How to Download and Install RLCraft in 2026

RLCraft will kill you. A lot. That's the whole point — it's the hardest Minecraft modpack out there, with 177 mods that strip away everything comfortable about vanilla and replace it with thirst meters, temperature systems, and dragons that will one-shot you before you even punch a tree.

With nearly 30 million downloads on CurseForge, it's also the most popular modpack ever made. We run an active RLCraft server here on Apollo Network — but first, you need the pack installed. And that takes about five minutes.

What You Need Before Installing RLCraft

RLCraft runs on Minecraft Java Edition 1.12.2 with Forge. Here's what your setup needs:

• Minecraft Java Edition — Bedrock won't work
• 4GB of RAM allocated to Minecraft (minimum — more helps)
• Java 8 (64-bit) — most systems already have this
• A decent CPU and at least 4GB of free system RAM beyond what you allocate

If you're on a laptop with 8GB total, you can make it work, but expect some frame drops. Optifine comes bundled with the pack, which helps a lot.

Install RLCraft with ATLauncher (Recommended)

ATLauncher is our pick for installing modpacks. It's lightweight, open-source, and handles everything from Forge installation to RAM allocation without the bloat of other launchers.

Step 1: Download ATLauncher

Head to atlauncher.com and download the launcher for your OS. Install it and log in with your Minecraft account under the Accounts tab.

Step 2: Find RLCraft

Click the Packs tab on the right side, then select CurseForge at the top. Type "RLCraft" into the search bar — it'll show up right away.

Step 3: Install the pack

Click New Instance on the RLCraft listing. ATLauncher downloads Forge 1.12.2 and all 177 mods automatically. If any mods have restricted distribution, the launcher opens download links for you — just save them to your Downloads folder and ATLauncher picks them up.

Step 4: Allocate more RAM

This is the step most people skip, and then wonder why the game runs like garbage. Before you launch:

1. Click Settings in the right sidebar
2. Go to the Java/Minecraft tab
3. Set Maximum Memory/RAM based on your system:

• 8GB system RAM — allocate 4096 MB (4GB)
• 12GB system RAM — allocate 6144 MB (6GB)
• 16GB+ system RAM — allocate 8192 MB (8GB)

Don't go higher than 8GB even if you have the RAM to spare — Java doesn't always handle over-allocation well and you can actually get worse performance.

Step 5: Launch and wait

Go to the Instances tab, find RLCraft, and hit Play. First launch takes a while. The loading screen sits on "loading mods" for what feels like forever. That's normal. Don't close it.

Play RLCraft on a Server

Once you've got the pack installed, solo survival is great — but multiplayer RLCraft is a different animal. Teaming up makes the brutal difficulty actually manageable, and raiding dungeons with friends is way more fun than getting one-shot alone.

Our RLCraft server comes with custom server-side content, QoL improvements, mod patches, fixes, and performance optimizations — plus a solid community. Just add rlc.apollonetwork.org to your server list in the RLCraft profile and connect. Check the Apollo Store for ranks and cosmetics too.

Other Ways to Install RLCraft

ATLauncher is what we recommend, but these work too.

Install with CurseForge

Step 1: Download the CurseForge app

Head to curseforge.com and grab the desktop app. Install it and sign in.

Step 2: Select Minecraft

Open CurseForge, click on Minecraft from the game list. If Minecraft isn't showing up, make sure you have Minecraft Java Edition installed and have logged into the vanilla launcher at least once.

Step 3: Search for RLCraft

Click "Browse Modpacks" and type "RLCraft" into the search bar. It'll be the first result — you can't miss it with 30 million downloads.

Step 4: Hit Install

Click the Install button. CurseForge handles everything — downloads Forge 1.12.2, grabs all 177 mods, and sets up the profile. It'll take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.

Step 5: Allocate more RAM

1. Click the three dots on the RLCraft profile
2. Go to "Profile Options"
3. Uncheck "Use System Memory Settings"
4. Drag the RAM slider to 4096 MB (4GB)

Step 6: Launch and wait

First launch takes a while — that's normal. Don't close it.

Install with Prism Launcher

Prism Launcher also supports CurseForge modpacks natively. Create a new instance, search for RLCraft in the CurseForge tab, and download it. Set your RAM allocation to 4GB in the instance settings. It's a solid option if you want granular control over your instances.

Install RLCraft Manually (Without a Launcher)

If you'd rather not use a third-party launcher, you can install RLCraft through the vanilla Minecraft launcher. It's more steps, but it works.

1. Download and install Forge for Minecraft 1.12.2 (version 14.23.5.2860 or higher). Run the installer and select "Install Client."
2. Download the RLCraft zip file from CurseForge.
3. Open your Minecraft directory — on Windows, press Win+R, type %appdata%\.minecraft, and hit Enter.
4. Create a new folder called rlcraft inside your .minecraft directory.
5. Extract the downloaded zip into that folder. You should see mods, config, and resources folders inside it.
6. Open the Minecraft launcher and create a new installation. Set the version to release 1.12.2-forge-14.23.5.2860 and point the game directory to your new rlcraft folder.
7. Edit the JVM arguments to allocate more RAM: change -Xmx2G to -Xmx4G.
8. Launch the game.

Your First Night in RLCraft (Don't Die Immediately)

You installed it. You loaded in. You died to a dragon flying over spawn within 30 seconds. Welcome to RLCraft.

A few things that'll save your sanity:

• Don't punch trees. Seriously. Pick up flint and sticks off the ground to make your first tools. Punching wood does almost nothing and hurts your hand.
• Find water fast. You have a thirst bar now, and it drops quick. Craft a canteen as soon as possible.
• Watch the temperature. If you're in a desert, you'll overheat. If you're in snow, you'll freeze. Both kill you.
• Sleep immediately. Nights are way more dangerous than vanilla. Find or build shelter before dark.

RLCraft has a learning curve shaped like a cliff, but once you get past the first few hours, it's incredibly rewarding.