Cobblemon vs Pixelmon servers

Cobblemon servers are Minecraft Java servers running the Cobblemon mod, which adds Pokémon you can catch, battle, ride and evolve. Pixelmon servers do the same with the older Pixelmon mod. To join either, you need Minecraft: Java Edition with the same mod version as the server, and the easiest way to get that is the modpack the server tells you to use.

Both mods are fan-made, both are big, and they feel different once you play for a while. Here's how they compare, exactly how to get onto a server running each, and what's realistic if you're on Bedrock.

Cobblemon vs Pixelmon: the short comparison

Neither mod is made by Mojang or The Pokémon Company. They're community projects, which is why you won't find them in the Minecraft Marketplace.

The version trap: why vanilla 26.3 won't connect

This is the number one reason people fail to join. The current Minecraft Java release is 26.3, but both Pokémon mods target 1.21.1 at the time of writing. A Cobblemon or Pixelmon server is running 1.21.1 with mods, so if you click Play in the launcher with the latest version, you'll get an "Incompatible client" or "Outdated server" style error, or a mod mismatch list.

You don't have to downgrade your normal game. Modpack launchers create a separate profile with the right Minecraft version, loader and mods, and your regular 26.3 install stays untouched. More on version errors in the outdated client fix.

How to join a Cobblemon server

1. Read the server's join instructions. Most Cobblemon servers name a modpack, often a custom pack with their own extras. If they just say "Cobblemon 1.8," the official modpack usually works.
2. Install a modpack launcher. The Modrinth app or the CurseForge app are the simplest. Prism Launcher and ATLauncher work too.
3. Install the right pack. Search the server's pack by name, or "Cobblemon Official Modpack" (there's a Fabric edition). Pick the version that matches the server.
4. Launch it once and sign in. Use your normal Microsoft account. The first launch takes a while as mods load.
5. Add the server. Multiplayer > Add Server, paste the Cobblemon server IP from its listing, then Join.

How to join a Pixelmon server

1. Check the Pixelmon version. Current servers are usually on 9.4.x for 1.21.1, but some long-running servers stay on older versions, like 1.16.5 or 1.12.2. The version decides everything else.
2. Get the pack. In the CurseForge app, search for the server's own modpack or the general Pixelmon modpack, and pick the matching version. Older 1.12.2 servers need Java 8, which the launcher usually handles for you.
3. Give it memory. Pixelmon's own install guide asks for at least 2 GB of assignable RAM. Modpacks with extras need more; the launcher's settings let you raise it.
4. Launch, then add the server. Multiplayer > Add Server, paste the Pixelmon server IP, Join.

Stuck on a connection error? Our modded server guide decodes the common mismatch messages, and can't connect covers the network side.

Live Cobblemon and Pixelmon servers

Our pinger reads each server's mod loader and mod count, so we can confirm a server really runs mods rather than just using the name. We see 74 Cobblemon servers and 37 Pixelmon servers online right now.

Browse the full lists on the Cobblemon and Pixelmon hubs, or the wider modded hub.

Pokémon on Bedrock: what's actually possible

Searches for "Pixelmon servers for Bedrock" and "Cobblemon servers Bedrock" are common, so here's the honest answer: neither mod runs on Bedrock, and Bedrock players can't join a Cobblemon or Pixelmon server.

The usual crossplay bridge, GeyserMC, doesn't help here. Its documentation says there is currently no way for Geyser to translate the blocks and items most mods add, so servers that need client-side mods can't be joined through it (Geyser FAQ). What Bedrock players can find:

• Plugin-based creature servers. Some servers recreate monster catching with plugins and resource packs, so they work without client mods. These are separate designs, not Cobblemon or Pixelmon, and quality varies a lot.
• Marketplace add-ons. Single-player content you buy in the game, not a server.

On Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, you also can't add a custom server in the normal game; see joining on Switch for the community workarounds.

Is there a Pokémon Minecraft server with no mods?

Yes, a few Java servers use plugins, custom models and a server resource pack to add creature-catching without asking you to install a mod. You join like any normal server, and the server sends the resource pack when you connect (say yes to the prompt). They're lighter than Cobblemon or Pixelmon, and usually have fewer features. If the listing shows "0 mods" and a normal version like 26.3, that's what you're looking at.

Running your own: Cobblemon server hosting basics

A private Cobblemon or Pixelmon server for friends is a normal modded server: install the loader server (Fabric or NeoForge) for 1.21.1, add the mod and its dependencies to the mods folder, and make sure every friend uses the exact same pack. Pixelmon's docs point to a separate server installation page on their wiki. Budget more RAM than vanilla, since every creature is an entity; our RAM guide helps you size it. Realms can't run mods, so it's not an option for either one.

Quick questions