What mods do I need to run Optimum Realism on Iris + Fabric

For the full look you need Fabric Loader + Fabric API + Iris (shader loader) + Sodium (performance) + Continuity (connected textures) + Polytone (variant blocks) + EMF and ETF (custom mob models). All are free from Modrinth.

Optimum Realism uses several Iris + Fabric mods to unlock specific features. The pack itself works at the base level without any of these, but each mod unlocks a feature that's otherwise broken or vanilla-looking.

The required stack (all free, all on Modrinth):

  • Fabric Loader — the base. fabricmc.net
  • Fabric API — required by every other mod. Get it
  • Iris — shader loader. Get it
  • Sodium — modern rendering engine, doubles or triples FPS. Get it
  • Continuity — connected textures (glass, bookshelves, stone variants). Without this you get the "ENABLE CONNECTED TEXTURES" hint written on blocks. Get it · more on this
  • Polytone — custom block colours and biome tints. Without this, stone and variant blocks look flat grey. Get it · more on this
  • Entity Model Features (EMF) — custom mob models. Get it
  • Entity Texture Features (ETF) — custom mob textures. Get it · more on this
  • Indium — Sodium compatibility for connected textures. Get it

Recommended performance additions (optional):

  • Lithium — optimises mob AI, block ticking. Get it
  • FerriteCore — reduces RAM use by ~40%. Get it
  • ImmediatelyFast — speeds up text + GUI rendering. Get it
  • Entity Culling — skips rendering hidden mobs. Get it

The easy way: just install Fabulously Optimized — a community modpack that bundles all the performance mods. Then add Iris + Continuity + Polytone + EMF + ETF on top, and remove Better Block Entities (it overrides the custom chest, sign and bell models from Optimum Realism).

Drop every .jar in .minecraft/mods/ and you're done. Critical: every mod must match your Minecraft version exactly. Mixing 1.20 and 1.21 mods crashes the game on launch.

Related
Should I use Iris or OptiFine for Optimum Realism?How do I fix low FPS with Optimum Realism Minecraft texture pack?Why does stone or variant blocks look grey and desaturated in Optimum Realism?Why do mobs look chunky or wrong colour in Optimum Realism?Why does "ENABLE CONNECTED TEXTURES" appear written on Minecraft blocks?

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