Auroral

This mod was made for WinterJam2025

"The sky gives and the ice remembers."

Auroral is a winter expansion mod that transforms cold biomes from barren wastelands into hubs of mystical progression. Harness the power of the Aurora Borealis to craft unique tools, armor, and magical potions without ever needing to visit the Nether.

The Aurora Event

During certain nights in cold biomes, the sky comes alive with shimmering ribbons of green and pink light. This celestial phenomenon is more than just beautiful, it is the key to Auroral's progression system.

When an aurora appears:

Glacial Basins fill with glowing Liquid Aura
Shimmersteel gear slowly repairs itself
Aurora Blooms sprout on snow blocks and grow only to vanish forever come morning

Core Features

Glacial Basin

The heart of Auroral's crafting system. Place this basin under open sky in a cold biome, and during aurora events it will collect Liquid Aura. Right-click with materials to transform them:

Unrefined Shimmersteel → Shimmersteel Ingot
Woven Leather → Shimmerweave Fabric
Frozen Petals → Aurora Shard
Ice → Shimmering Ice

Shimmersteel Arsenal

Upgrade your iron tools at a Smithing Table with Shimmersteel Ingots to create powerful aurora-infused equipment:

Shimmersteel Pickaxe → Fortune III for gems and minerals only
Shimmersteel Axe → Right-click copper to force oxidation
Shimmersteel Shovel → Inherent Silk Touch
Shimmersteel Sword → Applies Slowness, executes low-HP enemies
Shimmersteel Spear → Throwable with bonus damage during auroras
Shimmersteel Bow → Fires Star-Shots using snowballs as ammo

Shimmerweave Armor

Crafted by upgrading iron armor with Shimmerweave Fabric:

Goggles → Nearby hostile mobs glow through walls
Tunic → Automatically extinguishes fire
Leggings → Speed boost on snow, Soul Speed on soul sand
Skates → Ice skating, Frost Walker, lava to obsidian, fall immunity on ice

Nether-Free Brewing

The Cold Brewing Stand uses snowballs instead of Blaze Powder, and Frozen Petals work like Nether Wart to create Awkward Potions. Complete your potion setup without ever visiting the Nether!

Flora & Food

Aurora Blooms - Magical flowers that spawn on snow during auroras, harvested for Frozen Petals
Glow Leeks - Grown on Shimmering Ice, grants Night Vision when eaten
Frosted Cookies - A frosty treat with special effects
Hot Cocoa - Warm up with a comforting drink

Special Blocks

Hearthwood Log - Burns for 7 days, grants frostbite immunity nearby, and acts as an Aurora Catalyst
Shimmering Ice - Glowing ice that never melts and hydrates crops
Aurora Lantern - Portable light that protects against the Darkness effect

Auroral Snowlette

Use an Aurora Shard on a Snow Golem to create an adorable miniature companion! These tiny pets:

Follow you like a tamed wolf
Can be told to sit
Heals when hit with snowballs
Emits gentle aurora sparkles

Optional Integration

GuideME - In-game guidebook with full documentation

Getting Started

Find a cold biome (snowy plains, frozen peaks, etc.)
Craft a Glacial Basin (Stone + Blue Ice + Iron)
Place it under open sky and wait for an aurora
Gather Frozen Petals from Aurora Blooms
Create Aurora Shards in the basin
Craft Unrefined Shimmersteel (Copper + Iron + Coal)
Refine it in the basin to get Shimmersteel Ingots
Upgrade your iron gear at a Smithing Table!