Installing Cobblemon takes four pieces: a launcher that supports Fabric or NeoForge, the mod loader itself, the required dependencies (Fabric API or Architectury API depending on the loader, Fabric Language Kotlin, Cloth Config API), and the Cobblemon mod file downloaded from CurseForge or Modrinth. For a player who already has Minecraft Java Edition installed, expect roughly 15 to 20 minutes start to finish as a rough estimate, downloads included (unmeasured figure, see writing note).
Cobblemon is a mod for Minecraft Java Edition only (not Bedrock/console). Recent versions of the mod (1.6 and later) work under both Fabric and NeoForge, two different mod loaders that aren’t compatible with each other: pick one, not both at once. Versions before 1.6 (up to 1.5.2) also shipped a classic Forge build, discontinued since in favor of NeoForge.
Step 1: Choose Fabric or NeoForge
- Fabric is the lighter mod loader and the fastest to get updated after a new Minecraft release. It’s the ecosystem used by The Tower.
- NeoForge is the successor to classic Forge, with a historically larger mod ecosystem in some content-heavy categories. Cobblemon ships a separate build for each loader.
If the goal is simply to play Cobblemon with no other mod constraint, Fabric is the simpler, better-documented option, and it’s the one used by The Tower.
Step 2: Install the dependencies
Cobblemon needs several libraries to run, installed before the mod itself inside the mods folder:
- Fabric API (or Architectury API on NeoForge)
- Fabric Language Kotlin, since Cobblemon is written in Kotlin
- Cloth Config API, for the in-game configuration screen
- Architectury API, the compatibility layer Cobblemon relies on across both loaders
Every dependency must match the exact Minecraft version you’re running (a dependency built for Minecraft 1.20.1 won’t work on a 1.21.1 install). Double-check this number on each dependency’s Modrinth or CurseForge page before every download, since these numbers change regularly.
Step 3: Install Cobblemon
- Download the Cobblemon
.jarfile from its official page on CurseForge or Modrinth, picking the build that matches both the loader (Fabric or NeoForge) and the Minecraft version chosen in Step 1. - Drop that file, along with the
.jarfiles for the Step 2 dependencies, into themodsfolder of your Minecraft install (auto-created by the launcher the first time you launch a Fabric or NeoForge profile). - Launch Minecraft using the Fabric or NeoForge profile, not the vanilla one.
Using a launcher with native support for modded instances (CurseForge App, Modrinth App, or Prism Launcher) makes this step much easier: these tools install Cobblemon and its dependencies in one click straight from the mod page, no manual folder work required.
Step 4: Verify it works
On first launch, the Minecraft title screen should show “Fabric” or “NeoForge” plus a version number, confirming the mod loader is active. Once in-game, seeing wild Pokémon in the world (tall grass, varied biomes) confirms Cobblemon is running correctly. If you hit a crash screen on startup, the most common cause is a version mismatch between a dependency and Minecraft, or a missing piece from the four listed in Step 2.
FAQ
Does Cobblemon work with NeoForge or only Fabric? Both. Cobblemon ships separate builds for Fabric and NeoForge (the successor to classic Forge, which the mod dropped starting with version 1.6), each with its own set of dependencies. The mod’s content is identical, only the technical install differs.
What Minecraft version does Cobblemon need? As of the latest check (mod version 1.7.3, source api.modrinth.com), Cobblemon targets Minecraft 1.21.1. The mod tracks recent Minecraft Java Edition releases with a short delay after each major update: the exact target version should be checked on the mod’s official page before downloading, since every dependency has to match that number exactly.
Do I need a server to play Cobblemon solo? No. Once Cobblemon is installed client-side, it runs directly in singleplayer (local world), no server needed. A server is only required for multiplayer, and in that case it needs Cobblemon installed server-side with the same versions as the clients connecting to it.
What’s next: which server to play on
Once Cobblemon is installed and running solo, the natural next question is which multiplayer server to join. Servers vary widely (creative, cooperative survival, PvP), each with its own rules. The Tower is a French-speaking PvP option currently in beta, with a ready-to-use Fabric modpack that bundles exactly the pieces covered in this guide: the server-specific install details are on the access guide page.