Levyathan

Modded Minecraft: mods and modpacks

Run a Fabric, NeoForge or Forge server, add mods one click at a time, or install a whole Modrinth modpack - plus the RAM and first-boot realities.

By Levi Wanner · Updated 25 June 2026 · 6 min read

Levyathan runs modded servers, not just Vanilla and Paper. You can spin up a Fabric, NeoForge or Forge server and add individual mods, or install a complete modpack from Modrinth in a couple of clicks. This guide covers both, and is honest about what fits on the free tier.

Pick a mod loader

A mod loader is the layer that lets a server load mods. Mods are built for one loader, so the loader you choose decides which mods you can run:

  1. 1Fabric - lightweight and fast, great for performance and optimisation mods. The usual choice for smaller modded servers.
  2. 2NeoForge - the modern Forge successor; most new big content mods target it on current versions.
  3. 3Forge - the classic loader, still required by many long-running mods and older packs.
  4. 4Whichever you choose, your friends must use the same loader and the same mods to join - more on that below.

Create a modded server

  1. 1On your dashboard click "Create server" and pick Fabric, NeoForge or Forge as the type.
  2. 2Choose the Minecraft version - the right Java runtime is selected for you automatically.
  3. 3Give it as much RAM as your plan allows: modded needs far more than Vanilla (see below).
  4. 4Accept the EULA and create. The first install downloads and runs the loader installer, so it takes a bit longer than a plain server.

Add individual mods

  1. 1Open your modded server and switch to the Mods tab (it only appears on modded servers).
  2. 2Search the Modrinth catalog - results are filtered to mods that match your loader.
  3. 3Click Install; we pick the newest release compatible with your exact Minecraft version.
  4. 4Restart the server - mods only load at startup.
  5. 5Every player must install the same mods locally, or they will be kicked with a "mod mismatch" error when they try to join.

Install a whole modpack

  1. 1On the dashboard click "Install a modpack".
  2. 2Search Modrinth and pick a pack, or upload a .mrpack file you downloaded yourself.
  3. 3We read the pack's loader and Minecraft version automatically - you only choose a name, an address and RAM.
  4. 4Accept the EULA and install. The pack downloads every mod and builds the server in the background.
  5. 5Give players the same pack: the easiest way is the Modrinth App or Prism Launcher, which install the exact pack and version with one click.

RAM: be realistic on the free tier

Modded is heavy. A handful of optimisation mods runs happily in 2-3 GB, but large content packs with hundreds of mods routinely want 6-8 GB or more - and the free tier caps you at 4 GB across all your servers. That is enough for lightweight and "optimised"/"lite" packs, but a big kitchen-sink pack will lag badly or fail to start. When in doubt, pick a pack that advertises itself as lightweight, and give the server every megabyte your plan allows.

The first start is slow - that is normal

A modded cold start does two slow things at once: it runs the mod installer and then generates a modded world, which can take one to a few minutes the first time. While that happens the dashboard shows "Building your modpack…", and a player who tries to join sees "Modpack is still building - rejoin shortly". This is expected on the first boot; later starts are much faster because the world already exists.