If you want your Minecraft to look much better but your PC cannot handle heavy shader packs, this setup is for you.
The main thing we are going to use is Re-Shaded, a resource pack that creates shader-like effects using textures and colors. It does not work like a normal shader that makes your GPU calculate all the lighting in real time, which is why the performance cost is so much lower.
And the cool thing is that Re-Shaded is only the starting point. You can combine it with other resource packs, sky packs, and a few mods to make Minecraft look much better without turning your game into a slideshow.
Re-Shaded
First, you need Re-Shaded.
Re-Shaded is a resource pack that gives Minecraft a shader-like look by changing how textures and colors are rendered. If you are using Sodium, Re-Shaded also supports Sodium through Sodium Core Shader Support. The Re-Shaded 1.4 release shown in the video supports Minecraft 1.21.6–1.21.10 and lists Sodium Core Shader Support as an optional dependency.
Download Re-Shaded on Modrinth
If you are using Fabric with Sodium, you will need Sodium Core Shader Support. This mod allows compatible resource packs to replace Sodium’s core shaders, and Re-Shaded is specifically listed as one of the supported packs.
For the 1.21.6–1.21.8 setup, the version I used was Sodium Core Shader Support 1.4.3, which is made for Sodium 0.7.3. Make sure you download the version that matches your Minecraft and Sodium versions.
Download Sodium Core Shader Support on Modrinth
You may also see a warning saying that the resource pack is incompatible with Sodium. Don’t panic. The Sodium Core Shader Support page explains that this warning can appear even when a resource pack actually supports Sodium’s core shaders. If Re-Shaded works normally, you can simply ignore the warning.
Add Another Texture Pack
Now this is where things get more interesting.
You don’t have to use Re-Shaded by itself. You can put another resource pack underneath it and use Re-Shaded to add the shader-like effects on top.
One of my favorite combinations is Pixel Perfection Legacy. It’s a 16x pack that keeps Minecraft’s style while giving everything a completely different look. It also supports the newer Minecraft versions, including 1.21.x.
Download Pixel Perfection Legacy on Modrinth
You can also try Yuushya 16x, Quadral, Nature X, or Whimscape.
They all give Minecraft a different style, so you can choose whichever one you like. Personally, I really like how Pixel Perfection and Whimscape look with Re-Shaded.
Just keep in mind that some packs can look a little too saturated with Re-Shaded. So try a few and see which one fits your style.
A note about Nature X
Nature X is a little different because it uses extra features that need mods. Its Modrinth page says it requires Sodium, Continuity, and Polytone, with Fabric API also needed for those components.
For 1.21.8, Polytone has a Fabric version available, and Continuity has a Fabric 1.21.6–1.21.8 release.
So if you want to use Nature X, make sure you install those supporting mods too.
Make the Sky Better
The next thing you can change is the sky.
Dramatic Skys is made specifically to improve Minecraft’s skies, and the creator says it can be placed over other resource packs. It is also designed to be performance friendly.
Download Dramatic Skys on Modrinth
But personally, I like Story Mode Clouds more with this setup.
It replaces the normal Minecraft clouds with the clouds from Minecraft Story Mode while still keeping the rest of the game looking normal. It is compatible with Minecraft 1.21.2–1.21.11 and has Sodium compatibility.
Download Story Mode Clouds on Modrinth
You don’t need both. Just use whichever sky you like more.
Make the Mobs Look Alive
Now we can start adding some animations.
For the mobs, use Fresh Animations.
Fresh Animations adds much more detailed animations to Minecraft’s mobs, but it needs some supporting mods if you’re using the Fabric setup.
The pack recommends Entity Model Features (EMF) and Entity Texture Features (ETF).
Download Fresh Animations on Modrinth
Entity Model Features handles the custom entity models, while Entity Texture Features adds the custom and animated texture features that these resource packs use. EMF requires ETF.
Download Entity Model Features on Modrinth
Download Entity Texture Features on Modrinth
Give Your Character Better Animations
You can do the same thing with your own character using Fresh Moves.
Fresh Moves gives your character better walking, running, sneaking, swimming, sleeping, and other animations. The 1.21.3 version shown in the video specifically says that EMF and ETF are required, so make sure you have both installed before trying to use it.
Download Fresh Moves on Modrinth
If you already installed EMF and ETF for Fresh Animations, you don’t need to install them again. Fresh Moves can use the same mods.
Add Some Extra Details
Now we can start adding a few smaller mods to improve the overall experience.
Continuity is great if you want connected textures. It allows resource packs that use OptiFine-style connected textures to work without OptiFine. The 1.21.6–1.21.8 Fabric version requires Fabric API.
Download Continuity on Modrinth
You can also use Simple HUD Enhanced if you want a cleaner and more customizable HUD. The 1.21.8 version requires Fabric API, while Cloth Config is included with the mod.
Download Simple HUD Enhanced on Modrinth
And if you want your skin to look better, 3D Skin Layers turns the second layer of your Minecraft skin into actual 3D parts. The 1.21.8 Fabric version requires Fabric API.
Download 3D Skin Layers on Modrinth
Make Third Person Look Better
If you want to make third-person gameplay look more cinematic, there are two mods I used in the video.
Smooth Third Person Camera makes the camera movement smoother when you’re in third person. It is a client-side mod and has Fabric, Forge, and NeoForge versions.
Download Smooth Third Person Camera on Modrinth
Then there is Shoulder Surfing Reloaded. This gives you a much more configurable third-person camera, including an over-the-shoulder view and free-look features.
For Minecraft 1.21.8 Fabric, there is a dedicated 4.14.x release.
Download Shoulder Surfing Reloaded on Modrinth
Add Enhanced Visuals
If you want even more effects, you can also use EnhancedVisuals.
This adds visual effects to the HUD to make things like damage and environmental effects feel more immersive.
For Minecraft 1.21.8 Fabric, the version I found requires Fabric API and CreativeCore. This also matches the setup shown in your screenshot, where CreativeCore and EnhancedVisuals are both installed.
Download EnhancedVisuals on Modrinth
Download CreativeCore on Modrinth
My Setup
If you don’t want to install everything, you don’t have to.
The basic setup is:
Re-Shaded for the shader-like effects.
Then add Pixel Perfection, Whimscape, or another texture pack for the overall style.
Add Story Mode Clouds for the sky.
Then use Fresh Animations and Fresh Moves if you want better animations.
After that, you can add Continuity, Simple HUD Enhanced, 3D Skin Layers, EnhancedVisuals, Smooth Third Person Camera, and Shoulder Surfing Reloaded for the extra details.
You don’t need every single mod here. Pick the ones you actually like.
And keep in mind that every mod has to match your Minecraft version and mod loader. The versions on Modrinth change over time, so don’t just download the newest file without checking that it supports your version.
Some of these mods also need supporting mods to work, so you might have to try a few combinations before everything works correctly.
That’s why I put all the downloads and supporting mods here, so you don’t have to search for everything yourself.
Quick download list
Re-Shaded · Sodium Core Shader Support · Pixel Perfection Legacy · Story Mode Clouds
Fresh Animations · Fresh Moves · Entity Model Features · Entity Texture Features
Continuity · Simple HUD Enhanced · 3D Skin Layers · EnhancedVisuals
Smooth Third Person Camera · Shoulder Surfing Reloaded · Distant Horizons
One important correction from the video: I would not write that Distant Horizons is definitely incompatible with Re-Shaded. The current Modrinth pages don’t establish that clearly enough. Calling it optional/experimental with this setup is safer and more accurate.