⭐ 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

Open your world folder
Navigate to:

/datapacks
Place the datapack .zip inside
Launch your world and run:

/reload
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

Leather-to-Diamond Armor Progression