How to Install Crackers Wither Storm Mod on Java Edition (Forge)

Installing Crackers Wither Storm Mod follows the normal Forge routine, with one twist: the download on this site is the project's source archive, so you need a compiled .jar before Forge can load anything. This guide walks through the whole process for the linked 1.16.5 branch, then covers servers and clean removal.

What you need before you start

• Minecraft: Java Edition, launched at least once so the game folder exists.
• Minecraft Forge for 1.16.5, the loader the linked branch is built for.
• A compiled mod file. Either build it from the downloaded source archive or use a compiled 1.16.5 release from the developer's official project page.
• A backup of your saves folder. The boss can wreck terrain on a large scale.

Install on your own computer

1. Install Forge

Run the Forge installer for Minecraft 1.16.5, keep Install client selected and confirm. When you open the Minecraft Launcher afterwards, a new Forge profile is available in the installations list.

2. Prepare the mod file

If you are building from source, extract the ZIP, open a terminal inside the extracted folder and run gradlew build on Windows or ./gradlew build on macOS and Linux. When it finishes, look in build/libs for the built .jar. The download guide covers this step in detail, including the Java Development Kit you need.

3. Copy the .jar into the mods folder

The default game folder locations are:

If there is no mods folder yet, start the Forge profile once, close the game and it will be there.

4. Launch with Forge

Select the Forge profile in the launcher and press Play. Loading takes a little longer than vanilla, which is normal for a modded game.

Install on a Forge server

The Wither Storm is a new entity, so both the server and every connecting player need the mod.

1. Run the Forge installer for 1.16.5 and choose Install server into an empty folder.
2. Start the server once, accept the EULA in eula.txt and stop it again.
3. Put the same mod .jar into the server's mods folder.
4. Give players the identical mod file and ask them to use the same Forge version.
5. Back up the server world before anyone starts an encounter.

Check that it worked

On the title screen, open Mods. The mod should appear in the list. If it doesn't, the most common causes are a source ZIP placed in the folder instead of a .jar, or launching the vanilla profile by mistake. The crash fixes guide covers the rest.

Remove the mod cleanly

Delete the mod's .jar from the mods folder. Worlds that contained the storm may log warnings about missing entities or blocks when opened without the mod, which is why keeping the pre-encounter backup is worth it.