Ultimate Custom Gear

Ultimate Custom Gear is a data-driven NeoForge mod for Minecraft 1.21.1 that allows server owners, modpack creators, and players to add fully custom armor sets, weapons, and tools — all through simple JSON files. No coding required.

Features

Add custom armor sets with per-piece defense, durability, toughness, and knockback resistance
Add custom weapons and tool sets (sword, pickaxe, axe, shovel, hoe) with custom damage, speed, and mining speed
Per-piece armor effects (e.g., helmet gives Night Vision when worn individually)
Set bonus effects when wearing the full armor set
Held effects per tool (e.g., pickaxe gives Haste, sword gives Strength)
Full multi-language support — define the full item name per language with no format restrictions
Custom textures with a flexible path system, or reuse textures from other mods
JSON files can be organized in any subfolder structure inside .minecraft/customgear/
Compatible with JEI
All items are enchantable with vanilla and modded enchantments
/customgear reload command to reload names, textures, and effects without restarting

Installation

Download and install NeoForge 1.21.1
Place customgear-1.0.0.jar in your mods/ folder
Launch the game once to generate the customgear/ folder inside .minecraft/
Add your JSON files to .minecraft/customgear/
Restart the game

JSON File Structure

All JSON files go inside .minecraft/customgear/. Each file defines one armor set or one tool set. Files can be organized in any subfolder structure you prefer.

Armor Set — Full Example

{
  "id": "my_armor",
  "type": "armor_set",
  "piece_names": {
    "en_us": {
      "helmet": "My Armor Helmet",
      "chestplate": "My Armor Chestplate",
      "leggings": "My Armor Leggings",
      "boots": "My Armor Boots"
    },
    "es_mx": {
      "helmet": "Casco de Mi Armadura",
      "chestplate": "Pechera de Mi Armadura",
      "leggings": "Pantalones de Mi Armadura",
      "boots": "Botas de Mi Armadura"
    },
    "ja_jp": {
      "helmet": "マイアーマーヘルメット",
      "chestplate": "マイアーマーチェストプレート",
      "leggings": "マイアーマーレギンス",
      "boots": "マイアーマーブーツ"
    }
  },
  "pieces": {
    "helmet":     { "durability": 363, "defense": 3, "toughness": 1.0, "knockback_resistance": 0.0 },
    "chestplate": { "durability": 528, "defense": 8, "toughness": 2.0, "knockback_resistance": 0.1 },
    "leggings":   { "durability": 495, "defense": 6, "toughness": 1.5, "knockback_resistance": 0.1 },
    "boots":      { "durability": 429, "defense": 3, "toughness": 1.0, "knockback_resistance": 0.0 }
  },
  "enchantable": true,
  "enchantability": 15,
  "piece_effects": {
    "helmet": [
      { "effect": "minecraft:night_vision", "amplifier": 0 }
    ],
    "chestplate": [
      { "effect": "minecraft:fire_resistance", "amplifier": 0 }
    ],
    "leggings": [
      { "effect": "minecraft:speed", "amplifier": 0 }
    ],
    "boots": [
      { "effect": "minecraft:jump_boost", "amplifier": 0 }
    ]
  },
  "set_bonus": {
    "required_pieces": 4,
    "effects": [
      { "effect": "minecraft:strength", "amplifier": 1 },
      { "effect": "minecraft:resistance", "amplifier": 0 }
    ]
  },
  "texture": {
    "mode": "custom",
    "armor_layers": {
      "layer_1": "models/my_armor/layer_1.png",
      "layer_2": "models/my_armor/layer_2.png"
    },
    "refs": {
      "helmet":     "item/armor/helmet.png",
      "chestplate": "item/armor/chestplate.png",
      "leggings":   "item/armor/leggings.png",
      "boots":      "item/armor/boots.png"
    }
  }
}

Tool Set — Full Example

{
  "id": "my_tools",
  "type": "tool_set",
  "tool_names": {
    "en_us": {
      "pickaxe": "My Pickaxe",
      "axe": "My Axe",
      "shovel": "My Shovel",
      "hoe": "My Hoe",
      "sword": "My Sword"
    },
    "es_mx": {
      "pickaxe": "Mi Pico",
      "axe": "Mi Hacha",
      "shovel": "Mi Pala",
      "hoe": "Mi Azada",
      "sword": "Mi Espada"
    },
    "ja_jp": {
      "pickaxe": "マイピッケル",
      "axe": "マイ斧",
      "shovel": "マイシャベル",
      "hoe": "マイ鍬",
      "sword": "マイソード"
    }
  },
  "tools": {
    "pickaxe": {
      "durability": 8000,
      "attack_damage": 5.0,
      "attack_speed": 1.2,
      "mining_speed": 20.0,
      "harvest_level": 4,
      "held_effects": [
        { "effect": "minecraft:haste", "amplifier": 1 }
      ]
    },
    "axe": {
      "durability": 7000,
      "attack_damage": 8.0,
      "attack_speed": 0.9,
      "mining_speed": 15.0,
      "harvest_level": 4,
      "held_effects": [
        { "effect": "minecraft:strength", "amplifier": 1 }
      ]
    },
    "shovel": {
      "durability": 6000,
      "attack_damage": 4.0,
      "attack_speed": 1.0,
      "mining_speed": 18.0,
      "harvest_level": 4
    },
    "hoe": {
      "durability": 5000,
      "attack_damage": 3.0,
      "attack_speed": 1.0,
      "mining_speed": 16.0,
      "harvest_level": 4,
      "till_radius": 3,
      "held_effects": [
        { "effect": "minecraft:regeneration", "amplifier": 0 }
      ]
    },
    "sword": {
      "durability": 5000,
      "attack_damage": 20.0,
      "attack_speed": 1.6,
      "held_effects": [
        { "effect": "minecraft:strength", "amplifier": 2 }
      ]
    }
  },
  "enchantable": true,
  "enchantability": 22,
  "texture": {
    "mode": "custom",
    "refs": {
      "pickaxe": "item/tools/pickaxe.png",
      "axe":     "item/tools/axe.png",
      "shovel":  "item/tools/shovel.png",
      "hoe":     "item/tools/hoe.png",
      "sword":   "item/tools/sword.png"
    }
  }
}

Individual Tool - Full Example

{
  "id": "my_sword",
  "type": "sword",
  "name": {
    "en_us": "My Custom Sword",
    "es_mx": "Mi Espada Personalizada"
  },
  "durability": 1561,
  "attack_damage": 5.0,
  "attack_damage_bonus": 3.0,
  "attack_speed": 1.6,
  "enchantable": true,
  "enchantability": 10,
  "held_effects": [
    { "effect": "minecraft:strength", "amplifier": 1 }
  ],
  "texture": {
    "mode": "custom",
    "refs": {
      "sword": "item/weapons/my_sword.png"
    }
  }
}

Field Reference

Common Fields

Field	Type	Description
`id`	String	Unique identifier. Lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores only.
`type`	String	`armor_set`, `tool_set`, or individual tool types (`sword`, `pickaxe`, etc.)
`name`	Map	Full item name per language (only for individual tools)
`enchantable`	Boolean	Whether the item can be enchanted
`enchantability`	Int	Higher = better enchantments. Iron = 9, Gold = 25, Diamond = 10

Armor Fields

Field	Type	Description
`pieces`	Map	Defines each armor piece. Keys: `helmet`, `chestplate`, `leggings`, `boots`
`pieces.durability`	Int	Durability of this piece
`pieces.defense`	Int	Armor points this piece provides
`pieces.toughness`	Float	Armor toughness per piece. Netherite = 3.0
`pieces.knockback_resistance`	Float	Knockback resistance. Max is 1.0 (full resistance)
`piece_names`	Map	Full name for each piece per language. Each language defines all four pieces independently.
`piece_effects`	Map	Effects applied when a specific piece is worn individually
`set_bonus`	Object	Effects applied when the required number of pieces are worn
`set_bonus.required_pieces`	Int	Number of pieces needed to activate the bonus
`set_bonus.effects`	List	List of effects to apply when set is complete

Tool Fields

Field	Type	Description
`tools`	Map	Defines each tool. Keys: `pickaxe`, `axe`, `shovel`, `hoe`, `sword`
`tools.durability`	Int	Durability of this tool
`tools.attack_damage`	Float	Bonus attack damage
`tools.attack_damage_bonus`	Float	Additional weapon damage (bonus). Added to `attack_damage`
`tools.attack_speed`	Float	Attack speed. Standard sword = 1.6
`tools.mining_speed`	Float	Mining speed. Netherite = 9.0, Diamond = 8.0
`tools.harvest_level`	Int	0=Wood, 1=Stone, 2=Iron, 3=Diamond, 4=Netherite
`tools.held_effects`	List	Effects applied when this specific tool is held in hand
`tools.till_radius`	Int	(Hoe only) Radius of blocks to till around the target block. 0 = no area tilling
`tool_names`	Map	Full name for each tool type per language. Each language defines all tools independently.

Attack Damage Explanation

attack_damage: Weapon's base attack damage.
attack_damage_bonus: Additional damage that is added to attack_damage.

Note: For reference, vanilla tools:

Wooden Sword: 4.0 attack damage
Stone Sword: 5.0 attack damage
Iron Sword: 6.0 attack damage
Diamond Sword: 7.0 attack damage
Netherite Sword: 8.0 attack damage

Effect Object

Field	Type	Description
`effect`	String	Effect ID in `namespace:effect_name` format (e.g. `minecraft:strength`)
`amplifier`	Int	Effect level minus 1. `0` = Level I, `1` = Level II, etc.

Texture Fields

Field	Type	Description
`texture.mode`	String	`default`, `custom`, or `reference`
`texture.refs`	Map	Texture path per piece/tool. For `custom`: relative path from `.minecraft/customgear/`. For `reference`: resource location from another mod.
`texture.armor_layers`	Map	Layer textures for the armor model (`layer_1`, `layer_2`). Required for `custom` and `reference` modes. If omitted in `custom` mode, the JSON will be rejected with an error message. In `default` mode, this field is ignored.

Texture Modes

`default`

Uses iron armor/tool textures as placeholders. Good for testing.

"texture": {
  "mode": "default"
}

`custom`

Uses your own PNG files. All paths in refs and armor_layers are relative to .minecraft/customgear/.

For armor sets, you must provide:

armor_layers: Layer textures for the armor model
refs: Individual texture paths for each armor piece

"texture": {
  "mode": "custom",
  "armor_layers": {
    "layer_1": "models/my_armor/layer_1.png",
    "layer_2": "models/my_armor/layer_2.png"
  },
  "refs": {
    "helmet":     "item/armor/helmet.png",
    "chestplate": "item/armor/chestplate.png",
    "leggings":   "item/armor/leggings.png",
    "boots":      "item/armor/boots.png"
  }
}

For tool sets, one PNG per tool:

refs: Individual texture paths for each tool

"texture": {
  "mode": "custom",
  "refs": {
    "pickaxe": "item/tools/pickaxe.png",
    "axe":     "item/tools/axe.png",
    "shovel":  "item/tools/shovel.png",
    "hoe":     "item/tools/hoe.png",
    "sword":   "item/tools/sword.png"
  }
}

Example file structure:

.minecraft/customgear/
├── models/
│   └── my_armor/
│       ├── layer_1.png
│       └── layer_2.png
├── item/
│   ├── armor/
│   │   ├── helmet.png
│   │   ├── chestplate.png
│   │   ├── leggings.png
│   │   └── boots.png
│   └── tools/
│       ├── pickaxe.png
│       ├── axe.png
│       ├── shovel.png
│       ├── hoe.png
│       └── sword.png
├── armor1.json
├── tool1.json
└── json/
    ├── armor2.json
    ├── armors/
    │   └── armor3.json
    └── tools/
        └── tool2.json

JSON files can be placed in any subfolder — CustomGear scans all subfolders automatically.

`reference`

Reuses textures from another installed mod. All refs must use the full resource location (modid:path/to/texture).

For tool sets:

"texture": {
  "mode": "reference",
  "refs": {
    "pickaxe": "othermod:item/mytool/pickaxe",
    "axe":     "othermod:item/mytool/axe",
    "shovel":  "othermod:item/mytool/shovel",
    "hoe":     "othermod:item/mytool/hoe",
    "sword":   "othermod:item/mytool/sword"
  }
}

For armor sets:

"texture": {
  "mode": "reference",
  "refs": {
    "helmet":     "othermod:item/myarmor/helmet",
    "chestplate": "othermod:item/myarmor/chestplate",
    "leggings":   "othermod:item/myarmor/leggings",
    "boots":      "othermod:item/myarmor/boots"
  },
  "armor_layers": {
    "layer_1": "othermod:textures/models/armor/myarmor_layer_1",
    "layer_2": "othermod:textures/models/armor/myarmor_layer_2"
  }
}

Note: To find the correct resource location for a texture from another mod, open the mod's .jar file (it's a ZIP) and navigate to assets/<modid>/textures/. The resource location follows the pattern modid:path/within/textures/folder without the .png extension for reference mode.

Effect IDs — Common Vanilla Effects

Effect	ID
Speed	`minecraft:speed`
Haste	`minecraft:haste`
Strength	`minecraft:strength`
Jump Boost	`minecraft:jump_boost`
Regeneration	`minecraft:regeneration`
Resistance	`minecraft:resistance`
Fire Resistance	`minecraft:fire_resistance`
Night Vision	`minecraft:night_vision`
Water Breathing	`minecraft:water_breathing`
Invisibility	`minecraft:invisibility`
Slow Falling	`minecraft:slow_falling`
Health Boost	`minecraft:health_boost`
Luck	`minecraft:luck`

Effects from other mods also work — use their ID in modid:effect_name format.

Commands

Command	Permission	Description
`/customgear reload`	OP level 2	Reloads all JSON files and textures without restarting

What the reload command updates

Item names
Textures
Held effects (weapons and tools)
Piece effects and set bonuses (armor)
Durability display

What requires a full game restart

Attack damage and attack speed
Armor defense, toughness, and knockback resistance
Mining speed and harvest level
Adding new items (new JSON files)
Removing existing items (deleted JSON files)
Changing item IDs

Adding Recipes

CustomGear does not add crafting recipes by default. To add recipes, use KubeJS or a similar mod. Item IDs follow the pattern:

Armor: customgear:my_armor_helmet, customgear:my_armor_chestplate, etc.
Tools: customgear:my_tools_pickaxe, customgear:my_tools_sword, etc.

Compatibility

Minecraft 1.21.1
NeoForge 21.1.x
JEI (optional, recommended)
Compatible with KubeJS for recipes
Modded enchantments work automatically on enchantable items
Textures from any installed mod can be referenced with reference mode

License

MIT License — see LICENSE file for details.