BDS - Better Default Shaders
ShaderVanilla lighting, realistic shadows, high performance.
- Security
- Passed
- Privacy
- Nothing sent
- Runs on
- Client only
- Loaders
- Iris, OptiFine
- Minecraft versions
- Up to 1.21.8
Why gradeC
How grades workStrengths
Points lost
- Only one release−5 points
- Releases in only 1 of the last 24 months−4 points
- No release or new Minecraft version in 15 months−2 points
- Many modpacks removed it−2 points
- Under 5 million downloads−1 point
All 10 criteria
Maintenance
6 points lost21 / 27Last releaseHow long ago the newest file came out, or an existing file was marked as working on a new Minecraft version.The author marked an existing file as working on Minecraft 1.21.8, which came out on 17 Jul 2025 10 / 12Supports popular versionsWhether the project has a file for a Minecraft version that 15% or more of the popular mods updated in the last 6 months also support. A version many modpacks use, like 1.20.1 or 1.21.1, also counts after a release in the last 12 months.Newest supported: 1.21.8. 31% of the 170 popular Quilt mods updated in the last 6 months also have files for 1.21.8. Latest Minecraft: 26.3. 9 / 9Regular releasesIn how many of the last 24 months a new file came out. Full points at 3 months.Releases in 1 of the last 24 months 2 / 6Stability
2 points lost8 / 10Removed from modpacksHow many modpacks removed it in a later version of the pack. We can only see this in modpacks with two or more versions. A pack that swaps it for another edition of the same project, or that is rebuilt from scratch, does not count.9 of the 36 modpacks with two or more versions removed it in a later one (25%) See the 9 modpacks3 / 5Quick fixesHow often a release needed a quick fix: a new release within 3 days to fix a problem in it.Not measured yet.Known conflictsHow many projects say they do not work with it, compared with how widely it is used. Packs, small projects, forks, ports, add-ons, alternatives and old versions do not count.None 5 / 5Transparency
Full points3 / 3Source codeWhether the project page links to its source code, so anyone can read what it does.Does not apply. A shader's files can be read in the download.Place to report problemsWhether the project page links to a place where players can report problems: an issue tracker or a Discord server.Discord 3 / 3Popularity
1 point lost3 / 4DownloadsDownloads on Modrinth and CurseForge. Full points from 5 million.145,257 3 / 4Track record
5 points lost3 / 8AgeHow long the project has existed. It counts less when no new file came out recently.20 months, 1 release 3 / 8
38.3 of the 52 points that apply = 74 out of 100. The points above are rounded to whole numbers.
Images
About
BDS Better Default Shaders is a simple shader pack for making vanilla-styled Minecraft thumbnails, providing realistic shadows without requiring post-processing to recreate vanilla lighting. It includes controls for sun direction and shadows, while aiming to maintain high performance.
Written from Modrinth . How we write it
In-game changes
Changes how the game looks: 7 shader programs, the dimensions are not stated in the pack. Draws its own shadows, sky and clouds.
Settings in English.
Details
- License
- All rights reserved
- Downloads
- 145K
- Created
- 9 Mar 2025
- Official pages
- Modrinth , CurseForge
- Links
- Discord
Security
No harmful code found
We checked what is inside its files.
Why we show this: a shader cannot run programs, but its file can hide one. Our checks look for known signs of harm. They cannot prove that a file is harmless. In the grade: malware means no grade.
How we checked
- FilesWe download the files from Modrinth or CurseForge and look at what is inside them and what their code can do. Fixed rules tell what is harmful.1 latest file, for a recent version. Recent versions: those released in the last 2 years, plus 1.20.1 and 1.21.1, among the most played in modpacks. See each file in Releases
- Author on ModrinthThe disclosure form on Modrinth, where the author declares that the project reads or edits things on your system outside the game. Since 13 Aug 2026, Modrinth's rules require it when this applies.Nothing declared about your system outside the game.
Privacy
Sends nothing
A shader has no code that can connect to the internet, so it cannot send anything about you.
AI
No sign that AI was used to make it
We looked for AI tools in its texts, files and images and found none.
Why we show this: some players and servers avoid projects made with AI. Not in the grade: using AI does not tell whether a project works well or is kept up to date.
How we checked
- Author on ModrinthThe disclosure form on Modrinth. Since 13 Aug 2026, Modrinth's rules require it when a substantial part of the code is AI output, when an asset is mainly AI output, or when the project or its page relies on generative AI.No AI content declared.
- Description and changelogsThe description, project page and newest changelogs: sentences saying an AI tool was used, and text pasted from an AI chat.Nothing found1 of 3 changelogs read
- Its filesCredits and texts in the files you download that name an AI tool.Nothing found
- Images in its filesHidden data in the images of the files you download, where AI image tools write their name and settings.Nothing found1 image read
Compatibility
See the file in ReleasesPoint at or tap a version to see it.
Modpacks using this project
| Oct 2024 | 0 |
|---|---|
| Nov 2024 | 0 |
| Dec 2024 | 0 |
| Jan 2025 | 0 |
| Feb 2025 | 0 |
| Mar 2025 | 0 |
| Apr 2025 | 4 |
| May 2025 | 1 |
| Jun 2025 | 2 |
| Jul 2025 | 5 |
| Aug 2025 | 1 |
| Sep 2025 | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | 8 |
| Dec 2025 | 6 |
| Jan 2026 | 8 |
| Feb 2026 | 8 |
| Mar 2026 | 6 |
| Apr 2026 | 6 |
| May 2026 | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | 8 |
| Jul 2026 | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | 4 |
More modpacks put it in their new versions than a year ago: 5 a month now, 3 a year agoThe average of the last 6 months, compared with the same 6 months a year before. We say it only when the change is large..
52 modpacks include BDS - Better Default Shaders in at least one of their versions. Here are the 30 most downloaded.
Crystal Client152K downloadslast version with it 15 Apr 2025
Shaders Shaders Shaders!85K downloadslast version with it 18 Jun 2026
Thumbnailing46K downloadslast version with it 19 Aug 2026
BBS Machinima pack13K downloadslast version with it 28 Feb 2026
I Love Shaders4.8K downloadslast version with it 28 Feb 2026
No Man’s Land: Z4.6K downloadslast version with it 15 Jul 2025
JAG's Essentials4K downloadslast version with it 4 Apr 2025
BTWR [Alpha]3.7K downloadslast version with it 20 May 2026
MC-Drone3.5K downloadslast version with it 14 Dec 2025
Better Fresh Start (BFS)2.9K downloadslast version with it 16 Oct 2026Often in the same modpacks
Mods that modpacks often add together with BDS - Better Default Shaders. Share: how many of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default Shaders also have that mod.
Complementary Shaders - UnboundAShaderin 67% of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default Shaders
Bliss ShadersAShaderin 56% of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default Shaders
BSL ShadersAShaderin 56% of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default Shaders
Solas ShaderAShaderin 54% of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default Shaders
Essential ModBModin 52% of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default Shaders
Reese's Sodium OptionsAModin 50% of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default Shaders
Mod MenuAModin 48% of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default Shaders
Fresh AnimationsAResource packin 48% of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default Shaders
Miniature ShaderAShaderin 44% of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default Shaders
MakeUp - Ultra FastAShaderin 44% of the modpacks with BDS - Better Default ShadersLatest files
The newest file for each Minecraft version and loader. The files for recent versions come first. Recent versions: those released in the last 2 years, plus 1.20.1 and 1.21.1, among the most played in modpacks.