You updated to Minecraft 26.3 and want your frame rate back, or your server's tick times. Most performance mod lists were written for 1.20 or 1.21 and still recommend mods that never got a 26.3 build. This list checks each mod against its own Modrinth version page on 31 October 2026: which build runs on 26.3, for which loader, and what to leave out. Mojang released 26.3, the Wilderness Bound drop, on 15 September 2026. It needs Java 25, so update Java first if you come from 1.21.x.
Quick answer: The best performance mods for Minecraft 26.3 are Sodium for rendering, Lithium for game logic and FerriteCore for memory, all three with 26.3 builds for Fabric and NeoForge. Add ImmediatelyFast, Entity Culling and More Culling on your PC, and Moonrise, or C2ME with ScalableLux, on a modded server. OptiFine has no 26.3 build; its newest file is a preview for 26.2. The OptiFine alternative on 26.3 is Sodium with Iris 1.11.7 for shaders, plus Zoomify, Continuity, Entity Model Features and LambDynamicLights for zoom, connected textures, custom entity models and dynamic lights. Leave out LazyDFU, Noisium, ModernFix, Embeddium and Oculus: none of them has a 26.3 build.
Which Performance Mods Work on Minecraft 26.3?
Every version below is the newest 26.3 file on the mod's Modrinth page on 31 October 2026, with its publish date. Alpha and beta are the developers' own labels, so expect bugs and keep a backup.
Client mods (FPS)
| Mod | What it does | Loaders on 26.3 | Newest 26.3 build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium | Replaces the rendering engine. Its developers say it "greatly improves frame rates and micro-stutter" | Fabric, NeoForge | 0.9.2 (15 Sep), 0.9.3-beta.1 (15 Oct) |
| Iris | Shader loader, requires Sodium | Fabric, NeoForge | 1.11.7 (30 Sep) |
| ImmediatelyFast | Batches the drawing of entities, block entities, particles, text and the HUD | Fabric, NeoForge | 1.17.1 (17 Sep) |
| Entity Culling | Skips entities and block entities hidden behind walls | Fabric, NeoForge | 1.11.3 (8 Oct) |
| More Culling | Changes how several kinds of culling work, so fewer hidden things get drawn. Needs Cloth Config | Fabric, NeoForge | 1.9.0 (3 Oct) |
| Dynamic FPS | Lowers frame rate and volume while the game is in the background or idle | Fabric, NeoForge | 3.11.10 (15 and 16 Sep) |
| BadOptimizations | Small client savings, such as skipping lightmap updates when brightness did not change | Fabric, NeoForge | 2.4.1 (16 Sep) |
| Lithium | Optimizes physics, mob AI and block ticking without changing vanilla mechanics, on client and server | Fabric, NeoForge | 0.26.3 (28 Oct) |
| FerriteCore | Lowers memory use, belongs on client and server | Fabric, NeoForge | 9.0.0 (24 Mar, tagged for 26.1 up to 26.3) |
Server and world mods
| Mod | What it does | Loaders on 26.3 | Newest 26.3 build |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moonrise | Paper's chunk system and entity optimizations as a Fabric and NeoForge mod | Fabric, NeoForge | 1.2.1 (22 Oct) |
| C2ME | Spreads chunk generation, I/O and loading over several CPU cores | Fabric, NeoForge | 0.4.2 alpha builds (30 Oct) |
| ScalableLux | Faster light updates, a fork of the unmaintained Starlight | Fabric, NeoForge | 0.3.0 alpha builds (15 and 16 Sep) |
| Krypton | Optimizes the networking stack to lower server CPU use | Fabric | 0.3.2 (30 Sep) |
| Very Many Players | Server performance at high player counts, "still in early development" per its page | Fabric | 0.2.0+beta.7.238, marked alpha (15 Sep) |
| ServerCore | Server patches plus optional settings that trade a little gameplay for less lag | Fabric, NeoForge | 1.5.20 (16 Sep) |
| Alternate Current | Faster redstone dust with fewer block updates | Fabric, NeoForge | 1.9.0 (15 and 21 Sep) |
| Clumps | Merges XP orbs to cut lag | Fabric, NeoForge | 26.3.2 (16 Sep) |
| Chunky | Pre-generates the world | Fabric, NeoForge, Paper | 1.5.3 and 1.5.4, both tagged for 26.3 |
| spark | Profiler that shows what uses your tick time | Fabric, NeoForge | 1.10.187 (19 Sep) |
Lithium and FerriteCore from the first table go on the server as well. Lithium works on a server without players installing it, and the other way around.
Popular Mods Without a 26.3 Build
| Mod | Status on 31 October 2026 | On 26.3, use instead |
|---|---|---|
| OptiFine | Newest file is a 26.2 preview (HD U K2 pre5, 20 Oct). Last full release is for 1.21.11 | Sodium and Iris, see below |
| ModernFix | Newest build is for 26.1.2 | Nothing yet, keep Lithium and FerriteCore |
| LazyDFU | Newest tag is 1.20.6. Its page says it is "no longer necessary in many configurations" since 1.19.4 | Nothing |
| Noisium | Newest build is for 1.21.6, last update June 2025 | C2ME (alpha) for chunk generation |
| Embeddium | Newest full release is for 1.21.1, with a beta for 1.21.4 | Sodium, which has NeoForge builds |
| Oculus | Newest build is for 1.20.1 | Iris, which has NeoForge builds |
| Starlight | Newest build is for 1.20.4, unmaintained since March 2024 | ScalableLux |
| Indium | Not needed since Sodium 0.6.0, which has the Fabric Rendering API built in | Nothing |
| CIT Resewn | Newest build is for 1.21.1 | No 26.3 option |
The OptiFine Alternative for Minecraft 26.3
OptiFine's download page lists nothing for 26.3. The newest file is OptiFine HD U K2 pre5, a preview for 26.2 published on 20 October 2026. The newest full release is HD U J9 for 1.21.11, from 5 February 2026, and the 26.x previews show no Forge version. You can wait, but Sodium, Iris and a few add-ons already cover most of what OptiFine did, all with 26.3 builds. Only custom item textures have no 26.3 option yet:
| OptiFine feature | 26.3 replacement | Newest 26.3 build |
|---|---|---|
| FPS | Sodium | 0.9.2 |
| Shaders | Iris, built to run OptiFine shader packs | 1.11.7 |
| Zoom | Zoomify | 2.17.0 (8 Oct) |
| Connected textures | Continuity, Fabric only on 26.3 | 3.0.1 (16 Sep) |
| Custom entity models, random and emissive textures | Entity Model Features with Entity Texture Features | 3.3.12 and 7.2.6 (15 Oct) |
| Dynamic lights | LambDynamicLights | 4.13.0 (15 Sep) |
| Fog, particle, animation and sky settings | Sodium Extra | 0.9.5 (25 Oct) |
| A settings screen for these mods, plus resource pack features | Puzzle | 2.3.1 (29 Sep) |
| Custom item textures (CIT) | None: CIT Resewn stops at 1.21.1 | None |
Two things to know before you install. Iris's own mod file lists OptiFabric and Embeddium as mods it breaks with, so you cannot load OptiFine through OptiFabric next to Iris. And Iris 1.11.7 names Sodium 0.9.2 as its required dependency on Modrinth, so 0.9.2 is the Sodium to use with shaders. The Sodium 0.9.3 beta of 15 October fixes bugs, such as fluid culling next to non-full blocks with unusual shapes, so move to it only when you need one of those fixes. Our Iris vs OptiFine comparison goes deeper into shader packs, and the OptiFine alternatives guide explains what each replacement does on 1.21 and newer.
Server Software on 26.3: Paper, Purpur and Pufferfish
| Software or mod | What it does | 26.3 status on 31 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | Server based on Spigot with performance patches, such as asynchronous chunk loading | Stable channel since build 175 (11 Oct), newest build 231 (30 Oct). Needs Java 25 |
| Purpur | Paper fork built for configurability | Builds 2634 (16 Sep) to 2655 (28 Oct) |
| Pufferfish | Paper fork for large servers that skips needless entity work and moves some work off the main thread | No 26.x build: the newest download is 1.21.8 |
| Lithium (server) | Physics, AI and block ticking on Fabric and NeoForge servers | 0.26.3 |
| Chunky | World pre-generation to prevent chunk generation lag | Paper, Fabric and NeoForge builds tagged for 26.3 |
On a Fabric or NeoForge server, pick one chunk stack. Moonrise has release builds and works next to Lithium and FerriteCore: its page says it switches off the parts of those mods that overlap. C2ME with ScalableLux and Lithium is the combination C2ME's own page recommends, but C2ME and ScalableLux are alpha on 26.3. Never install Moonrise and C2ME together. Moonrise lists C2ME as incompatible, because Moonrise replaces the chunk system that C2ME modifies.
None of these makes the CPU itself faster, and Minecraft runs most of each tick on one thread. Run spark first to see what fills the tick. If the profile shows the main thread is simply busy, our Minecraft performance hosting runs Premium plans on AMD Ryzen 9 9950X nodes with DDR5 in the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Canada.
Recommended Setup for 26.3
Fabric client (maximum FPS)
- Sodium 0.9.2
- Iris 1.11.7 (for shaders)
- Lithium 0.26.3
- FerriteCore 9.0.0
- ImmediatelyFast 1.17.1
- Entity Culling 1.11.3
- More Culling 1.9.0, with Cloth Config
- Dynamic FPS 3.11.10
- Fabric API 0.165.0, which Entity Culling and Dynamic FPS need on Fabric
LazyDFU and Krypton are no longer on this list. LazyDFU has no 26.3 build, and its own page says it is no longer necessary in many setups since 1.19.4. Krypton's page describes server gains: lower server CPU use and tick times.
NeoForge client
- Sodium 0.9.2
- Iris 1.11.7 (for shaders, NeoForge build since 30 September)
- Lithium 0.26.3
- FerriteCore 9.0.0
- ImmediatelyFast 1.17.1
- Entity Culling 1.11.3
- More Culling 1.9.0, with Cloth Config
ModernFix drops out of this list until it gets a 26.3 build; its newest is for 26.1.2.
Fabric or NeoForge server
- Lithium 0.26.3
- FerriteCore 9.0.0
- Moonrise 1.2.1, or C2ME with ScalableLux (alpha), never both
- Krypton 0.3.2 (Fabric only)
- Chunky, to pre-generate the world before players join
- spark, to find the cause when TPS drops
- Fabric API on a Fabric server, which Chunky and spark need
Keep the client mods (Sodium, Iris, ImmediatelyFast, Entity Culling, More Culling, Dynamic FPS and BadOptimizations) off the server: Modrinth marks all of them as unsupported on the server side.
Do not add Embeddium or Oculus to a 26.3 list either. Iris marks Embeddium as incompatible on both Fabric and NeoForge, and Oculus has no build newer than Minecraft 1.20.1 and needs Embeddium. They only belong in older Forge packs. The Iris and Sodium setup guide lists which Iris and Sodium versions go together.
Before You Install
- Download the file for your loader and for 26.3. Modrinth lists Fabric and NeoForge files separately, and filters by game version.
- Install the libraries the mods ask for. On Fabric that is mostly Fabric API, whose newest 26.3 build is 0.165.0 from 23 October: Entity Culling, Dynamic FPS, Chunky, spark, Continuity, LambDynamicLights, Zoomify and Puzzle need it. More Culling needs Cloth Config on both loaders, Zoomify also needs YetAnotherConfigLib and a Kotlin library, and Entity Model Features needs Entity Texture Features. Lithium needs nothing else, not even Fabric API.
- Back up your world first. Lithium's 0.26.3 release notes ask for exactly that.
- If the game crashes, remove the alpha builds first (C2ME, ScalableLux and Very Many Players), then add mods back one at a time.
FAQ
What are the best performance mods for Minecraft 26.3? Start with Sodium, Lithium and FerriteCore: all three have 26.3 builds for Fabric and NeoForge. Then add ImmediatelyFast, Entity Culling and More Culling on the client, and Moonrise, or C2ME with ScalableLux, on a modded server.
Is there OptiFine for 26.3, and what is the best OptiFine alternative? No. On 31 October 2026 the newest OptiFine file is a preview for 26.2. On 26.3, use Sodium with Iris for FPS and shaders, and add Zoomify, Continuity, Entity Model Features, Entity Texture Features and LambDynamicLights for the other OptiFine features.
Does Iris work on NeoForge for 26.3? Yes, since Iris 1.11.7 on 30 September 2026. The earlier 26.3 builds, 1.11.5 and 1.11.6, were Fabric only. Install the NeoForge build of Sodium 0.9.2 with it.
Which mod gives the biggest FPS boost? Sodium, which has builds for both Fabric and NeoForge. It replaces the rendering engine entirely. Older Forge packs use Embeddium, a fork of an older Sodium codebase, instead.
Do performance mods work on servers? Client mods like Sodium only affect your own FPS, and Modrinth marks them as unsupported on servers. Server-side optimization uses Paper or Purpur, or Lithium, FerriteCore and Moonrise on Fabric and NeoForge.
Does FerriteCore really save RAM? Yes, but how much depends on the pack. Its developer measured All Of Fabric 3 (version 2.5.9): the heap went from 1,792 MB to 984 MB with FerriteCore. Its FAQ advises installing it on both the client and the server.
Related: Does Sodium allow shaders?, Best shaders 2026, ZGC vs G1GC, Minecraft 26.3 server update
Sources
All opened on 31 October 2026:
- Mojang: version manifest, 26.3 version file (release date, Java 25), Minecraft Java Edition 26.3
- Modrinth version lists for 26.3, client mods: Sodium, Iris, ImmediatelyFast, Entity Culling, More Culling, Dynamic FPS, BadOptimizations, Lithium, FerriteCore
- Modrinth version lists for 26.3, server mods: Moonrise, C2ME Fabric, C2ME NeoForge, ScalableLux, Krypton, Very Many Players, ServerCore, Alternate Current, Clumps, Chunky, spark, Fabric API
- Modrinth version lists for 26.3, OptiFine replacements: Zoomify, Continuity, Entity Model Features, Entity Texture Features, LambDynamicLights, Sodium Extra, Puzzle
- Modrinth pages for mods without a 26.3 build: ModernFix, LazyDFU, Noisium, Embeddium, Oculus, Starlight, Indium, CIT Resewn
- Mod descriptions and notes: Sodium, Lithium, FerriteCore, Moonrise (compatibility table), C2ME, ScalableLux, Krypton, Very Many Players, ServerCore, Alternate Current, ImmediatelyFast, Entity Culling, More Culling, Dynamic FPS, BadOptimizations, Embeddium, Iris, Sodium Extra, Puzzle
- Release notes: Sodium 0.9.3-beta.1, Sodium 0.9.2 for NeoForge, Iris 1.11.7 (dependency on Sodium 0.9.2), Lithium 0.26.3
- Iris on GitHub: fabric.mod.json (breaks list); spark on GitHub: fabric.mod.json (Fabric API modules it depends on)
- OptiFine: downloads
- PaperMC: Paper, downloads, 26.3 builds
- Purpur: purpurmc.org, downloads, 26.3 builds
- Pufferfish: downloads, README