Decorators Guide

Decorators add small, surface-level details to your biomes like grass, flowers, mushrooms, and other stackable blocks.

What is a Decorator?

Decorators are lightweight placement systems for blocks that:

Place on the surface of terrain
Can stack vertically (grass, kelp, cactus)
Have simple placement rules
Generate very efficiently

Think of decorators as “paint” for your terrain surface.

Basic Decorator

{
  "decorators": [
    {
      "chance": 0.15,
      "palette": [
        { "block": "grass" },
        { "block": "tall_grass" }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

This creates grass decoration with 15% coverage.

Configuration Fields

Essential Properties

Field	Type	Default	Description
`chance`	Double	0.1	Placement probability per block (0-1, required)
`palette`	BlockData[]	-	Blocks to place (required)
`stackMin`	Integer	1	Minimum stack height
`stackMax`	Integer	1	Maximum stack height

Block Palette

Simple palette:

{
  "palette": [
    { "block": "grass" },
    { "block": "tall_grass" },
    { "block": "fern" }
  ]
}

Weighted palette:

{
  "palette": [
    { "block": "grass", "weight": 10 },
    { "block": "tall_grass", "weight": 3 },
    { "block": "poppy", "weight": 1 }
  ]
}

Higher weight = more common.

Stacking

For tall plants like sugar cane, cactus, kelp:

{
  "chance": 0.05,
  "palette": [{ "block": "sugar_cane" }],
  "stackMin": 2,
  "stackMax": 4,
  "heightVariance": {
    "style": "STATIC",
    "zoom": 1.0
  }
}

stackMin: Minimum blocks tall
stackMax: Maximum blocks tall
heightVariance: How height varies (noise style)

Scale stacking by cave height:

{
  "scaleStack": true,
  "stackMin": 25,
  "stackMax": 75,
  "absoluteMaxStack": 30
}

In caves, stack will be 25-75% of cave height (capped at 30 blocks).

Top Palette

Different blocks at the top of stacks:

{
  "palette": [{ "block": "bamboo" }],
  "topPalette": [{ "block": "bamboo[leaves=large]" }],
  "topThreshold": 0.8,
  "stackMin": 5,
  "stackMax": 15
}

topPalette: Blocks for the top section
topThreshold: When to switch (0.8 = top 20%)

Distribution Styles

How decorators are scattered:

{
  "style": {
    "style": "STATIC",
    "zoom": 1.0
  },
  "variance": {
    "style": "SIMPLEX",
    "zoom": 5.0
  }
}

style: Where to place (STATIC = random, SIMPLEX/etc = patches)
variance: How to pick from palette

Common styles:

STATIC: Completely random (vanilla-like)
SIMPLEX: Smooth, natural patches
CELLULAR_IRIS_DOUBLE: Cell-based clusters
GLOB: Blobby patches

Placement Conditions

Slope restrictions:

{
  "slopeCondition": {
    "enabled": true,
    "min": 0,
    "max": 3
  }
}

Only place on relatively flat terrain (0-3 slope). Block whitelist/blacklist:

{
  "whitelist": [
    { "block": "grass_block" },
    { "block": "dirt" }
  ]
}

Only place on these blocks.

{
  "blacklist": [
    { "block": "sand" },
    { "block": "stone" }
  ]
}

Never place on these blocks. Force placement:

{
  "forcePlace": true,
  "forceBlock": { "block": "grass_block" }
}

Ignore surface block checks and optionally replace surface.

Decoration Parts

For underwater/cave decoration:

{
  "partOf": "SEA_SURFACE"
}

Options:

NONE: Normal surface decoration
SEA_SURFACE: Top of underwater areas
SEA_FLOOR: Ocean floor
SHORE_LINE: Beach/shore areas
CAVE_CEILING: Cave roofs
CAVE_FLOOR: Cave floors

Example Decorators

Grassland Coverage

{
  "chance": 0.25,
  "palette": [
    { "block": "grass", "weight": 10 },
    { "block": "tall_grass", "weight": 5 },
    { "block": "fern", "weight": 2 }
  ],
  "style": {
    "style": "SIMPLEX",
    "zoom": 8.0
  },
  "variance": {
    "style": "STATIC",
    "zoom": 1.0
  }
}

Flower Patches

{
  "chance": 0.08,
  "palette": [
    { "block": "poppy", "weight": 1 },
    { "block": "dandelion", "weight": 1 },
    { "block": "azure_bluet", "weight": 1 },
    { "block": "oxeye_daisy", "weight": 1 }
  ],
  "style": {
    "style": "CELLULAR_IRIS_DOUBLE",
    "zoom": 12.0
  },
  "variance": {
    "style": "SIMPLEX",
    "zoom": 3.0
  }
}

Sugar Cane

{
  "chance": 0.02,
  "palette": [{ "block": "sugar_cane" }],
  "stackMin": 2,
  "stackMax": 4,
  "heightVariance": {
    "style": "STATIC",
    "zoom": 1.0
  },
  "whitelist": [
    { "block": "grass_block" },
    { "block": "dirt" },
    { "block": "sand" }
  ]
}

Note: Sugar cane needs water adjacent (handled by Minecraft’s block rules).

Cactus

{
  "chance": 0.01,
  "palette": [{ "block": "cactus" }],
  "stackMin": 1,
  "stackMax": 3,
  "heightVariance": {
    "style": "SIMPLEX",
    "zoom": 5.0
  },
  "whitelist": [
    { "block": "sand" },
    { "block": "red_sand" }
  ],
  "style": {
    "style": "GLOB",
    "zoom": 15.0
  }
}

Kelp (Underwater)

{
  "chance": 0.15,
  "palette": [{ "block": "kelp_plant" }],
  "stackMin": 5,
  "stackMax": 20,
  "heightVariance": {
    "style": "SIMPLEX",
    "zoom": 3.0
  },
  "partOf": "SEA_SURFACE",
  "whitelist": [
    { "block": "gravel" },
    { "block": "sand" },
    { "block": "dirt" }
  ]
}

Sea Pickles

{
  "chance": 0.05,
  "palette": [
    { "block": "sea_pickle[pickles=1]" },
    { "block": "sea_pickle[pickles=2]" },
    { "block": "sea_pickle[pickles=3]" },
    { "block": "sea_pickle[pickles=4]" }
  ],
  "partOf": "SEA_FLOOR",
  "style": {
    "style": "CELLULAR_IRIS_DOUBLE",
    "zoom": 20.0
  }
}

Mushrooms (Cave Floor)

{
  "chance": 0.03,
  "palette": [
    { "block": "red_mushroom", "weight": 1 },
    { "block": "brown_mushroom", "weight": 1 }
  ],
  "partOf": "CAVE_FLOOR",
  "style": {
    "style": "GLOB",
    "zoom": 8.0
  }
}

Stalactites (Cave Ceiling)

{
  "chance": 0.05,
  "palette": [
    { "block": "pointed_dripstone[vertical_direction=down]" }
  ],
  "partOf": "CAVE_CEILING",
  "stackMin": 1,
  "stackMax": 5,
  "style": {
    "style": "SIMPLEX",
    "zoom": 10.0
  }
}

Dead Bushes

{
  "chance": 0.005,
  "palette": [{ "block": "dead_bush" }],
  "whitelist": [
    { "block": "sand" },
    { "block": "red_sand" },
    { "block": "terracotta" }
  ],
  "style": {
    "style": "STATIC",
    "zoom": 1.0
  }
}

Bamboo Forest

{
  "chance": 0.12,
  "palette": [{ "block": "bamboo[age=0,leaves=none,stage=0]" }],
  "topPalette": [{ "block": "bamboo[leaves=large]" }],
  "topThreshold": 0.85,
  "stackMin": 8,
  "stackMax": 16,
  "heightVariance": {
    "style": "SIMPLEX",
    "zoom": 4.0
  },
  "style": {
    "style": "CELLULAR_IRIS_DOUBLE",
    "zoom": 25.0
  }
}

Lily Pads

{
  "chance": 0.08,
  "palette": [{ "block": "lily_pad" }],
  "partOf": "SEA_SURFACE",
  "style": {
    "style": "GLOB",
    "zoom": 6.0
  }
}

Advanced Techniques

Layered Decoration

Combine multiple decorators for depth:

{
  "decorators": [
    {
      "chance": 0.3,
      "palette": [{ "block": "grass" }]
    },
    {
      "chance": 0.1,
      "palette": [{ "block": "tall_grass" }]
    },
    {
      "chance": 0.05,
      "palette": [{ "block": "poppy" }, { "block": "dandelion" }]
    },
    {
      "chance": 0.02,
      "palette": [{ "block": "allium" }, { "block": "azure_bluet" }]
    }
  ]
}

Biome-Specific Decoration

Tailor decorators to biome theme: Forest floor:

[
  {
    "chance": 0.15,
    "palette": [{ "block": "grass" }, { "block": "fern" }]
  },
  {
    "chance": 0.05,
    "palette": [{ "block": "red_mushroom" }, { "block": "brown_mushroom" }]
  }
]

Swamp:

[
  {
    "chance": 0.2,
    "palette": [{ "block": "grass" }],
    "style": { "style": "GLOB", "zoom": 10.0 }
  },
  {
    "chance": 0.08,
    "palette": [{ "block": "brown_mushroom" }]
  },
  {
    "chance": 0.04,
    "palette": [{ "block": "lily_pad" }],
    "partOf": "SEA_SURFACE"
  }
]

Seasonal Variation

Use block states for variety:

{
  "chance": 0.1,
  "palette": [
    { "block": "wheat[age=0]" },
    { "block": "wheat[age=1]" },
    { "block": "wheat[age=2]" },
    { "block": "wheat[age=3]" }
  ],
  "variance": {
    "style": "SIMPLEX",
    "zoom": 15.0
  }
}

Performance Tips

Optimize Chance Values

Use lower chances for rare decorations
Dense decoration (high chance) can impact generation speed
Balance aesthetics with performance

Use Appropriate Styles

STATIC is fastest
Complex noise styles add computation
Use simpler styles for very common decorators

Stack Wisely

Large stackMax values can slow generation
Use absoluteMaxStack to cap extreme cases
Consider scaleStack for caves

FAQ

What's the difference between decorators and objects?

Decorators are for small, surface-level blocks (grass, flowers). Objects are for 3D structures (trees, buildings). Use decorators for simple, numerous items and objects for complex structures.

Why isn't my decorator placing?

Check:

chance is reasonable (try 1.0 for testing)
Surface blocks match whitelist if defined
Not blocked by blacklist
slopeCondition allows placement
partOf matches the area type

Can decorators place underwater?

Yes! Use partOf: SEA_SURFACE or SEA_FLOOR for underwater decoration.

How do I make flower patches instead of scattered flowers?

Use a noise-based style like CELLULAR_IRIS_DOUBLE or GLOB with appropriate zoom:

{
  "style": {
    "style": "GLOB",
    "zoom": 12.0
  }
}

What does zoom do in decoration styles?

Higher zoom = larger, less frequent patches. Lower zoom = smaller, more frequent patches. Experiment to find the right scale for your biome.

Next Steps

Combine with Objects for complete biomes
Learn about Biomes to use decorators effectively
Explore Loot Tables for interactive decorations

Getting Started

Core Concepts

World Generation

Content Creation

Advanced Features

Commands

Decorators Guide

What is a Decorator?

Basic Decorator

Configuration Fields

Essential Properties

Block Palette

Stacking

Top Palette

Distribution Styles

Placement Conditions

Decoration Parts

Example Decorators

Grassland Coverage

Flower Patches

Sugar Cane

Cactus

Kelp (Underwater)

Sea Pickles

Mushrooms (Cave Floor)

Stalactites (Cave Ceiling)

Dead Bushes

Bamboo Forest

Lily Pads

Advanced Techniques

Layered Decoration

Biome-Specific Decoration

Seasonal Variation

Performance Tips

Optimize Chance Values

Use Appropriate Styles

Stack Wisely

Next Steps

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Getting Started

Core Concepts

World Generation

Content Creation

Advanced Features

Commands

​What is a Decorator?

​Basic Decorator

​Configuration Fields

​Essential Properties

​Block Palette

​Stacking

​Top Palette

​Distribution Styles

​Placement Conditions

​Decoration Parts

​Example Decorators

​Grassland Coverage

​Flower Patches

​Sugar Cane

​Cactus

​Kelp (Underwater)

​Sea Pickles

​Mushrooms (Cave Floor)

​Stalactites (Cave Ceiling)

​Dead Bushes

​Bamboo Forest

​Lily Pads

​Advanced Techniques

​Layered Decoration

​Biome-Specific Decoration

​Seasonal Variation

​Performance Tips

​Optimize Chance Values

​Use Appropriate Styles

​Stack Wisely

​Next Steps

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

What is a Decorator?

Basic Decorator

Configuration Fields

Essential Properties

Block Palette

Stacking

Top Palette

Distribution Styles

Placement Conditions

Decoration Parts

Example Decorators

Grassland Coverage

Flower Patches

Sugar Cane

Cactus

Kelp (Underwater)

Sea Pickles

Mushrooms (Cave Floor)

Stalactites (Cave Ceiling)

Dead Bushes

Bamboo Forest

Lily Pads

Advanced Techniques

Layered Decoration

Biome-Specific Decoration

Seasonal Variation

Performance Tips

Optimize Chance Values

Use Appropriate Styles

Stack Wisely

Next Steps