Cobblemon adds creature-collecting gameplay to Minecraft, and it is one of the more dependency-heavy mods to set up correctly, missing even one of its required libraries is the most common reason a Cobblemon server fails to start.
Supported loaders
Cobblemon runs on Fabric and NeoForge. It is Java Edition only, there is no Bedrock version.
Required dependencies
Before adding Cobblemon itself, install these on your server (exact names to search for on Modrinth or CurseForge):
- Fabric API (Fabric installs) or Architectury API (NeoForge installs), the base hook library Cobblemon builds on.
- Fabric Language Kotlin, since Cobblemon is written in Kotlin and needs its runtime available.
- Cloth Config API, used for Cobblemon's configuration menus.
Every one of these needs to match your exact Minecraft version and loader, the same rule as any other dependency.
Step 1: Install your loader
Set up Fabric or NeoForge first and confirm the server starts cleanly before adding anything else.
Step 2: Add the dependencies
Download Fabric API (or Architectury API), Fabric Language Kotlin, and Cloth Config API for your exact version, and place all three in the mods folder.
Step 3: Add Cobblemon
Download the matching Cobblemon build from its Modrinth page and drop it in alongside the dependencies.
Step 4: Restart and check the log
Restart and watch logs/latest.log. A missing-dependency error will name the exact library still needed, add it and restart again until the server starts cleanly.
The easier route: the official modpack
Cobblemon publishes an official Fabric modpack that bundles the mod with every required dependency already matched and version-locked, which avoids the manual dependency hunt entirely if you do not specifically need to customize the mod list. It is a reasonable starting point even if you plan to add more mods on top later.
Every client needs the same setup
Cobblemon is fully server-authoritative and heavily gameplay-affecting, every player needs the identical mod and dependency versions installed on their own client, mismatches here are a common source of "why can't I connect" reports.
Sizing your server correctly
Cobblemon worlds tend to use more RAM than a similarly sized vanilla or plugin-based server, since the mod tracks a large amount of additional data per player. A RAM calculator can give a specific number before you commit to a plan. Tick Hosting's panel supports Fabric and NeoForge with one-click installs on every plan, including the free tier, making it easy to get the loader and dependencies right from the start. Get started on Tick Hosting's plans page.