Better Clouds Mod (1.21.8, 1.20.1) – Realistic Sky with Vanilla-Friendly Clouds

Minecraft’s default clouds may serve their purpose, but for many players, they feel flat and uninspiring. Better Clouds Mod (1.21.8, 1.20.1) breathes new life into the skies of your Minecraft world with a stunning overhaul of the vanilla cloud rendering system. Developed by qendolin, this client-side visual mod enhances the realism and beauty of your skies while remaining faithful to Minecraft’s blocky aesthetic.

Instead of replacing clouds with hyper-realistic 3D models like many shaderpacks, Better Clouds strikes a balance delivering puffy, layered clouds with soft lighting and smoother movement that still blend naturally into the game’s overall look. Whether you’re flying with Elytra or admiring a sunrise over the plains, the improved sky visuals bring a more immersive, peaceful, and atmospheric tone to your Minecraft experience without impacting gameplay or performance.

Features:

Overhauls vanilla cloud rendering with soft, layered formations.
Retains blocky Minecraft aesthetic while improving realism.
Adds depth, lighting, and smooth movement to clouds.
Works seamlessly with Fabric and NeoForge mod loaders.
Fully client-side only – no server installation required.
Compatible with OptiFine alternatives like Iris + Sodium.

Screenshots:

Configs:

Default:

Flat Pixelated

Realistic Looking

Why use Better Clouds Mod?

If you’ve ever used shaders just for prettier skies but didn’t want the heavy performance cost, Better Clouds is your ideal solution. This mod provides a significant visual upgrade while maintaining high FPS and Minecraft’s classic feel. It’s perfect for players who want a more atmospheric world without sacrificing simplicity or compatibility.

Builders will especially appreciate how the improved sky contributes to cinematic screenshots and scenic builds. Plus, because it’s client-side only, it can be used freely in multiplayer without affecting gameplay balance.

FAQs

Is Better Clouds Mod compatible with shaders?

It is designed to work without shaders and may conflict with shaderpacks that already alter cloud rendering. For best results, use it without additional shaders or with lightweight visuals.

Does it impact game performance?

No significant FPS drop has been reported. It’s optimized for performance and runs smoothly even on mid-range systems.

Can I use this mod in multiplayer servers?

Yes. Since it’s a client-side mod, you can use it freely on any server without requiring server-side installation.

Will it change the weather or gameplay?

No, it only affects the visual appearance of clouds. All gameplay mechanics, including weather effects, remain vanilla.

What loaders are supported?

Better Clouds Mod supports both Fabric and NeoForge loaders. Be sure to install the correct version matching your Minecraft and mod loader setup.