Minecraft Shader

Shader

Shaders control the game's rendering. Java Edition only. All shader files live under assets/minecraft/shaders/ (core shaders in shaders/core/, post-processing in shaders/post/, include files in shaders/include/). Note: this page was flagged as missing 1.21.5+ core shader information.

Using Shaders

Rendering has two resource-pack-modifiable steps (the order is hardcoded):

1. Render objects using their render type's core shader.
2. After the whole scene, run the post-processing pipeline.

If a shader fails to load, the game immediately disables all resource packs (to avoid corruption) and turns off Fabulous! graphics.

Shader Format

Two kinds, otherwise identical: a shader = a vertex shader (.vsh) file + a fragment shader (.fsh) file.

• Core shaders — assets/<ns>/shaders/core/, one per render type (e.g. rendertype_solid.json before 25w07a; the JSON pairs a vertex and fragment shader).
• Post-processing shaders — assets/<ns>/shaders/post/, used for framebuffer post effects.

Include Shaders

Vertex/fragment shaders can import include files (usually *.glsl, normal GLSL syntax) from assets/<ns>/shaders/include/:

#moj_import <minecraft:fog.glsl>
#moj_import "minecraft:fog.glsl"

Missing/failed imports log Could not open GLSL import <name>: <reason>. Include files cannot import other include files — expansion happens once. The game ships 9 default includes (replaceable by resource packs).

Render Type Parameters

A render type's behavior is defined by states:

• Texture state — sampler textures bound for the shader: none (empty), single (bound to Sampler0), or multi (Sampler0..Sampler11 in order).
• Shader state — the core shader used.
• Transparency (blend) state — one of: no blending; additive (one, one); lightning (srcalpha, one); glint (srccolor/zero → one/one); crumbling (dstcolor/one → srccolor/zero); translucent (srcalpha/one → 1-srcalpha/1-srcalpha).
• Depth test state — none; equal (GL_EQUAL); less-equal (GL_LEQUAL, default); greater (GL_GREATER).
• Cull state — culling enabled by default.
• Lightmap state — uses the 16×16 dynamic lightmap texture (x = block light, y = sky light) bound to Sampler2 (overriding the texture state's Sampler2).
• Overlay state — uses the 16×16 overlay texture (top: semi-transparent red rgba(255,0,0,0.69804) for damage flash; bottom: white gradient for TNT flash) bound to Sampler1 (overriding Sampler1).
• Layering state — vertex offset to avoid z-fighting: none; polygon offset (glPolygonOffset, factor −1, units −10); view offset Z (view matrix scaled 0.99975586); view offset Z forward (scaled 1.0002441).
• Output state — target framebuffer: main; outline; translucent/particles/weather/clouds/item entity (Fabulous! only).
• Texturing state — texture matrix transform: none; offset; glint (item/block glint); entity glint.
• Write mask state — whether color and depth buffers are written (default: both).
• Line state — line width (default 1).
• Color logic state — none (GL_COPY) or GL_OR_REVERSE.

Other parameters:

• Vertex format — attributes passed to the vertex shader: Position (vec3), Color (vec4), UV/UV0 (vec2, Sampler0 coords), UV1 (ivec2, usually overlay), UV2 (ivec2, usually lightmap), Normal (vec3), Padding (float).
• Mode — mostly quads (4 indexed vertices); some use triangle strips or lines.
• Buffer size — max buffer size per draw; mostly 1536.

Render Type Uniforms

Available to render type shaders: mat4 ModelViewMat, mat4 ProjMat, vec4 ColorModulator (default (1,1,1,1); e.g. sky color), float GlintAlpha (enchanted glint flicker setting), float FogStart, float FogEnd, vec4 FogColor, mat4 TextureMat, vec2 ScreenSize, vec3 Light0_Direction, vec3 Light1_Direction. Block render types also get vec3 ModelOffset (sub-chunk coordinates).

Render Type List

Since 25w07a the block render types' shaders are shaders/core/terrain.fsh + terrain.vsh. Block rendering has three categories: opaque, fully transparent (alpha-tested), and translucent — plain texture edits cannot change the category. Member lists below are representative; for complete lists see the Minecraft Wiki "Shader" page.

Block Render Types

• solid (pre-25w07a shader rendertype_solid) — all solid-rendered blocks incl. moving ones; alpha channel ignored (RGB always drawn). Pre-25w07a: shaders/core/rendertype_solid.json could define ALPHA_CUTOUT (0–1) to discard fragments below that alpha. Buffer 4194304 B; rendered per sub-chunk.
• cutout_mipped (pre-25w07a rendertype_cutout_mipped) — alpha-tested blocks with mipmapping; discards fragments with alpha < 0.5 by default (threshold configurable pre-25w07a). Used by grass block, iron bars, glass panes, tripwire hooks, hoppers, chains, mangrove roots, leaves (High/Fabulous). Buffer 4194304 B.
• cutout (pre-25w07a rendertype_cutout) — alpha-tested blocks without mipmaps; discards alpha < 0.1 (configurable pre-25w07a). Used by flowers, mushrooms, grass/ferns, crops, kelp/seagrass, vines/weeping vines/nether sprouts, stems, big dripleaf, azalea, sweet berries, chorus plant/flower, saplings, bamboo, cave vines, glow lichen, lily pad, moss, spore blossom, pink petal block, hanging roots, coral, sea pickles, cobweb, glass, redstone dust/wire, doors, ladders, trapdoors, rails, torches, fire, lanterns, campfires, spawners/vault, brewing stand, beacon, conduit, end rod, flower pot, scaffolding, stonecutter, lightning rod, turtle eggs, pointed dripstone, amethyst buds/clusters, sculk sensors/shriekers/veins, frogspawn. Buffer 786432 B.
• translucent (rendertype_translucent) — translucent blocks with blending and far-to-near sorting; Fabulous!: translucent target. Used by ice/frosted ice, nether portal, stained glass (panes), tinted glass, slime block, honey block, bubble column, water/flowing water. Buffer 786432 B.
• translucent_moving_block (rendertype_translucent_moving_block) — moving translucent blocks (moving piston, falling blocks); batched, not per sub-chunk. Fabulous!: item entity target.
• tripwire (rendertype_tripwire) — tripwire strings (hooks use cutout_mipped). Fabulous!: weather target.
• end_portal (rendertype_end_portal) — end portal block; multi-texture (Sampler0 environment/end_sky.png, Sampler1 entity/end_portal.png); texture coords computed from the player's view position; no breaking cracks.
• end_gateway (rendertype_end_gateway) — end gateway block; same algorithm; no breaking animation.

Block Effect Render Types

• crumbling (rendertype_crumbling) — block breaking animation; texture block/destroy_stage_<0-10>.png by progress; crumbling blending, polygon-offset layering, color buffer only; unaffected by AO/light (Color fixed white, no lightmap).
• beacon_beam (rendertype_beacon_beam) — beacon/end gateway beams; texture entity/beacon_beam.png; outer beam translucent + color-only, inner beam opaque.

Entity Render Types

• entity_solid (rendertype_entity_solid) — opaque entity parts: inactive conduit, beds, decorated pots, shields, tridents, bell clapper, banner poles, books on enchanting tables/lecterns, item frame/painting backgrounds, player cape, etc.
• entity_cutout (rendertype_entity_cutout) — entity parts with alpha-tested textures: bats, arrows, bobbers, chests, all non-terrain block/block-item rendering inside entities, burning entity flame layers.
• entity_cutout_no_cull (rendertype_entity_cutout_no_cull) — default render type for most entity layers; no face culling. Also guardian beams, active conduit, shulker boxes, sign backgrounds.
• entity_cutout_no_cull_z_offset (rendertype_entity_cutout_no_cull_z_offset) — depth-conflict-prone layers: shulker shells, mob heads (except player heads) and their items.
• entity_smooth_cutout (rendertype_entity_smooth_cutout) — end crystal beam (entity/end_crystal/end_crystal_beam.png); no culling.
• entity_no_outline (rendertype_entity_no_outline) — banner/shield colors and patterns; never writes to the outline buffer.
• eyes (rendertype_eyes) — Enderman, Phantom, Spider, Ender Dragon eyes; additive blending over the full model rendered twice.
• entity_translucent_emissive (rendertype_entity_translucent_emissive) — Warden glowing parts, Breeze eyes; full model rendered twice like eyes.
• entity_alpha (rendertype_entity_alpha) — Ender Dragon death animation first pass; Color goes black→white; fragments darker than Color are filtered out.
• entity_decal (rendertype_entity_decal) — Ender Dragon death animation second pass with equal depth test, keeping only fragments matching the depth written by entity_alpha.
• entity_translucent (rendertype_entity_translucent) — most translucent entities: Vex, Allay, Breeze, wind charges, most player layers, slime/shulker bullet outer layers, horse markings, wolf armor, player heads, elder guardian mining fatigue particles.
• item_entity_translucent_cull (rendertype_item_entity_translucent_cull) — items/blocks not qualifying for entity_cutout, XP orbs, invisible mobs for players who can see them. Fabulous!: item entity target.
• armor_cutout_no_cull / armor_decal_cutout_no_cull (rendertype_armor_cutout_no_cull) — armor and elytra (and trim decals with decal: true); view-offset layering; decal uses equal depth test.
• lightning (rendertype_lightning) — lightning bolts and the Ender Dragon death flash; lightning blending; Fabulous!: weather target.

Entity Effect Render Types

• entity_shadow (rendertype_entity_shadow) — entity shadows (textures/misc/shadow.png); translucent, view-offset layering, color only. Rendered only when: entity shadows enabled, entity not in inventory, visible, radius/strength > 0, within 256 blocks. Max radius 32; per-block criteria: has model, full collision box, outline box, internal light level > 3.
• leash (rendertype_leash) — leads (not the knot); triangle strip mode.
• water_mask (rendertype_water_mask) — water patch inside boats; writes depth only (shader color output has no effect; only vertex offset or fragment discard works).
• breeze_wind (rendertype_breeze_wind) — the wind swirl around Breeze and wind charges.
• energy_swirl (rendertype_energy_swirl) — Creeper charge arcs and half-health Wither armor; additive.
• outline (rendertype_outline) — entity outlines (and invisible glowing mobs' parts); no depth test, output to the outline target.

Glint Render Types

• glint (rendertype_glint) — item glint (textures/misc/enchanted_glint_item.png); glint blending, equal depth test, glint texturing, color only. Non-Fabulous: all items except tridents; Fabulous: items not using item_entity_translucent_cull.
• glint_translucent (rendertype_glint_translucent) — Fabulous! only: glint for items using item_entity_translucent_cull; outputs to item entity target.
• armor_entity_glint (rendertype_armor_entity_glint) — armor/elytra glint (textures/misc/enchanted_glint_entity.png); entity glint texturing.
• entity_glint (rendertype_entity_glint) — has no effect.

Text Render Types

• text (rendertype_text) — text with non-grayscale bitmap/unihex/missing fonts: map backgrounds and map graphics, most text (excluding see_through text displays, non-sneaking nameplates, and signs). Buffer 786432 B.
• text_polygon_offset (rendertype_text) — same with polygon-offset layering; sign text of those fonts.
• text_see_through (rendertype_text_see_through) — see_through text displays and non-sneaking nameplates; no depth test, color only.
• text_intensity (rendertype_text_intensity) — grayscale bitmap / vector font text (same exclusions as text).
• text_intensity_polygon_offset (rendertype_text_intensity) — sign text for intensity fonts.
• text_intensity_see_through (rendertype_text_intensity_see_through) — see_through intensity text.
• text_background (rendertype_text_background) — backgrounds of text displays with see_through: false.
• text_background_see_through (rendertype_text_background_see_through) — backgrounds of see_through text displays.

GUI Render Types

• gui (rendertype_gui) — solid/gradient GUI elements (lines, backgrounds).
• gui_overlay (rendertype_gui_overlay) — overlays: hover highlight, durability bars/cooldowns, loading screen background, debug charts, text cursor, sleeping/spyglass overlays. No depth test, color only.
• gui_text_highlight (rendertype_gui_text_highlight) — text selection highlight; GL_OR_REVERSE color logic.
• gui_ghost_recipe_overlay (rendertype_gui_ghost_recipe_overlay) — ghost recipe items in crafting slots; greater depth test.

Misc Render Types

• clouds (rendertype_clouds) — clouds (environment/clouds.png); translucent; Fabulous!: clouds target; High quality: depth only.
• lines (rendertype_lines) — lines (block outlines, debug chunk corners, entity hitboxes, crosshair, structure bounds); extra uniform LineWidth; Fabulous!: item entity target.
• line_strip (rendertype_lines) — line strips (fishing line).
• world_border (rendertype_world_border) — world border (misc/forcefield.png); Fabulous!: weather target.

Non-Render-Type Core Shaders

Not used by render types (or only conditionally); they don't start with rendertype. Same vertex-format/uniform conventions; states vary by use.

• particle — all particles and rain/snow; affected by the lightmap (Sampler2).
• position — Overworld sky and stars, void darkness below sea level.
• position_color — solid colors: sunrise/sunset sky tint, debug pie chart, debug chunk borders.
• position_tex — unshaded textures: sun and moon, world border, underwater screen effect, all GUI sprites (buttons, backgrounds, icons).
• position_tex_color — tinted textures: panoramas, End sky, suffocation overlay, fire overlay, tinted GUI sprites.
• blit_screen — copies framebuffers for the post pipeline; cannot be overridden (loaded from vanilla data at preload; a failure crashes the game).
• lightmap — generates the lightmap texture; if it fails, the lightmap never updates. Extra uniforms: AmbientLightFactor (dimension ambient_light), SkyFactor, BlockFactor, NightVisionFactor, DarknessScale, DarkenWorldFactor (Boss bar DarkenScreen), BrightnessFactor (Brightness option), SkyLightColor, AmbientColor (End sky flash).
• position_color_lightmap, position_color_tex_lightmap — have no effect.

Post-Processing Pipeline

Invoked after rendering the whole scene or for screen effects; the debug screen's post_effect line shows the active pipeline. Pipeline programs live in assets/minecraft/post_effect/; new pipelines cannot be added, existing ones can be modified.

Pipeline JSON Format

• targets — custom render targets (<namespace id>: {} for window-sized, or {width, height, persistent (default false), clear_color (default [0,0,0,0])}). Duplicate target names block the resource pack (<name> is already defined). minecraft:main (the screen) is always provided; other pipelines provide extra targets (see below); a user-defined target with the same name as a provided one is ignored.
• passes — list of passes, each:
  • output (required) — output target namespace ID (should differ from inputs; use a temporary target for in-place edits).
  • inputs — list of inputs: sampler_name (required), bilinear (default false), and either a target (target, use_depth_buffer default false) or a texture (location → assets/<ns>/textures/effect/<path>.png; width, height required; missing texture fails pack loading with Texture '<path>' does not exist).
  • vertex_shader, fragment_shader (required) — names mapped to assets/<ns>/shaders/<path>.vsh / .fsh.
  • uniforms — grouped lists of {name, type, value}; uniforms set here override shader defaults; max length 4 (no mat3/mat4), floats only.

Pass execution: bind input targets as samplers → set provided uniforms → apply pass uniforms → run the shader writing to the output target. Provided uniforms: sampler2D <input>Sampler, vec2 <input>Size, vec2 OutSize, vec2 ScreenSize, float GameTime (0–1, resets every 20 minutes), mat4 ProjMat (orthographic, near 0.1, far 1000).

Available Pipelines

• transparency — Fabulous!: combines translucent, item_entity, particles, weather, clouds targets into the world render; must write to minecraft:main. Failure to load crashes the game and downgrades graphics to High.
• entity_outline — post-processes the outline target; extra target final (result merged into the main target by the game — do not write minecraft:main). Failure: warning only; no outlines rendered.
• blur — GUI blur background; extra uniform Radius (float, matches the menu background blur setting). Failure: warning only; no GUI blur.
• creeper / spider / invert — spectator-view effects (Creeper, Spider, Enderman perspectives); must write to minecraft:main. Failure: warning only.