Build Better

Build Better lets you focus on how you want to build things, not fiddling with minecrafts default build UI. Client Side, Build Better gives you more control over block placement and let's you see where and how blocks will be placed before you place them. Preview, adjust orientation, and nudge position precisely with free placement mode.

Create Issues: On Github

Inspired by:

• Effortless Building ...no updates for a while ::sad face::
• Tweakeroo ... and literally everything Masa makes.
• Satisfactory They know how to make a game playable.

Features

Placement Preview

• Shows a "ghost block" where you're pointing so you know where you're about to place it.
• Block-specific placement rules for stair variants, fences, hopper direction... basically everything. so you can see what you'll get when you place it.
• Falling blocks like sand show where they'll actually land--even scaffolding.
• If you cannot place the block, the preview turns red and shows a warning icon.

Four Placement Modes

Press B to cycle between modes, or hold B to open a selection screen.

• Vanilla — No preview, standard Minecraft placement.
• Preview — Always-on ghost block preview. The mod default mode.
• Hold to Preview — Preview appears while holding right-click. Release to place.
• Click and Release — First click shows the preview, second click confirms placement.

Control Orientation

Ctrl+Scroll cycles through valid property values for the block you're holding — stair facing, slab half, log axis, glazed terracotta direction, and more. The preview updates in real-time so you can see the result before placing.

For blocks with multiple properties, Ctrl+Shift+Scroll switches which property you're cycling. Only build related properties are shown.

Hold Modes

Press H to activate the current hold mode, or hold H to open a hold mode selection screen. Three modes are available:

• Nudge — Lock the preview in place and nudge it with arrow keys and Page Up/Page Down. Movement is camera-relative. Right-click to place at the held position. Works across all placement modes. In creative mode, free placement has unlimited range. In survival, placement is limited to your normal block interaction range.
• Shapes (Creative only) — Select two corners to define a volume, then generate a shape. 10 shape types are available:
  • Cubish — Box with Keep, Replace, Hollow, and Frame fill modes.
  • Sphereish — Ellipsoid with Keep, Replace, and Hollow fill modes.
  • Cylinderish — Cylinder/elliptic cylinder with Keep, Replace, Hollow, and Tube fill modes. Configurable axis.
  • Cone — Cone with Keep, Replace, Hollow, and Shell fill modes. Configurable axis.
  • Dome — Half-sphere with Y, X, or Z orientation variants.
  • Pyramid — Pyramid with Keep, Replace, Hollow, Shell, and Frame fill modes.
  • Wedge — Wedge/ramp with North, South, East, West direction variants.
  • Parabolic Arch — Arch with Standard, Steep, and Wide variants. Surface fill mode for arch walls.
  • Semicircular Arch — Round arch with Semicircle, Segmental, and Flat variants. Configurable axis.
  • Pointed Arch — Gothic-style arch with Equilateral, Lancet, and Steep Lancet variants. Configurable axis.
  • Most shapes support Free and Perfect sizing variants. Use scroll to cycle shapes, Ctrl+Scroll for fill mode, Alt+Scroll for variant, and Shift+Scroll for axis.
  • Nudge corners with arrow keys, or Ctrl+Arrows to move the entire shape.
• Pattern (Creative only) — Create, repeat, and fill patterns. Use Ctrl+Scroll to switch between sub-modes:
  • Create — Select two corners to capture a region of blocks as a reusable pattern.
  • Repeat — Tile a saved pattern outward from a starting point. Nudge extends by one full pattern copy at a time.
  • Fill — Tile a saved pattern across a two-corner volume, with fill mode control (Keep, Replace, Hollow).
  • Rotate — Scroll to rotate patterns 90/180/270 degrees. Directional blocks (stairs, logs, etc.) rotate correctly.
  • Mirror — Shift+Scroll to mirror patterns on X, Z, or both axes.

Shapes and Pattern modes are only available in creative mode. In survival, they appear disabled in the selection screen.

Build Plane

Press J to lock placement and breaking to a specific axis-aligned plane. Use Alt+Scroll to shift the plane level. Useful for building floors, walls, or ceilings at a consistent height without accidentally placing blocks above or below.

Block Randomization

Hold a block and press Ctrl+Alt+Scroll to add it to a randomizer group with configurable ratios (e.g., 70% stone, 20% cobble, 10% andesite). Works with all placement modes including shapes and patterns.

Feedback Welcomed, Here

Controls

Key	Action
B (tap)	Cycle placement mode
B (hold)	Open mode selection screen
H (tap)	Activate current hold mode
H (hold)	Open hold mode selection screen
J	Toggle build plane
Alt+Scroll	Shift build plane level
Arrow Keys	Nudge held preview / corners (camera-relative)
Ctrl+Arrows	Move entire shape / pattern (when second corner is locked)
Page Up / Page Down	Nudge held preview up / down
Ctrl+Scroll	Cycle block property value / fill mode / pattern sub-mode
Ctrl+Shift+Scroll	Switch active property
Scroll	Cycle shape type (during Shapes) / rotate pattern (during Pattern Repeat) / fill mode (during Pattern Fill)
Alt+Scroll	Cycle shape variant / saved pattern (in Pattern mode)
Shift+Scroll	Cycle shape axis (during Shapes) / mirror pattern (during Pattern)
Right-Click	Place / fill / save pattern
Left-Click	Clear volume (Shapes / Pattern Fill)
Esc	Cancel active operation

All keybindings are remappable in Minecraft's controls settings.

Compatibility

• Minecraft: 1.21.1-11
• Fabric: Requires Fabric API
• NeoForge: Standalone
• Sodium: Compatible
• Side: Client only — no server installation needed
• Mod Menu: Supported (Fabric) — access settings from the mod list