Vanilla Enhanced
ShaderA lightweight shader for realistic lighting and better visuals.
Why gradeA
How grades workStrengths
Points lost
- No place to report problems−3 points
- Under 5 million downloads−1 point
All 10 criteria
Maintenance
Full points27 / 27Last releaseHow long ago the newest file came out, or an existing file was marked as working on a new Minecraft version.6 weeks ago (12 Sep 2026) 12 / 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.26.3 (latest) 9 / 9Regular releasesIn how many of the last 24 months a new file came out. Full points at 3 months.Releases in 6 of the last 24 months 6 / 6Stability
Full points17 / 17Removed 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.7 of the 51 modpacks with two or more versions removed it in a later one (14%) 5 / 5Quick fixesHow often a release needed a quick fix: a new release within 3 days to fix a problem in it.No quick fix in 2 years 7 / 7Known 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
3 points lost0 / 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.No link to report problems 0 / 3Popularity
1 point lost3 / 4DownloadsDownloads on Modrinth and CurseForge. Full points from 5 million.343,604 3 / 4Track record
Full points8 / 8AgeHow long the project has existed. It counts less when no new file came out recently.15 months, 10 releases 8 / 8
54.7 of the 59 points that apply = 93 out of 100. The points above are rounded to whole numbers.
Images
About
Vanilla Enhanced is a lightweight shaderpack that enriches Minecraft’s lighting, color, and motion while retaining the game’s familiar visual style. It adds softer, deeper shadows and natural highlights from sunlight, moonlight, torches, and other light sources, with reflective surfaces gaining specular detail. Time-aware skies use smooth color transitions and shifting cloud tones, while atmospheric grading helps forests, plains, deserts, mountains, and underground spaces feel distinct yet cohesive. Grass, leaves, flowers, crops, vines, lily pads, and other foliage sway with wind, and water and reflections respond to movement. Underwater, refracted light and animated caustics combine with depth-sensitive fog, changing water color, and light shafts to make diving more atmospheric. The shader also adds rain-related desaturation and wet-surface reflections, along with subtle ore glow in low light. It is designed to keep performance demands modest and supports OptiFine and Iris.
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 sky.
Often used with it
See all 30Details
- Creator
- xsoras
- License
- All rights reserved
- Downloads
- 344K
- Created
- 5 Aug 2025
- Official pages
- Modrinth , CurseForge
- Links
- Source code
Security
No harmful code found
We checked what is inside its files, without opening them in the game.
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, without running them. 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 21 changelogs read
- Its filesFiles that AI coding tools leave behind (like AGENTS.md), and the texts inside the files you download.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 found
Compatibility
See all 10 filesPoint 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 | 0 |
| May 2025 | 0 |
| Jun 2025 | 0 |
| Jul 2025 | 0 |
| Aug 2025 | 4 |
| Sep 2025 | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | 7 |
| Nov 2025 | 8 |
| Dec 2025 | 6 |
| Jan 2026 | 10 |
| Feb 2026 | 12 |
| Mar 2026 | 9 |
| Apr 2026 | 8 |
| May 2026 | 8 |
| Jun 2026 | 7 |
| Jul 2026 | 20 |
| Aug 2026 | 9 |
| Sep 2026 | 7 |
More modpacks put it in their new versions than a year ago: 10 a month now, 1 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..
84 modpacks include Vanilla Enhanced in at least one of their versions. Here are the 30 most downloaded.
Epic Shaders - All The Shaders574K downloadslast version with it 19 Oct 2026
Shaders Shaders Shaders!83K downloadslast version with it 18 Jun 2026
Kuri's Fresh (Actions & Stuffs recreation)64K downloadslast version with it 11 Feb 2026
Immersive Shaders41K downloadslast version with it 17 Sep 2026
RTX ON [FABRIC]19K downloadslast version with it 5 May 2026
every shader possible8.8K downloadslast version with it 8 Nov 2025
Fiction Friction Gaming4.8K downloadslast version with it 29 Aug 2025
I Love Shaders4.7K downloadslast version with it 28 Jul 2026
NeoCraft Gardens & Gadgetry4.6K downloadslast version with it 18 Oct 2025
INFERNO ADVENTURES4.2K downloadslast version with it 18 Dec 2025Often in the same modpacks
Mods that modpacks often add together with Vanilla Enhanced. Share: how many of the modpacks with Vanilla Enhanced also have that mod.
Complementary Shaders - UnboundAShaderin 68% of the modpacks with Vanilla Enhanced
Bliss ShadersAShaderin 61% of the modpacks with Vanilla Enhanced
Solas ShaderAShaderin 61% of the modpacks with Vanilla Enhanced
BSL ShadersAShaderin 58% of the modpacks with Vanilla Enhanced
MellowAShaderin 56% of the modpacks with Vanilla Enhanced
Fresh AnimationsAResource packin 55% of the modpacks with Vanilla Enhanced
MakeUp - Ultra FastAShaderin 54% of the modpacks with Vanilla Enhanced
Mod MenuAModin 52% of the modpacks with Vanilla Enhanced
LithiumAModin 52% of the modpacks with Vanilla Enhanced
Essential ModBModin 50% of the modpacks with Vanilla EnhancedLatest 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.