How to Install Pixelmon on Your Minecraft Server
Learn how to set up a Pixelmon server to play Pokémon in Minecraft.
Pixelmon adds Pokémon to Minecraft — you can catch, train, and battle Pokémon in a full open-world Minecraft experience. It's one of the most popular Minecraft mods ever made.
Installing Pixelmon
Set up a Forge server
Pixelmon requires Forge. Set your server type to Forge in Startup on the XGamingServer panel. Use the Forge version recommended by Pixelmon.
Download Pixelmon
Get the latest Pixelmon server files from Pixelmon's official site. Make sure the Pixelmon version matches your Forge and Minecraft version.
Upload the mod
Upload the Pixelmon .jar file to your /mods/ folder via Files.
Allocate enough RAM
Pixelmon is resource-intensive. You need at minimum:
| Players | Recommended RAM |
|---|---|
| 1–5 | 4 GB |
| 5–15 | 6 GB |
| 15–30 | 8 GB+ |
Check your RAM allocation in Startup.
Restart the server
Restart from Console. First startup may take several minutes as Pixelmon generates its data files.
Verify installation
Check Console for Pixelmon loading messages. Connect with the Pixelmon mod installed on your client.
Configuration
Spawning settings
Edit /config/pixelmon.hocon via Files:
Spawning {
# Maximum Pokémon spawned around a player
maximumPokemonPerPlayer = 20
# Spawn rate multiplier
spawnFrequency = 50
}Legendary spawn rates
Spawning {
legendarySpawnChance = 30.0
legendarySpawnTicks = 24000
}Lower legendarySpawnTicks = more frequent legendary spawns. Lower legendarySpawnChance = higher chance per attempt.
Disable specific Pokémon
Create a custom spawn set or use the blocklist in the Pixelmon config to prevent certain Pokémon from spawning.
Common Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/pokegive <player> <pokemon> | Give a Pokémon to a player |
/pokespawn <pokemon> | Spawn a Pokémon at your location |
/pokeheal <player> | Heal a player's Pokémon team |
/pokebattle <player1> <player2> | Start a battle between players |
/ivs | Check your Pokémon's IVs |
⚠️ Warning: Pixelmon is a large mod (200MB+). Both server and all players must have the same Pixelmon version installed. Version mismatches will prevent connection.
💡 Tip: Pixelmon works best on a dedicated server with at least 4 GB RAM. The mod adds hundreds of entities, so performance tuning is important for larger servers.
See also: Installing Mods | How Much RAM | Types of Server Lag
If you need help, join our Discord.
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