Creating EliteMobs Content
EliteMobs allows you to create extensive custom content for your server through YAML configuration files. All content is created by placing properly formatted .yml files in specific folders within the EliteMobs plugin directory.
Content Types
EliteMobs supports 8 main content types:
- Custom Bosses - Create unique elite mobs with custom powers, equipment, and abilities
- Custom Items - Design custom weapons, armor, and items with enchantments
- Custom Quests - Build quest chains with objectives and rewards
- Custom Events - Set up timed or triggered boss events
- Custom NPCs - Add quest givers, shops, and interactive NPCs
- Treasure Chests - Place loot chests with custom rewards and mimic mechanics
- Arenas - Design wave-based combat challenges with boss encounters
- Wormholes - Create teleportation portals between locations
Each content type has its own configuration folder and field structure.
Quick Start
All custom content follows this pattern:
- Create a YAML file with .yml extension
- Name it using lowercase_with_underscores.yml format
- Place it in the appropriate folder
- Configure the content using YAML fields
- Reload EliteMobs or restart server
File Locations
Each content type is stored in its own folder:
- Custom Bosses: ~/plugins/EliteMobs/custombosses/
- Custom Items: ~/plugins/EliteMobs/customitems/
- Custom Quests: ~/plugins/EliteMobs/customquests/
- Custom Events: ~/plugins/EliteMobs/customevents/
- Custom NPCs: ~/plugins/EliteMobs/npcs/
- Treasure Chests: ~/plugins/EliteMobs/customtreasurechests/
- Arenas: ~/plugins/EliteMobs/customarenas/
- Wormholes: ~/plugins/EliteMobs/wormholes/
Content Creation Tools
WebApp (Recommended for Beginners)
Use the EliteMobs WebApp to generate configuration files through a visual interface. This tool makes the process much faster and helps avoid syntax errors.
Manual YAML Configuration
For advanced users, create YAML files manually for complete control over all available fields and options.
YAML File Format
All EliteMobs configurations use YAML format. Key rules:
- Use spaces, not tabs, for indentation
- Strings with color codes need single quotes
- Lists use hyphen format or bracket format
- Required field: isEnabled: true in all content types
- File names should use lowercase_with_underscores.yml format
For detailed YAML syntax help, see the Configuration File Guide.
Content Type Overview
Custom Bosses
Custom bosses are elite mobs with enhanced abilities, custom equipment, and special powers. The boss system supports 60+ configuration fields including:
- Entity type and level
- Health and damage multipliers
- Equipment (armor and weapons)
- Elite powers and abilities
- Loot tables and drops
- Spawn/death messages and commands
- Multi-phase mechanics
- Custom models and disguises
Example Basic Boss:
isEnabled: true
entityType: ZOMBIE
name: '&e Test Boss'
level: dynamic
healthMultiplier: 2.0
damageMultiplier: 0.5
helmet: GOLDEN_HELMET
chestplate: IRON_CHESTPLATE
mainHand: GOLDEN_AXE
powers:
- invulnerability_knockback.yml
spawnMessage: A test boss has been spawned!
deathMessage: A test boss has been slain by $players!
Custom Items
Custom items allow you to create unique weapons, armor, and tools with custom enchantments and effects. The item system supports 15 configuration fields including:
- Material type
- Display name and lore
- Enchantments list
- Potion effects
- Custom model IDs
- Drop weight and scaling
- Level and soulbound settings
Example Basic Item:
isEnabled: true
material: DIAMOND_SWORD
name: '&4Legendary Blade'
lore:
- '&7A powerful weapon'
- '&7forged in dragon fire'
enchantments:
- DAMAGE_ALL,5
- FIRE_ASPECT,2
level: 10
soulbound: true
Custom Quests
Custom quests create objectives for players with rewards upon completion. The quest system supports 17 configuration fields including:
- Quest objectives and types
- Rewards (items, money, permissions)
- Accept/complete dialog
- NPC turn-in requirements
- Quest lockout timers
- Tracking and sounds
Custom Events
Custom events trigger boss spawns based on time, chance, or other conditions. The event system supports 18 configuration fields including:
- Event type and boss list
- Trigger chance and weight
- Start/end messages and commands
- Cooldown timers (local and global)
- Minimum player count
- Event duration
Custom NPCs
Custom NPCs provide interactive characters for quests, shops, and arenas. The NPC system supports 18 configuration fields including:
- NPC name, role, and profession
- Spawn locations
- Dialog (greetings, dialog, farewell)
- Interaction types
- Quest and arena references
- Custom models and disguises
Treasure Chests
Treasure chests provide loot rewards with customizable restock timers and mimic mechanics. The chest system supports 15 configuration fields including:
- Chest type and orientation
- Location coordinates
- Loot table
- Restock timers
- Mimic chance and boss list
- Visual effects
Arenas
Arenas create wave-based combat challenges with boss encounters. The arena system supports 19 configuration fields including:
- Arena boundaries (corner1, corner2)
- Wave count and delays
- Boss list and spawn points
- Rewards and player limits
- Arena messages
- Intermission waves
Wormholes
Wormholes create teleportation portals between two locations. The wormhole system supports 11 configuration fields including:
- Two location endpoints
- Display text for each location
- Visual style and particle colors
- Coin cost and permissions
- Blind effect and size multiplier
Common Patterns
Referencing Content
Content types reference each other using filenames:
- Reference powers in bosses: power_name.yml
- Reference items in loot: item_name.yml:quantity
- Reference bosses in events: boss_filename.yml
- Reference quests in NPCs: quest_filename.yml
Placeholders
Use these placeholders in messages:
- $players - List of players who defeated the boss
- $distance - Distance to boss location
- $eventBossLevel - Dynamic event boss level
Color Codes
Use Minecraft color codes in names and messages. Color codes must be enclosed in single quotes.
Standard Minecraft color codes:
- &0 - Black
- &1 - Dark Blue
- &2 - Dark Green
- &3 - Dark Aqua
- &4 - Dark Red
- &5 - Dark Purple
- &6 - Gold
- &7 - Gray
- &8 - Dark Gray
- &9 - Blue
- &a - Green
- &b - Aqua
- &c - Red
- &d - Light Purple
- &e - Yellow
- &f - White
Formatting codes:
- &l - Bold
- &m - Strikethrough
- &n - Underline
- &o - Italic
- &r - Reset
Elite Powers System
EliteMobs includes 60+ elite powers that can be assigned to custom bosses. Powers are referenced by filename in boss configurations.
Power Categories
Attack/Combat Powers:
- ArrowFireworks, ArrowRain, AttackArrow, AttackFireball, AttackLightning
- AttackPush, AttackVacuum, BulletHell, DeathSlice, ProjectileDamage
Elemental Powers:
- Firestorm, FlamePyre, Flamethrower, FrostCone, FrostWalker
- LightningBolts, Thunderstorm, PhotonRay, PlasmaBlaster
Defensive Powers:
- ShieldWall, InvulnerabilityArrow, InvulnerabilityFallDamage
- InvulnerabilityFireworks, InvulnerabilityKnockback
- ChannelHealing, SpiritWalk
Special Abilities:
- GroundPound, Implosion, MeteorShower, GoldExplosion, GoldShotgun
- SkeletonPillar, SkeletonTrackingArrow, TrackingFireball, Taze, Taunt
- ZombieBloat, ZombieFriends, ZombieNecronomicon, ZombieParents
- SummonEmbers, SummonTheReturned, MovementSpeed
Ender Dragon Exclusive Powers:
- AimedFireball, ArrowBombardment, DiscoFireballs, EmpoweredLightning
- Shockwave, Tornado (11 total dragon-specific powers)
Loot Powers:
- BonusCoins, BonusLoot, HyperLoot
Powers are added to bosses using the powers list field:
powers:
- invulnerability_knockback.yml
- flame_pyre.yml
- spirit_walk.yml
Advanced Features
Multi-Phase Bosses
Bosses can have multiple phases with separate configuration files. Use the phases field to reference phase boss files, and phaseSpawnLocation to set where phase transitions occur.
Elite Scripts
Elite scripts provide advanced custom boss abilities with event-driven actions, conditions, and cooldowns. Scripts are configured using the eliteScript field in boss configurations.
Custom Models
Custom models can be applied to bosses, NPCs, and items using the customModel field. This requires additional model integration setup.
Boss Equipment
Bosses can wear custom armor and hold weapons:
helmet: DIAMOND_HELMET
chestplate: IRON_CHESTPLATE
leggings: LEATHER_LEGGINGS
boots: CHAINMAIL_BOOTS
mainHand: GOLDEN_AXE
offHand: SHIELD
Command Execution
Bosses can execute commands at specific events:
- onSpawnCommands - Execute when boss spawns
- onDeathCommands - Execute when boss is defeated
- onCombatEnterCommands - Execute when combat starts
- onCombatLeaveCommands - Execute when combat ends
Boss Messages
Customize boss announcements:
- spawnMessage - Broadcast when boss spawns
- deathMessage - Broadcast when boss is defeated (supports $players placeholder)
- escapeMessage - Broadcast when boss escapes
- locationMessage - Shows distance to boss (supports $distance placeholder)
- deathMessages - List of random death message variations
Announcement priority levels (0-3) control broadcast range. Use the announcementPriority field.
Regional Bosses
Regional bosses use the isRegionalBoss field and can have leash radius, spawn restrictions, and block state changes:
- leashRadius - Maximum distance from spawn point
- onSpawnBlockStates - Block changes when boss spawns
- onRemoveBlockStates - Block changes when boss is removed
Loot Configuration
Control boss drops:
- dropsEliteMobsLoot - Enable custom loot drops (default: true)
- dropsVanillaLoot - Enable vanilla drops (default: true)
- dropsRandomLoot - Enable random loot (default: true)
- uniqueLootList - Specific loot items with quantities
Example:
uniqueLootList:
- custom_sword.yml:1
- rare_helmet.yml:1
Premade Content
EliteMobs includes 134+ premade boss configurations and templates for all content types. These can be found in the respective /premade/ folders and serve as examples for creating your own custom content.
Getting Help
- Check the sidebar for specific content creation guides
- Visit the EliteMobs Discord for community support
- Review the GitHub Repository for source code examples