⭐ Armor Upgrade Progression Datapack (No Netherite Changes)

This datapack completely rebalances how armor is obtained in Minecraft by introducing a simple but meaningful progression system.
Instead of crafting Iron, Gold, or Diamond armor in a Crafting Table, players must now upgrade their existing armor through the Smithing Table.

Netherite armor remains 100% vanilla — its recipes and upgrading process are NOT modified.

🔧 How It Works

❌ Crafting Table (Disabled Recipes)

The following armor types can no longer be crafted in the crafting table:

• Iron Armor

• Gold Armor

• Diamond Armor

Leather armor remains fully craftable.

Netherite crafting and upgrading stays unchanged.

✔️ New Upgrade-Based Armor Progression

All armor upgrades are done through the Smithing Table, using:

• the previous armor tier

• 1 ingot or gem

• 1 block of the same material as the “template”

Leather → Iron

Requires:

• Leather armor piece

• 1 Iron Ingot

• 1 Iron Block

Iron → Gold

Requires:

• Iron armor piece

• 1 Gold Ingot

• 1 Gold Block

Gold → Diamond

Requires:

• Gold armor piece

• 1 Diamond

• 1 Diamond Block

❗ Diamond → Netherite (Vanilla)

Diamond armor does NOT upgrade through this datapack.
Netherite armor follows the default Mojang upgrade path, unchanged.

🎯 Features

• Removes all vanilla crafting recipes for Iron, Gold, and Diamond armor

• Adds a clean, balanced progression system through smithing

• Keeps Netherite armor vanilla

• Survival-friendly and multiplayer-friendly

• Works without mods — pure datapack

• Easy to understand and perfect for RPG, SMP, or progression-based worlds

📦 Installation

1. Open your world folder

2. Navigate to:

    

   /datapacks

3. Place the datapack .zip inside

4. Launch your world and run:

    

   /reload

5. Done! Your armor progression system is now active.

✔️ Compatibility

• Minecraft 1.20+

• Compatible with most other datapacks

• No issues unless another datapack modifies armor recipes

📜 Permissions

• You may use this datapack on any private or public server

• You may modify it for personal use

• Do not reupload or redistribute the datapack as your own