack installed on Forge or Fabric with our step-by-step download guide.
Detailed guide to every dimension: how to enter, what to expect, and boss strategies.
Complete boss list with difficulty ratings, locations, drops, and fight strategies.
Best weapons and armor sets ranked, including where to find and craft them.