Short answer: No, RLCraft does not use NeoForge. It runs on Forge for Minecraft 1.12.2, and it always has. If you are seeing "RLCraft NeoForge" search results or confused setup guides, here is what is actually going on.
Why the confusion exists
NeoForge is a fork of Forge that started in July 2023, with its first builds for Minecraft 1.20.1. Since NeoForge and Forge names get mentioned together constantly in 2026 modding guides, people searching for RLCraft setup instructions sometimes assume the newer loader applies to every modpack. It does not, RLCraft is a fixed snapshot of mods built specifically for 1.12.2.
Why RLCraft never updated its modloader
RLCraft is built from the 1.12.2 versions of its mods, tuned with the author's own configs and scripts, including:
- Lycanites Mobs (custom mob spawns, dungeons, bosses)
- Simple Difficulty (temperature and thirst mechanics)
- Ice and Fire: Dragons
- First Aid and Scaling Health
Several of these have versions for newer Minecraft, but a mod built for a newer version cannot load in a 1.12.2 pack, and every config and script would have to be redone. Rebuilding RLCraft on NeoForge would essentially mean recreating the modpack for a new Minecraft version, not just changing a loader setting.
What this means for hosting
If a host or guide tells you to install NeoForge for RLCraft, that is incorrect and your server will not start. To run RLCraft correctly:
- Download the official server files from CurseForge (search "RLCraft server pack")
- Install Forge 14.23.5.2860 for 1.12.2, the build in the pack's manifest (the pack asks for at least build 2860)
- Give the server at least 5GB of RAM (a 4GB heap plus room for Java)
- Set the correct Java version, RLCraft on 1.12.2 needs Java 8, not Java 17 or 21 like modern modpacks
The wrong Java version stops RLCraft just as surely as the wrong loader. On Java 9 or newer, Forge for 1.12.2 quits at startup with a ClassCastException about URLClassLoader, so if you see that, check your Java version before anything else.
Where to host it
On our RLCraft server hosting page, any Standard (DDR4) or Premium (DDR5) plan from 5GB up fits RLCraft, since the game itself runs on the older, lighter 1.12.2 version. The heavier resource cost with RLCraft comes from entity and structure generation, not from a demanding modloader.
For the full setup walkthrough, including difficulty tuning and pre-generation tips, see our RLCraft server setup guide. If you want the bigger picture on modloaders in general, read Forge vs NeoForge in 2026.