How to Make a Minecraft BedWars Server, Step by Step

What you need

A Minecraft Java server with Paper (or Purpur), because BedWars is a plugin, not a mod: it won't load on Fabric, Forge or NeoForge. NapNodes servers come with Paper on the latest version, so there's nothing to change.

The plugin: here we use Screaming BedWars, which is free and open source (LGPL licence), is on Modrinth, is kept up to date with new versions and also includes variants like EggWars and CakeWars. There are others (BedWars1058, or Marcely's BedWars, which is paid); the steps are similar, but check on their page that they list your Minecraft version before installing them.

A map: you can build the arena yourself or download a ready-made BedWars map (respect whatever its author allows). A match with friends doesn't need much RAM: minigames have a bounded world with no exploring, so it weighs less than survival with the same number of players.

Installing the plugin

1. Make a backup

   If the server already has a world, in the panel, “Backups” → create one. That way you can go back if something doesn't convince you. (The free server has no backups: if you care about the world, compress the world folder in “Files” and download it first.)

2. Search for Screaming BedWars

   In the panel, “Mods & plugins”: search for “Screaming BedWars”. Only the versions that work with your Minecraft and server type show up. Press “Install”.

3. Restart

   With “Restart”. The console should show that BedWars has loaded; if not, look at the error just before it.

4. Give yourself permissions

   The arena setup commands are admin commands. If you're not op, in the console: “op YourName” (no slash in the console, with “/” from the game; more in admin commands).

Adding the map

The easiest is to keep the arena in a separate world, not in your survival one. If you've downloaded a map, upload it as a .zip in “Files” to the server's main folder and use “Decompress”: you'll get a folder with the world inside (the one with the level.dat).

To have that world loaded alongside the normal one you need a worlds plugin like Multiverse-Core (also in “Mods & plugins”). With it, “mv import FolderName normal” loads it and “mv tp FolderName” takes you inside; on Paper 26.1 or later, the server moves it into place by itself the first time (all about Multiverse). If you'd rather build the arena, do it in that separate world, with an island for each team and a central island.

Setting up the arena, command by command

All commands are typed from the game, standing on the spot you want to mark: the plugin takes your position. Where it says “arena”, put whatever name you want to give it (for example “islands”), always the same one. With the Tab key the game suggests what comes next, including colours and generator types.

1. Create the arena

   “/bw admin arena add”. From here you're editing it: the match doesn't exist for players yet.

2. Mark the boundaries

   Go to one corner of the map and type “/bw admin arena pos1”; then to the opposite corner (also higher or lower, since it's a box) and “/bw admin arena pos2”. Everything else has to be inside that box.

3. Waiting lobby and spectators

   Where players wait before the start: “/bw admin arena lobby”. Where eliminated players appear to watch: “/bw admin arena spec”.

4. Create the teams

   One per island: “/bw admin arena team add Red red 2” (name, colour and players per team). You need at least two teams.

5. Where each team spawns

   Standing on each team's island: “/bw admin arena team spawn Red”. Repeat for each team.

6. The beds

   Place the bed on each island, look at it up close (less than 5 blocks away) and type “/bw admin arena team bed Red”. If it says it can't find the bed, get closer and aim right at it.

7. The generators

   Standing where you want the resources to drop: “/bw admin arena spawner add iron” (and gold, or bronze on the islands). The usual setup is one on each island and something more valuable in the centre. If you make a mistake, “/bw admin arena spawner remove” removes the one under you.

8. The shops

   Where you want the villager who sells: “/bw admin arena store add”. Best one per island, so every team has it equally close.

9. Save

   “/bw admin arena save”. If something required is missing (boundaries, waiting lobby, spectators, two teams with their spawn and bed) it tells you what; if they're only warnings, like having no shops, it lets you save anyway. Once saved, the arena is open.

Playing

Each player joins the match with “/bw join arena” and leaves with “/bw leave”. When there are enough people the countdown starts; when it ends, the map rebuilds itself for the next one.

To change something later, “/bw admin arena edit” reopens it for editing (the match closes meanwhile), and when you're done, “save” again. The rest (shop prices, timers, rewards) is in its folder inside plugins, in “Files” (config.yml; the shop, in shop.yml): after changing anything, restart.

When something doesn't work

“You don't have permission”: you're not op or don't have the plugin's admin permission. If you use LuckPerms, give it to your rank.

“Out of bounds”: the spot you're trying to mark isn't between pos1 and pos2, or you're in another world. Mark wider corners again.

The plugin doesn't show in the console on startup: it's almost always because the plugin version doesn't match your Minecraft or the server isn't Paper. “Mods & plugins” only offers the ones that work; if you uploaded it by hand, download the right version.

It stutters with lots of people: a small map and few generators help more than any setting. If it still falls short, how to measure lag is in the guide to server lag.

And if you want it always ready

To try it with friends, the NapNodes free Minecraft server works: no card needed, with “Start” whenever you want to play (it shuts down by itself after 20 minutes with nobody on and, if everything is taken, you join the queue). If BedWars becomes your nightly game, with a plan it's always on, with no queues, with backups and the same world.

Frequently asked questions