Shared animation tools
Smooth model and creature animation helpers used by several creature mods.
Citadel Mod – Advanced Animation Library for Minecraft
Citadel Mod is a lightweight Minecraft library built to support advanced entity animations, custom models, and detailed entity properties. It provides the technical framework required by many creature-focused mods, helping them deliver smoother animations, reliable behavior, and more complex in-game features.
What is Citadel Mod?
Citadel Mod does not add one big feature. It is a library: a toolbox of shared code that other mods call on. AlexModGuy, also known as Alexthe666, built it for his own creature and cave mods, and other authors adopted it.
You install it once and several mods use it. That keeps jar files smaller and behavior consistent. If a mod page says "requires Citadel", this is the file it means.
The official project covers Forge and NeoForge from Minecraft 1.16.5 to 1.21.1. Newer or unusual setups, such as Citadel mod Fabric, are covered honestly further down.
Features of Citadel Mod
Config and sync helpers
One common way to store settings and keep client and server matching.
Small footprint
It runs quietly. You will rarely notice it, only the mods built on it.
Client and server
Works in single player and on dedicated servers.
Forge and NeoForge
Official builds for both loaders on the supported versions.
Free to use
Free on CurseForge and Modrinth, made by AlexModGuy.
How Citadel Mod works
Layer 3Your mods: Alex's Mobs, Alex's Caves, Ice and Fire
Layer 2Citadel Mod: shared animation, sync and config code
Layer 1Minecraft Java plus Forge or NeoForge
When the game starts, your mods ask Citadel for the shared tools they need. If layer 2 is missing, layer 3 has nothing to stand on, so Minecraft stops with a missing dependency message.
Installing Citadel Mod
- Pick your Minecraft version (for example 1.20.1) and loader (Forge or NeoForge).
- Download the Citadel file that matches both, using the button on this site.
- Open your .minecraft folder and place the .jar in the mods folder.
- Add the mods that need Citadel, such as Alex's Mobs, to the same folder.
- Launch the game from your Forge or NeoForge profile and check the Mods list.
Use cases
| You are | You need Citadel for |
|---|---|
| A solo player | Alex's Mobs, Alex's Caves or Ice and Fire |
| A server admin | Matching builds on server and players |
| A modpack maker | One shared dependency across many mods |
| A mod developer | Reusing animation and sync code |
Citadel Mod compared with alternatives
| Citadel | GeckoLib | Bundled code | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Shared library for AlexModGuy mods | General animation library | Copied into each mod |
| Separate install | Yes | Yes | No |
| Loaders | Forge, NeoForge | Several | Varies |
| Replaceable | No, mods name it | No, mods name it | n/a |
Libraries are not interchangeable. Install the one your mod lists.
Is Citadel Mod safe?
- Download only from the CurseForge or Modrinth project pages.
- Check that the file name shows your Minecraft version and loader.
- Do not run a jar from a chat link or a re-upload site.
- Back up your world before adding or updating mods.
- This site is unofficial. We host nothing; the button opens CurseForge.
What players tend to report
"Install Citadel first, then the mod that asks for it. The crash screen names it."
"Server and client must run the same build or the join fails."
"Match 1.20.1 files to 1.20.1 worlds and the problems go away."
Paraphrased from common support threads. Replace with real reviews once you collect them.
Citadel Mod FAQ
What is Citadel Mod?
Citadel Mod is a library by AlexModGuy (Alexthe666). It carries shared code that mods such as Alex's Mobs, Alex's Caves and Ice and Fire need to run. It adds almost no content on its own.
Which Minecraft versions does Citadel Mod support?
The official file list covers 1.16.5, 1.17.1, 1.18.2, 1.19.4, 1.20.1 and 1.21.1. Check the mod page for the build that matches your game exactly.
Is there a Citadel mod Fabric version?
No official Fabric build exists. Citadel targets Forge and NeoForge. Community ports for newer versions have appeared, so read each port's page and credits before using one.
Does Citadel mod 1.12.2 exist?
Citadel is not offered for 1.12.2 in the current file list. Old 1.12.2 builds belong to a legacy era, so use a mod that lists 1.12.2 itself, or move to 1.20.1.
Why does my game crash saying Citadel is missing?
A mod you installed depends on Citadel. Add the Citadel file for the same Minecraft version and the same loader, then restart.
Can I use Citadel mod 1.21.11 or 26.1.2?
Not from the official list. The newest official files target 1.21.1, which is not the same as 1.21.11. Wait for an official release rather than forcing a mismatch.
Is Citadel Mod safe?
Download it from the CurseForge link on this site or from Modrinth. Avoid re-uploaded jars on random sites.
Do servers need it too?
Yes. If a server runs a mod that needs Citadel, the server and every player should have the same build.