Minecraft Bedrock sword mod
Freelance commission · 2025
Summary
A mod for Minecraft Bedrock Edition with 14 swords, each with its own unique ability. It was a commission from a client who wanted to make their kids' day. The client was very happy with the result.
What I built
- 14 swords with unique abilities.
- Built in JavaScript and JSON on Microsoft's scripting API for Bedrock.
- Tested everything in multiplayer with a friend, to make sure the swords worked as expected when hitting other players.
- Delivered as .zip add-on files, and helped the client get them installed: the files go in a specific folder on the computer that creates the world, and anyone who joins that world gets the swords too.
The swords
Sword 1 / 14
Emerald Sword
When you land the final hit on anything that can be killed, a single Emerald drops on its body.
The first sword I built. I sent a working version of it together with my offer.
Working with the client
This project was just me and the client, so all the communication went directly between us.
- Checked it was possible first. Before saying yes, I looked into whether every sword could be built. Most of them could, but I didn't fully understand what the Totem of Undying and Redstone swords were supposed to do, so I asked instead of guessing.
- Showed something early. I sent a first working version of the Emerald sword together with my offer, so the client could see what they would get.
- Delivered in small steps. I built the easier swords first and sent videos and images of them, then kept going with the harder ones and kept the client updated on the deadline.
- Asked for feedback on the look. I asked whether they wanted me to go creative and follow their drawings more closely, or stick to the standard Minecraft style.
- Explained in plain language. For every sword I wrote down exactly how it behaves in-game, and asked them to tell me if anything seemed wrong or out of place.
- Offered alternatives when something wasn't practical. Changing how things look for the Dirt sword would have been a huge amount of work, so I proposed blinding and slowing instead. For the Coal sword I offered a more balanced version and let them choose.
- Helped with the last step too. A mod is only useful if it runs on their device, so I tested installing it with a friend and asked about their setup to find the easiest way to get it working.
Why it's interesting to me
Working inside the limits of someone else's platform and API, and making something that's simply fun to play.
The Ice sword is a good example. Most effects can be added to any player or mob easily, but freezing isn't an effect like the others. The only way to get it is standing in powder snow, so I made powder snow follow the target around. That kind of puzzle is what I enjoy.
It was also a good look at the other half of the job: turning loose ideas into concrete behaviour, keeping someone non-technical in the loop, and caring more about the experience, a good review and being someone people can rely on than about anything else.
Tech
- JavaScript
- JSON
- Minecraft Bedrock scripting API