The most reliable setup is a Minecraft Java Edition server running Forge 1.20.1 with the exact Kimetsu no Yaiba release and its matching server pack. Install a compatible Java Runtime Environment, launch the Forge server once, accept the EULA, configure server.properties, allow Java through the firewall, and forward TCP port 25565 if friends are joining over the internet. Every player must use the same Minecraft version, Forge loader, modpack release, and dependency versions.
Do not mix the 1.16.5 and 1.20.1 branches, combine different pack revisions, or copy client-only mods into the server. Those mistakes account for most missing-mod, registry, and startup errors.
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Choose one supported Minecraft branch
The project currently lists Forge support for Minecraft Java Edition 1.20.1 and 1.16.5. A new installation should normally use 1.20.1 because the current 1.20.1 file page lists release 2.1.2 together with a matching server pack. Whichever branch you choose, keep the Minecraft version, Forge version, mod files, configuration, and client installation on that branch.
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|---|---|---|---|
| Minecraft 1.20.1 | Forge, Java Edition | Client release 2.1.2 and KimetsuNoYaiba(Demon-Slayer)+Server-[2.1.2], or a later matching pair |
Recommended starting point when using the current file listing |
| Minecraft 1.16.5 | Forge, Java Edition | A 1.16.5 client pack, server pack, Forge build, and dependencies from the same revision | Use only when an existing world or community already depends on this branch |
The project is an RPG pack built around a central Demon Slayer mod, with additional content and quality-of-life mods. Modrinth lists both 1.20.1 and 1.16.5 as Java Edition Forge releases that support client and server play. CurseForge’s opened 1.20.1 file page shows release 2.1.2 uploaded September 8, 2026. Download totals shown on the two project pages—272,757 on CurseForge and 379.7K on Modrinth—are page snapshots from 2026, not permanent popularity rankings.
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- DELUXE COLLECTION — Includes Minecraft: Java & Bedrock Edition, three Bedrock add-ons, three exclusive Character Creator items, and 700 Minecoins.
- CREATE YOUR WORLD — Build whatever you imagine in an infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
- EXPLORE AND CRAFT — Discover biomes, resources, and mobs, then craft your way through a sandbox world filled with surprises.
- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
What you need before installing
- A computer that can stay online while the server is running.
- Minecraft Java Edition. Mojang’s official server page states that this server setup is only compatible with Minecraft: Java Edition.
- A compatible Java Runtime Environment. Mojang says Java Edition hosting requires a compatible JRE to launch the server JAR.
- The exact Forge 1.20.1 client pack and matching server pack, or the equivalent pair for 1.16.5.
- Enough free disk space for the world, libraries, configuration files, logs, and backups. Leave room for growth rather than filling the drive during the first world generation.
- Administrator access to the host computer’s operating-system firewall and, for internet play, the router that receives the public connection.
- A separate server directory. Do not run the server inside the client launcher’s instance folder.
Install the 1.20.1 server step by step
1. Download a matching client and server pair
Open the project’s file listing and select the 1.20.1 release. For the current listing, the client release is 2.1.2 and the corresponding server archive is named KimetsuNoYaiba(Demon-Slayer)+Server-[2.1.2]. Download both files so you can give every player the same client revision that the server uses.
Do not pair a 1.20.1 server with a 1.16.5 client, and do not assume that two files with the same project name are interchangeable when their revision numbers differ. Keep the downloaded archives until the server has started successfully; they are useful for recovery and for proving which release was installed.
2. Create a clean server directory
Create a dedicated folder such as Kimetsu-server-1.20.1 on a drive with adequate free space. Put the server pack archive and any Forge installer or launch script supplied for that release in this folder. Keep the client instance in its own launcher directory.
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A clean directory makes it easier to identify generated files, copy backups, replace a failed installation, and compare the server’s mods and config folders with a known-good archive. Avoid mixing files from an older Demon Slayer world into a new branch until you have a backup and have confirmed compatibility.
3. Install Java and launch Forge
Install a Java Runtime Environment compatible with the selected Minecraft and Forge release. The official Minecraft guidance requires a compatible JRE for launching a Java server JAR; it does not make a Bedrock Edition installation suitable for this pack.
Use the launcher or start script supplied with the server pack when one is included. Otherwise, use the Forge server installer for the exact Minecraft branch and follow its generated launch command. Start from the server directory so Forge writes libraries, logs, and configuration files there instead of scattering them across unrelated folders.
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- SURVIVE THE ADVENTURE — Face mysterious foes, travel across exciting landscapes, and venture into perilous dimensions.
- PLAY TOGETHER — Play cross-platform with friends in Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and PC, or join community servers in Java Edition on PC, Mac, and Linux. Online console multiplayer requires a platform-specific subscription (sold separately).
4. Complete the first boot and accept the EULA
Run the server once and wait for Forge to create its libraries, configuration directories, and initial world files. The first run may stop with an EULA notice; that is expected. Close the process cleanly, open eula.txt, read the license, and change the EULA setting to true only if you agree to it.
Start the same launch script again. A successful second boot should produce a server console that remains running and creates the normal world, logs, server.properties, mods, and config locations. Stop it with the console’s normal stop command before editing files or copying a backup.
5. Keep client-only files out of the server
Use the server pack as the authority for the server’s mods directory. Never copy a client-only visual, performance, or interface mod into that directory unless its documentation explicitly says it is safe on a dedicated server. A client mod can prevent Forge from loading even when the client itself works normally.
Conversely, do not remove a gameplay or networking dependency merely because it does not display an obvious item in the client menu. The pack’s dependency graph can require a library on both sides, and Forge reports the resulting failure as a missing-mod or registry error.
Configure the world and server rules
After the first successful boot, stop the process and review server.properties. Change only what you understand, and keep a copy of the original file. The most important settings for a small private server are:
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gamemode |
Default mode for newly joining players | Choose the mode your group actually wants; existing player data may retain its own mode |
difficulty |
Hostile-mob difficulty | Set deliberately because Demon Slayer progression and survival pressure change with difficulty |
white-list |
Whether only approved names may join | Enable it for a private friends-only world and add players from the console |
view-distance |
How many chunks the server sends and keeps active around players | Start conservatively if the host has limited CPU or memory, then increase after observing logs and tick performance |
server-port |
The TCP port used by the server | Keep the default Java port 25565 unless another service already uses it |
motd |
The text shown in the multiplayer list | Use a clear world name and pack revision so friends select the correct server |
Make configuration changes while the server is stopped whenever possible. Some settings are read only at startup, and editing a live world can leave an incomplete file if the process writes over your changes.
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- PLAY TOGETHER — Play solo or join friends in local split-screen and cross-platform play across console, mobile, and PC. Online multiplayer supports up to 8 players.
- COMMUNITY PLAY — Connect with players on community servers, or subscribe to Realms Plus (sold separately) to play with up to 10 friends on a private server.
Make the server reachable
Playing on the same local network
Players on the same home network can usually connect to the host computer’s private IPv4 address and the configured port. LAN success proves that the server is running and that local traffic is allowed; it does not prove that friends outside the home can reach it.
Allow Java through the operating-system firewall
Create or approve a firewall rule that allows the Java runtime used by Forge to accept inbound TCP connections on the server port. If Java updates or multiple runtimes are installed, check that the rule applies to the executable actually launching the server. A rule for a different Java installation can produce a confusing timeout even though the server console looks healthy.
Forward the port on the router
- Give the host computer a stable private address, either with a DHCP reservation or a fixed local address.
- In the router’s port-forwarding page, forward TCP port 25565, or the alternate value in
server.properties, to that private address. - Save the router rule and confirm that the computer’s firewall allows the same port.
- Have a friend test from a different network, such as a mobile connection. Testing only from inside the LAN can succeed even when the router is not forwarding traffic.
The official Minecraft guidance notes that players outside the local network may need both firewall changes and port forwarding. Do not publish your home network’s public address more widely than necessary, and remove the forwarding rule when you no longer operate the server.
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Make every client match the server
A modded connection is not a simple vanilla-version check. Each player should install the same Minecraft branch, Forge loader, Kimetsu no Yaiba pack release, and dependency versions as the server. Give friends the same client archive or a written file manifest rather than asking them to assemble the pack from memory.
| Client-side check | Required state | Typical failure when it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft version | Exactly 1.20.1 for a 1.20.1 server, or exactly 1.16.5 for that branch | Protocol or registry errors before the player reaches the world |
| Forge loader | The loader branch and build expected by the selected pack | Forge rejects the pack or reports an incompatible mod version |
| Kimetsu no Yaiba release | The same release number as the server, currently 2.1.2 for the listed 1.20.1 pair | Missing content, changed registries, or a required-mod mismatch |
| Dependencies | The same versions of required libraries and gameplay mods | Missing-mod, wrong-version, or network registry errors |
| Client-only additions | Only additions documented as compatible with the pack and client | Client crashes or visual issues without fixing a server mismatch |
Kimetsunoyaiba Tweaks specifically requires PlayerAnimator on both client and server. Its requirements also call for MobPlayerAnimator on both sides and the other mods used by Kimetsu no Yaiba. For a 1.20.1 installation, keep the 1.20.1 versions of Kimetsunoyaiba, Mob Player Animator, Player Animator, GeckoLib, and KnY Worlds together. A player who installs only the central Demon Slayer mod is not running the complete server-compatible pack.
Run a safe first connection test
- Start the server and wait until Forge reports that it has finished loading.
- Join locally from the host computer or another device on the same network.
- Confirm that the player can enter the world, see the expected modded items, and move without an immediate disconnect.
- Connect from a separate network to test the firewall and port-forwarding path.
- Ask a second player to join. A single successful local connection does not test the complete client-mod synchronization path.
- Stop the server normally and inspect the latest log before opening the world to a larger group.
If you enable a whitelist, add players using their exact Java Edition names from the server console or the appropriate administrative command. Keep operator privileges limited to trusted administrators.
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Backups, updates, and rollback
What to back up
Stop the server before making a backup. Copy the world directory, config, server launch files, server.properties, and the server’s mods directory. Preserve at least one untouched copy of the original pack archive and record the Minecraft, Forge, and pack versions in a text file beside the backup.
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A world-only backup is not enough after a mod update: the configuration and mod versions determine how blocks, entities, registries, and gameplay systems are interpreted. Keep several dated backups so you can return to a point before a corrupted chunk or incompatible update.
How to update without losing the world
- Announce maintenance and stop the server cleanly.
- Copy the complete world and configuration backup.
- Write down the current Minecraft, Forge, pack, and dependency versions.
- Install the new server pack in a separate directory or preserve the old directory unchanged.
- Compare the new
configandmodscontents with the old installation; do not blindly overwrite customized settings. - Update every client to the exact new set before allowing players to join.
- Start the new server and test with an administrator account before restoring normal access.
If the new release fails, stop it, restore the backed-up world and matching files, and return to the previous launch directory. Never downgrade a live world without a backup; registry changes can make a rollback unsafe.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot the most common failures
The server crashes while Forge is loading
The Kimetsunoyaiba Tweaks FAQ directs 1.20.1 users to check Forge 47.4.0 for loading crashes. Verify that the server and all clients use the intended Forge build, then compare the mod list with the matching server pack. Read the first clear error in the log rather than the final cascade of “failed to load” messages.
For the 1.20.1 branch, check that Kimetsunoyaiba, Mob Player Animator, Player Animator, GeckoLib, and KnY Worlds are the 1.20.1 versions. Remove OptiFine: the Kimetsunoyaiba Tweaks troubleshooting guidance says it is completely incompatible. Do not try to solve a dedicated-server crash by adding more client performance mods.
A player sees a missing-mod or wrong-version message
Compare the player’s Minecraft version, Forge build, pack revision, and dependency files against the server. Pay particular attention to PlayerAnimator and MobPlayerAnimator, which must be installed on both client and server for the documented setup. Replace the client’s instance with a clean copy of the correct pack if files were manually added or removed.
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The client disconnects with a registry or network error
Registry errors usually indicate that the two sides loaded different content or versions. Confirm that neither side contains an extra gameplay mod, that the server pack was not mixed with a different release, and that all required libraries are present. A clean server directory and a fresh client instance are faster to diagnose than repeatedly editing a contaminated installation.
Named characters never appear
The Tweaks FAQ explains that enhanced spawning can prevent Hashira, Kizuki demons, and other named characters from appearing outside raids, quests, and special biomes. If your group expects them in ordinary exploration, open the relevant mod configuration and disable that enhanced-spawning setting when appropriate. Make a backup before changing configuration, and remember that changing the setting will not retroactively create entities in an already generated area.
LAN works but friends on the internet cannot connect
Check the server port in server.properties, the Java firewall rule, the router’s TCP forwarding destination, and whether the host’s private address changed. Test from a separate network. If the external test still times out while the local test works, the problem is network reachability rather than mod synchronization.
Animations look wrong or do not synchronize
The project documents animation synchronization for LAN and dedicated servers. First verify that the required animator mods are present on both sides and that clients are using the same pack revision. Inspect the server log for a rejected packet or missing dependency before changing graphics settings.
Where to edit multiplayer settings
Kimetsunoyaiba Tweaks exposes its settings in Minecraft’s config directory. Administrators can edit the Kimetsunoyaiba Multiplayer TOML files there, but should stop the server and back up the configuration before changing values. If a setting has no effect, restart the server and confirm that the file belongs to the active server directory rather than the client instance.
Self-hosting versus managed hosting
Self-hosting gives you direct access to the operating system, server console, logs, files, and network settings. Managed hosting can remove router and maintenance work, but only if the provider supports the exact Forge branch and pack revision. A listing that says “Kimetsu no Yaiba” without identifying the Minecraft version, Forge build, and pack file is not enough.
| Decision factor | Self-hosted computer | Managed Minecraft host |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Uses hardware and internet service you already have; additional electricity and hardware costs vary | Usually a recurring service charge; exact pricing was not stated and must be verified with the provider |
| Setup effort | You install Java, Forge, the pack, firewall rules, and port forwarding | Often offers an installer or control panel, but the exact automation and supported release vary |
| Mod and configuration control | Full access to mods, config, scripts, and server files |
Depends on file access and provider policy; verify that custom TOML settings are allowed |
| Backups and recovery | You create, test, and store backups yourself | May include scheduled backups, but retention, restore limits, and fees must be checked |
| CPU and RAM | Limited by the host computer and other programs running on it | Based on the purchased allocation; advertised resources do not guarantee equivalent performance |
| Latency and location | Usually best for people near the host’s home connection | Can offer a data-center location closer to remote players; confirm the actual region |
| Player capacity | Determined by hardware, view distance, world activity, and upload bandwidth | Determined by the plan and hardware allocation; player limits vary |
| Logs and console | Complete access to live console and files | Usually available through a panel, but retention and command access differ |
| Pack compatibility | You can install the exact 1.20.1 or 1.16.5 files yourself | Confirm support for the exact Forge build and Kimetsu no Yaiba release before paying |
Modrinth’s project page links to Modrinth Hosting, and some hosting listings advertise automatic installation of the 1.20.1 pack. Treat those listings as starting points, not endorsements by Mojang or the mod authors. Before ordering, verify the exact pack release, Forge version, player limit, backup schedule, data-center location, CPU and RAM allocation, pricing, cancellation terms, file access, and support for the Kimetsunoyaiba Multiplayer configuration. Ask how the provider restores a failed world and whether you can download your own backups.
If you would rather not run the server from home, Godlike.Host modded Minecraft hosting supports Forge, Fabric and NeoForge, lets you upload a custom server pack over SFTP/FTP, and includes up to three free backups a day with restore. Still confirm that the Kimetsu no Yaiba server pack and the Forge build you need run there before you order.
A practical maintenance checklist
- Record the Minecraft, Forge, Kimetsu no Yaiba, and dependency versions in the server notes.
- Keep the client and server archives from the same release together.
- Stop the server before editing configuration, installing mods, or taking a world backup.
- Test a backup restore on a separate directory instead of assuming the archive is usable.
- Review logs after every update and before inviting more players.
- Keep the whitelist enabled for a private friends-only server.
- Do not install OptiFine in the 1.20.1 Kimetsu no Yaiba setup.
- Use an external-network test whenever router or firewall settings change.
Bottom line
For most new groups, use the current Forge 1.20.1 release 2.1.2 with its matching server pack, install it in a clean directory with a compatible Java runtime, accept the EULA, configure the server, and expose TCP 25565 only after local testing. The server is ready for friends when every client has the same Forge, pack, and dependency set and an external connection test succeeds. Keep dated backups before every mod or configuration change so a bad update can be reversed without sacrificing the world.
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