

Skill Engine
Skill Engine is not a standalone progression mod.
It does not add gameplay, attributes, or abilities by itself.
Instead, Skill Engine is a framework designed to let other mods create their own highly customizable skill trees, complete with:
- Node unlocking
- Attribute requirements
- Custom icons
- Skill point handling
- Server synchronization
- Requirements & tooltips
- Interaction with other progression systems (like Ascend)
If you're looking for a mod that adds skills, this is not it.
If you are a developer who wants to add skill trees to your mod without reinventing everything, Skill Engine is exactly what you need.
Features
JSON-driven Skill Tree System
Mods can register their own skill nodes simply by adding JSON files under:
data/<yourmodid>/skillnodes/*.json
Automatic Node Rendering
Nodes are positioned, displayed, zoomed, panned, and drawn automatically in the Skill Tree GUI.
Icons Support
Use your own textures or vanilla item textures as node icons.
Requirements System
Nodes can specify:
- Linked nodes
- Prerequisite attributes
- Skill costs
- Custom tags
The UI automatically displays requirements in tooltips and overlays.
Unlock Logic & Sync
Unlocking is fully handled server-side and synced to the client.
Full API Support
Skill Engine includes a public API class that allows other mods to:
- Give skill points
- Unlock skill nodes
- Check unlock state
- Access player skill data
- Register or reference nodes
How to Use Skill Engine in Your Mod
Skill Engine is designed to be extremely easy to integrate.
1. Add Skill Engine as a Dependency
In your mods.toml:
[[dependencies.yourmodid]]
modId="skillengine"
type="required"
versionRange="[1.0.0,)"
In your Gradle build:
implementation fg.deobf("net.fretux.skillengine:SkillEngine:<version>")
2. Create Your Skill Nodes (JSON)
Example:
{
"title": "Basic Strength",
"description": "You feel your muscles tighten.",
"cost": 1,
"position": { "x": -150.0, "y": -50.0 },
"links": ["skillengine:welcome"],
"tags": ["yourmodid:strength_1"],
"icons": "minecraft:textures/item/iron_sword.png",
"prerequisites": {
"strength": 10,
"agility": 5
}
}
Place this in:
data/yourmodid/skillnodes/basic_strength.json
Skill Engine will automatically detect it and add it to the tree.
3. Use the API in Your Code
Skill Engine exposes a simple API:
SkillEngineAPI.unlockNode(player, SkillEngineAPI.rl("yourmodid", "basic_strength"));
SkillEngineAPI.addSkillPoints(player, 3);
boolean unlocked = SkillEngineAPI.isUnlocked(player, SkillEngineAPI.id("welcome"));
You can interact with the system without touching internal classes.
Skill Engine does nothing by itself.
It does not add a skill tree or abilities on its own.
You only need this mod if:
- A mod you play depends on Skill Engine
- You want to install addons that create skill trees
- Edition: Minecraft Java
- File type: .jar
- Minecraft version listed: 1.20.1
- How to install: Install the matching mod loader (Forge, Fabric or NeoForge) for your Minecraft version. → Download the .jar. → Put it in the .minecraft/mods folder and launch that loader profile.
- Where to get it: Opens on Modrinth — not every file is mirrored on our own servers.
Install steps are the general flow for this file type — How to install Minecraft Java mods & modpacks walks through it step by step.
- Ships as skillengine-1.4.6.jar — drop this file into the mods folder
- Download size: 113 KB
- Download link checked 5 Sept 2026 — working
These come from our own check of the pack file, not from the source page.