
Surface Level
Makes mining harder by removing tunneling
Screenshots






About this Mod
Surface Level (SL)
Simply put, this mod makes tunneling harder. The mod generate hard blocks below the surfaces/walls of caves that can't be mine with a pickaxe. To "tunnel", tnt have been buffed and easier to obtain, making them a important part of mining.
A very impactful mod that's tailored for realistic survival modpacks.
Techical
SL is designed in a way that allows you to add the mod even after making a world since the blocks are generated as you play the game instead of during world generation.
If you don't like the vanilla cave generation, world generation mods can be used to get a better caving experiance with this mod. Custom generation that replaces stone/deepslate/netherrack with different blocks will weaken the effect of this mod for better or worse.
Mod Additions
- Hardstone
- Replaces Stone
- Hardslate
- Replaces Deepslate
- Hardrack
- Replaces Netherrack
- Chisel
- Useful mid to late game tool
- Gunpowder Recipes
- Useful early game recipes to get gunpowder
Vanilla Changes
- Explosions are stronger against Stone, Deepslate, and Netherrack
Settings
- How hard blocks will generate can be changed from the config file.
- Chisel item can be turned off in the config file.
Available Versions
How to Install Surface Level on Your Server
Order Server
Order a Minecraft Java server with at least 3 GB RAM (4 GB recommended).
Set forge Loader
In the panel under "Egg", select the forge loader and matching Minecraft version (1.21.1).
Install Mod
Open the mod browser in the dashboard and search for "Surface Level". Click "Install" – done! Alternatively, upload the .jar via SFTP to the /mods folder.
Compatibility
Mod Loaders
Minecraft Versions
1.21.1, 1.21, 1.20.6 (+5 more)
Server-side
✓ RequiredRecommended RAM
4 GB(min. 3 GB)Frequently Asked Questions
Surface Level server crashes on startup – what to do?
Most common cause: wrong forge version or insufficient RAM. Check the server log (latest.log) for "OutOfMemoryError" or "Mixin" errors. With Mado Hosting: ensure at least 3 GB RAM is allocated and the loader matches the mod version (1.21.1). You can switch loaders with one click in the panel.
Is Surface Level compatible with forge?
Surface Level officially supports forge for Minecraft 1.21.1, 1.21, 1.20.6. The Mado dashboard automatically detects incompatible loader combinations.
Server lagging with Surface Level – how to optimize performance?
Recommended RAM: 4 GB (per 8 players). Use /spark profiler to check if Surface Level consumes the most tick time. Common fixes: reduce server view-distance to 8-10, install "performant" or "starlight" as supplementary mods on Forge. With Mado Hosting, your server runs on NVMe SSDs with dedicated CPU cores for minimal latency.
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Rent Modded Server
Install Surface Level with just one click on your server.