X-ray tools are commonly used in Minecraft to locate valuable resources like ores and hidden chests by letting players see through blocks. While some use it for harmless fun in single-player mode, X-ray cheats can ruin multiplayer experiences by giving certain players an unfair advantage. To maintain fairness and balance on multiplayer servers, many administrators use Anti-Xray measures. In this article, we’ll cover how Anti-Xray works, the best Anti-Xray mods and plugins, and strategies to prevent X-ray bypassing on servers.

What is Anti-Xray in Minecraft?

Anti-Xray refers to tools, mods, or plugins that server administrators use to prevent players from using X-ray cheats or resource packs to see through blocks and gain an unfair advantage. By deploying Anti-Xray, server owners can protect their economies, maintain competitive fairness, and stop cheaters from mining valuable resources with minimal effort.

Without Anti-Xray measures, players using X-ray mods or resource packs can quickly locate and mine diamonds, gold, and other resources, which disrupts gameplay and gives cheaters an unfair edge.

How Anti-Xray Works

Anti-Xray systems work by either obfuscating (hiding) blocks or blocking the effects of X-ray cheats, so even if a player tries to use X-ray, they won’t be able to distinguish between real and fake valuable blocks. Depending on the server type and the software being used, there are different methods to stop X-ray from being effective:

  1. Obfuscation: Anti-Xray plugins will hide valuable blocks like ores behind dummy blocks. These dummy blocks only become visible when they are mined, ensuring that X-ray users cannot detect ores through walls.
  2. Proximity Detection: Some Anti-Xray systems detect unusual mining patterns, like players directly mining toward hidden ores or skipping over common blocks to reach diamonds, and then flag or ban those players.
  3. World Generation Changes: Anti-Xray mods or plugins may alter world generation to make ores less predictable or use false ores to confuse X-ray users.
  4. Blocking X-ray Resource Packs: Servers can detect and prevent the use of resource packs designed to make all blocks transparent except for ores.

Anti-Xray Plugins for Minecraft Servers

For server administrators running Paper or Spigot Minecraft servers, Anti-Xray plugins are a must-have. These plugins help ensure that all players are mining fairly by blocking the effects of X-ray cheats.

1. Paper Anti-Xray

If you’re running a Paper Minecraft server, the Anti-Xray feature is built directly into the Paper software, making it one of the best options for managing a large player base. Paper’s Anti-Xray plugin obfuscates block types to hide valuable ores from X-ray users.

How to Enable Anti-Xray on Paper:

  1. Open the paper.yml file in your server folder.
  2. Find the Anti-Xray settings under the anti-xray section.
  3. Set the mode to 1 or 2 depending on your preference:
    • Mode 1: Blocks are hidden unless they are directly visible.
    • Mode 2: Blocks are obfuscated until they are mined.

This built-in tool makes it easy for Paper server owners to prevent X-ray cheats without installing additional plugins.

2. Orebfuscator

Orebfuscator is a widely used Anti-Xray plugin that works on both Paper and Spigot servers. It is highly configurable and provides advanced obfuscation to hide ores from X-ray mods and resource packs.

Key Features of Orebfuscator:

  • Block obfuscation to hide ores and valuable blocks.
  • Customizable settings to choose which blocks to hide and how aggressive the obfuscation is.
  • Low performance impact, making it a good choice for large servers.

Orebfuscator is considered one of the best standalone Anti-Xray plugins, with flexibility to suit the needs of different server types.

3. Xray Detector

Xray Detector is another effective plugin that works by detecting players who are mining in suspicious ways, like mining directly to valuable ores without exploring nearby blocks. This plugin is great for catching players who are trying to bypass obfuscation techniques.

Key Features of Xray Detector:

  • Detects unusual mining patterns and flags potential X-ray users.
  • Sends alerts to administrators about suspicious activity.
  • Configurable thresholds to reduce false positives.

This plugin works well when combined with other Anti-Xray methods for an extra layer of protection.

Anti-Xray Mods for Fabric and Forge

For servers running Fabric or Forge, Anti-Xray mods can be installed to protect against cheating. These mods are less common than plugins but still offer effective protection.

1. AntiXray (Fabric)

The AntiXray mod for Fabric is designed to protect against X-ray cheats by hiding or replacing ores with fake blocks. It works similarly to the Paper Anti-Xray plugin but is tailored for Fabric servers.

Key Features of AntiXray for Fabric:

  • Obfuscation of ores and valuable blocks.
  • Customizable settings to control how ores are hidden.
  • Lightweight and compatible with other Fabric mods.

This mod is ideal for server owners who prefer Fabric modding over Bukkit or Paper plugins.

2. OreSpy (Forge)

For Forge servers, OreSpy is a mod that detects and prevents X-ray users from abusing the server’s economy. OreSpy tracks mining patterns and flags suspicious players for further investigation.

Key Features of OreSpy:

  • Detection of suspicious mining behavior, including straight tunnels to valuable ores.
  • Automatic notifications to admins when X-ray users are suspected.
  • Integration with other mods to keep servers secure.

Preventing X-ray Bypassing

As Anti-Xray measures become more sophisticated, so do X-ray mods and cheats designed to bypass these protections. Here are some tips for preventing X-ray bypassing on your server:

  1. Regularly Update Your Anti-Xray Plugins/Mods: X-ray mods are constantly evolving, so make sure your Anti-Xray tools are up to date with the latest Minecraft versions.
  2. Combine Multiple Anti-Cheat Tools: Relying on only one Anti-Xray tool might not be enough. Consider combining obfuscation plugins with behavior detection systems to create a layered defense.
  3. Active Admin Monitoring: Even with Anti-Xray in place, having active admins who monitor player activity and investigate suspicious behavior is important for keeping your server cheat-free.
  4. Encourage Reporting: Create a reporting system where players can report others they suspect of using X-ray cheats. This helps catch cheaters early and maintain a fair environment.

Conclusion

X-ray cheats can ruin the experience on Minecraft multiplayer servers, making Anti-Xray mods and plugins essential for maintaining fairness. Whether you’re running a Paper, Spigot, Fabric, or Forge server, there are numerous Anti-Xray tools available to stop cheaters in their tracks. By employing a combination of obfuscation, behavior detection, and regular updates, you can keep your Minecraft server safe and enjoyable for all players.