Start a UHC server in Minecraft

UHC (Ultra Hardcore) is a PvP minigame that runs in timed phases. This guide uses GreatUHC, a free plugin from the Hangar plugin site, which moves a game through a pre-game kit selection, a grace period, a PvP period and a deathmatch while the world border shrinks.

Checked against GreatUHC 1.3.0 on Paper 26.1.2, October 2026.

What you need

• A Paper server. GreatUHC is a Paper plugin, and its Hangar page lists Paper only. Its newest release lists Minecraft versions up to 26.1.2.
• Operator status for whoever runs the game. The plugin's /uhc and /uhcstart commands need the greatuhc.admin permission, which defaults to operators only. Make yourself an operator on the Players tab, as in Whitelist players and set operators.

Set the server software

In JAR Manager, choose Paper, pick 26.1.2 as the Minecraft version and press Apply change. Keep Take a backup first ticked and press Confirm & reinstall. Change your Minecraft version or mod loader explains each step.

Install GreatUHC

1. Open the Plugins tab.
2. In the source chip row at the top of the tab, choose Hangar and search for GreatUHC.
3. Press Install, then restart the server from the Console tab.

Hangar lists PlaceholderAPI as the plugin's only dependency, and marks it optional. The plugin's Configuring page says you need PlaceholderAPI to use its placeholders on a custom scoreboard.

Tune the game

Open File Manager and edit config.yml in the plugin's folder under plugins. The file explains each setting. The defaults to know:

• Phase lengths are in ticks, and 20 ticks make a second. pre_game_time is 900 (45 seconds), grace_period_time is 18000 (15 minutes), pvp_time is 30000 (25 minutes) and deathmatch_time is 18000 (15 minutes).
• overworld_main_border_start is 1600.0 and overworld_main_border_end is 400.0. These are total widths, so 1600.0 means from -800 to +800. The border shrinks over main_border_shrink_time, which is 1500 seconds.
• main_spread_min is 150 and main_spread_max is 650. These feed Minecraft's own /spreadplayers command to scatter players at the start.
• overworld_name is world and nether_name is world_nether. If you renamed the world with World folder in the Config Editor, change these to match.

Restart after editing the file.

Run a game

1. Get everyone online. If you use the whitelist, add them first on the Players tab.
2. Run /uhc to open the menu of game modifiers. Toggles include /uhc double-heads, /uhc starting-heads, /uhc mining-modifier and /uhc fast-reflexes, which switches between 1.8-style spam clicking and modern attack cooldowns.
3. Run /uhcstart to begin. The plugin runs a kit-selection pre-game, then the grace period, the PvP period and the deathmatch.

If the game runs long or short, /uhc extend-clock <seconds> adds or removes time from the clock. The plugin shortens the clock to the deathmatch when few players remain, with the threshold set by game_shortener.

If something goes wrong

• /uhcstart says you lack permission. You are not an operator yet. Use Make operator on the Players tab.
• Players cannot join. Check the whitelist switch on the Players tab. A whitelist that is on but empty keeps everyone out.
• Players take constant damage at the border. GreatUHC's gameplay notes say the world border deals constant true damage rather than scaling with distance.