RLCraft Server Hosting – Play RLCraft with Friends

RLCraft is one of the most demanding Minecraft modpacks ever made. Created by Shivaxi, it bundles over 120 mods into a Minecraft 1.12.2 experience built around survival difficulty, exploration, and a punishing death loop. Version 2.9.3 is the current release, and it introduces flying mounts, a thirst system, temperature mechanics, and more than 100 new creatures including dragons and sea serpents. If you and your friends want a real challenge, setting up an RLCraft server through Apex Hosting is the fastest way to get started. This guide covers the full process from server creation to client installation.

How to Create an RLCraft Server

Before starting, make sure your hosting plan has at least 6GB of RAM allocated. RLCraft is resource-intensive, and servers running with less will experience crashes and lag. If you are unsure about how much RAM your server needs, review that guide before proceeding.

1. Head towards your Apex server panel.
2. Scroll down to the "Game File" section, then click the dropdown menu.
3. Search for “RLCraft” and select it from the list.
4. Press "Change Version" in the prompt that appears.
5. When asked about world generation, select "Create New World" to prevent issues.
6. Click "Restart Now" to apply the changes and load the modpack.

Configuring server.properties

RLCraft requires four specific settings in the server.properties file. Without them, structures will not generate correctly, players using flying mounts will get kicked, and the server may crash during world generation. These are not configured automatically, so you will need to set them manually.

1. From the server panel, click "Config Files" near the top left.
2. Select "Server Settings" from the file list.
3. Locate and update the following values:
   • enable-command-block to true — required for structures and villager spawns to generate correctly
   • allow-flight to true — prevents the server from kicking players using flying mounts or fairy rings
   • max-tick-time to -1 — prevents server timeouts during large structure and world generation
   • difficulty to 3 — sets Hard difficulty, which is required for correct RLCraft gameplay balance
4. Click "Save" and restart the server.

How to Join an RLCraft Server

Every player connecting to your server must have RLCraft installed on their computer through the CurseForge app. The modpack runs on Forge 14.23.5.2860 for Minecraft 1.12.2 and requires 3 to 4GB of RAM allocated on the client side. If you need help editing your server files or adjusting settings, refer to that guide.

Installing RLCraft with CurseForge

1. Download and install the CurseForge App on your computer.
2. Open the app and select "Minecraft" from the game list.
3. Click "Browse Modpacks", then search for “RLCraft”.
4. Click on the RLCraft modpack and press "Install".
5. Once installed, navigate to "My Modpacks" and press "Play".

Joining the Server

1. On the Minecraft main menu, click "Multiplayer".
2. Select "Add Server", then enter your server IP address from the Apex panel.
3. Click "Done", then select the server and press "Join Server".

 
If you would prefer to manually install a modpack rather than using CurseForge, that option is available through Apex Hosting as well.

RLCraft Gameplay Overview

RLCraft redefines core Minecraft mechanics from the ground up. Before playing, it helps to understand what makes it different from other modpacks.

• Thirst System: Players must drink water regularly in addition to managing hunger. Drinking from unsafe sources can cause sickness.
• Temperature: Each biome has a temperature rating. Players must wear appropriate gear to stay alive in extreme climates.
• Level System: Players gain levels through combat and exploration, but lose them on death. Keeping your level high matters.
• New Creatures: Over 100 hostile creatures are added, including dragons, sea serpents, cyclopes, and undead knights. Most are far stronger than vanilla mobs.
• Dungeons: Structures spawn throughout the world containing powerful mobs and rare loot. The enable-command-block setting is required for these to generate.

 
For players looking for other challenging Minecraft server hosting experiences, Apex Hosting offers a wide range of modpack options.

Common Issues

The most common reason a player cannot join is that RLCraft is not installed on their computer. Every player must have the official RLCraft modpack installed through CurseForge before connecting. Make sure all players are using the same version of the modpack.

If modded items appear in the creative menu but do not spawn in survival, or if structures appear empty, the server is likely not running the modpack correctly. Verify the server was switched to RLCraft through the "Game File" section in the panel and fully restarted.

This is almost always caused by insufficient RAM. RLCraft requires a minimum of 6GB allocated to the server. If you are below this threshold, upgrade your Minecraft server hosting plan before attempting to run the modpack.

RLCraft Server FAQ

What version of Minecraft does RLCraft use?
RLCraft runs on Minecraft 1.12.2 using Forge 14.23.5.2860. The current modpack version is v2.9.3.

 
How much RAM does an RLCraft server need?
A minimum of 6GB is recommended for the server. Players connecting from their computers should allocate 3 to 4GB on the client side.

 
Why do I need to change the server.properties settings?
Four settings are required for RLCraft to work correctly: enable-command-block, allow-flight, max-tick-time, and difficulty. Without these, structures will not generate, players using flying mounts will be kicked, and the server may time out during world creation.

 
Can I update to newer Minecraft versions?
No. RLCraft is built for Minecraft 1.12.2 and has not been updated to support newer versions. The modpack remains on 1.12.2 as of April 2026.

Useful Links

• How Much RAM Do I Need for My Server?
• Manually Installing Modpacks on Minecraft
• How to Edit Server Files
• RLCraft on CurseForge