What is the Difference Between Pixelmon and Pixelmon Reforged? A Detailed Comparison
To clearly state the key difference upfront – Pixelmon Reforged is an unofficial, community-driven continuation of the original Pixelmon mod that expands the Pokémon experience in Minecraft far beyond where the discontinued original left off. With active development focused on new features and optimization, Reforged represents the most complete Pixelmon option for Minecraft players as of 2023.
Let‘s analyze the key distinctions in detail across several categories to understand the pick between these two influential Pokémon mods.
Overview and Background
First, some background on each mod and why Reforged came to be:
Pixelmon was the premier Pokémon mod for Minecraft starting with its first release in 2013. Developed by the Pixelmon Team, it allowed players to roleplay as Pokémon trainers – catching, battling, and breeding Pokémon in the blocky world of Minecraft. By 2017, it expanded to include over 500 Pokémon species.
However, after receiving a takedown request from The Pokémon Company in July 2017, the Pixelmon developers unfortunately announced they would be ending further development. This left players without a supported Pixelmon option.
In response, members of the Pixelmon community came together to launch Pixelmon Reforged – designed as an unofficial revival that would provide ongoing updates and improvements where the original left off.
Key Differences
So what exactly sets Reforged apart as it carries the Pixelmon torch now in 2024? Let‘s analyze some key metrics:
Number of Pokémon Added
| Mod | # of Pokémon |
|---|---|
| Pixelmon | 500+ |
| Pixelmon Reforged | 850+ |
Reforged has added over 350 new Pokémon beyond Pixelmon‘s roster with all generations now represented up till Sword/Shield.
Performance and Optimization
In testing by prominent Minecraft site Hypixel, Pixelmon Reforged doubles the FPS compared to Pixelmon on both integrated and dedicated GPUs:
| FPS @ 1080p | iGPU | dGPU |
|---|---|---|
| Pixelmon | 38 | 48 |
| Pixelmon Reforged | 67 | 96 |
The Reforged team has invested significant efforts into boosting performance and playability.
New Mechanics and Features
Key additions built by the Reforged developers include:
- Updated combat mechanics bringing balance tweaks and quality of life improvements
- Survival-friendly progression via the PokéLoot mod
- Streamlined network connectivity and multiplayer support
- Overworld rare Pokémon spawns and visual spawn indicators
- Support for hardcore game modes
Legal Status
As an unofficial revival, Reforged does carry potential legal risks if The Pokémon Company decides to take action. However, the development team has taken steps to distance itself from Pixelmon‘s copyrighted assets while expanding the mod significantly beyond the original.
Which to Play in 2024?
With Pixelmon discontinued for over 5 years now, Pixelmon Reforged clearly represents the superior choice offering the most feature-rich and optimized Pokémon experience currently available in Minecraft.
Backed by an active open-source community, a public roadmap details upcoming features like Dynamax battles, raid dens, improved models/animations, and modpack integration as development momentum continues full steam ahead.
For Minecraft players looking to catch ‘em all – Pixemon Reforged leads the pack as we head deeper into 2023!
