Lag!
๐ Lag Causes & Fixes
For Vanilla & Performance-Oriented Minecraft Servers
Lag can creep in from many anglesโCPU overload, entities piling up, or just poorly tuned configs. This guide covers common issues and real fixes, including modern plugins, server forks, and custom tools we recommend at Revitalize.
๐ Types of Lag
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TPS Lag โ Caused by server overload (slow ticks, stutters, redstone, mobs, etc.)
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Network Lag โ Caused by high ping, poor routing, or DDoS (see our protection tips).
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FPS Lag โ On the client. Not your job, but players may blame you.
โ๏ธ Real-World Lag Causes & Fixes
Issue | Description | Fix |
---|---|---|
๐ Mob Overload | Too many animals, villagers, or hostile mobs. | Use FarmLimiter, limit breed rate, or reduce activation range. |
๐ Hoppers & Redstone | Constantly ticking hoppers or loops. | Limit hoppers, use hopper.disable-move-event , and plugins like RedstoneClockPreventer. |
๐ฃ TNT & Block Updates | Big explosions or fast updates cause spikes. | Limit explosion radius or use TNTLimiter. |
๐งฑ Chunk Load Lag | Runtime chunk gen causes huge spikes. | Pre-generate your world with Chunky or FAWB. |
๐ช Economy/Scoreboard Plugins | Badly written plugins ticking constantly. | Use /spark or /timings to hunt down the offenders. |
๐ฆ Too Many Plugins | More isnโt better if theyโre unoptimized. | Audit your plugin listโless is more. |
๐งช Modern Optimization Tools
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Spark โ Real-time profiling. Shows tick usage, memory, and plugin impact.
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Timings โ Good for historical lag detection. Use
/timings on
+/timings paste
. -
LagAssist (optional) โ Combo plugin with performance alerts, anti-xray, and more.
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FarmLimiter โ Automatically caps mob farms, villagers, and entities by region.
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Chunky โ Best tool for safe, modern pre-generation of your world (works with Nether/End).
๐งต Advanced Server Forks (We've Used These!)
Fork | Purpose | Why Use It |
---|---|---|
Paper | Performance base | Solid default with tons of patches |
Pufferfish | Tick optimization | Async pathfinding, faster redstone, etc. |
Purpur | Extra customization | Control mob AI, hopper speeds, etc. |
Folia (experimental) | Multithreaded region ticking | High performance, but use with caution |
Universal (Yiveโs Mirror) | Custom builds | Often include tweaks for massive servers |
๐ก We specialize in assisting communities tackle lag. Let us help, seriously!
๐ Custom Solutions & Tips
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๐พ Auto-Restarts + Backups โ Use schedules in your panel to restart during off-hours.
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๐ TCPShield or NeoProtect โ Protect your backend from DDoS and force routed access.
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๐ IP Locking for Bungee/Velocity โ Always firewall your backend servers to only allow proxy access.
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๐ฆ Minimal Plugin Stack โ Use only what you need, and test performance after each addition.
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๐ Store World in a RAM Disk (if your host allows it) โ Speeds up chunk reads/writes significantly.
๐งผ Housekeeping Tips
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Pre-gen your world before launch
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Restart daily, or at least every 12โ24 hours
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Disable fire spread and TNT chain reactions if unnecessary
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Set simulation distance to 4โ6
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Avoid giving players unrestricted access to redstone, pistons, etc.
๐ฃ๏ธ Still Lagging? Talk to Us โ Weโll Take Care of You
Sometimes, no amount of tweaking can make up for raw horsepower or scaling needs... and thatโs okay. If you've followed the steps above and you'reย still experiencing lag, it might be time for a server upgrade or a different configuration that better fits your setup.
๐ฌ Reach out to a Revitalize staff member anytime. We'll review your server, help analyze what's going on and recommend a custom-tailored solution. Whether that's a more powerful plan, a different jar, or a backend tweak.
You're not only renting a server from us. You're backed by people who actually help.
Weโll work with you to make sure your players stay smooth, stable, and satisfied.