Advanced Hook Launchers

Overview

Advanced Hook Launchers adds a grappling hook system to Minecraft with realistic rope physics, configurable stats, and multiplayer support. The mod introduces three hook launcher types, each built from a shared Prototype Launcher combined with a specialized hook. Every launcher behaves differently in terms of what it can attach to, how far it reaches, and what it does to entities on impact. You can use multiple hooks simultaneously, swing between attachment points, and even pull other players or mobs toward you.

The mod requires the ForgeEndertech library to function. Make sure you have the matching version installed on both client and server. You can browse all items and recipes the mod adds using the tabs at the top of this page.

Hook Launchers

Each of the three launchers fills a different role. The Pudge Launcher is a combat and utility tool for pulling creatures and players. The Spear Launcher is the most versatile traversal option, hooking into nearly any block below a certain hardness. The Web Launcher offers the longest range and highest elasticity, making it ideal for swinging across large distances. Understanding when to use each one is key to getting the most out of this mod.

Pudge Hook Launcher

The Pudge Launcher is designed for entity interaction rather than terrain traversal. It attaches to tree Leaves, poles, Iron Bars, and Fences, but bounces off most other blocks. Its real strength is pulling creatures and players toward you. When it hooks an entity, the Pudge Launcher automatically reels them in until they reach minimum rope length, then releases. It can also rip out Torches, Bells, and Lanterns from walls, and will dismount riding entities on impact.

With 10.0 hook strength (the highest of all three), 300 durability, and 10.0 fire resistance, the Pudge Launcher is the most durable and heat-resistant option. However, its rope is limited to 32 blocks, making it strictly a short-to-medium range tool. The rope has zero elasticity, meaning the pull is direct and rigid with no bouncing.

Spear Hook Launcher

The Spear Launcher is the go-to traversal hook for most situations. It attaches to any block except those with high hardness values like Metal Blocks, Obsidian, and Bedrock. Specifically, it can hook any block whose hardness is less than 2.5 (half its hook strength of 5.0). It passes through Leaves without catching and breaks Glass on impact. Unlike the other hooks, the Spear Hook deals 2.0 damage to entities on hit.

With 64 blocks of rope length and 0.6 elasticity, the Spear Launcher offers a good balance of range and bounce. The medium elasticity gives you a slight spring when the rope goes taut, which can be used to build swinging momentum. It has 180 durability (the lowest of the three) and 5.0 fire resistance, so be mindful when using it near Lava or Fire.

Web Hook Launcher

The Web Launcher is the specialist's choice for long-distance swinging. It sticks to virtually any surface except sandy blocks like Sand and Red Sand, and it bounces off those instead of attaching. It deals no damage to entities, making it completely safe for other players in multiplayer. This is the only hook type that won't harm teammates or pets.

What makes the Web Launcher unique is its extreme elasticity of 0.95 (on a scale of 0.0 to 0.95, the maximum possible). This means the rope stretches significantly before snapping taut, creating a bungee-like effect that's perfect for building momentum while swinging. It has the longest reach at 76 blocks and 240 durability, but its hook strength of only 2.0 means it can't handle heavy loads. The fire resistance of 2.0 also makes it the most vulnerable to fire. If your hook is near Lava or a burning entity, the rope will burn through quickly.

Controls & Techniques

The mod supports using launchers in both hands simultaneously. Main hand uses Left Mouse Button for all actions, while off-hand uses Right Mouse Button. The modifier keys (Shift, Control, Space) work the same for both hands.

Basic Controls

Press the attack button (Left/Right Mouse) to fire the hook. Once attached, press the use button (opposite mouse button or hold it) to pull yourself toward the hook point. To loosen rope and rappel downward, hold Left Control plus the attack button. When you want to detach, press Left Shift plus the attack button to reel in and unhook. The mod also registers a dedicated "Unhook" keybinding (default X) in the Controls menu under Gameplay. Pressing Shift plus this key also triggers reeling and unhooking.

Advanced Maneuvers

The Jump Boost technique lets you launch yourself upward: while pulling toward a hook point, hold Left Shift and press Space. This activates the boost with a strength of 1.0, sending you upward and resetting your fall distance. It's excellent for scaling cliff faces quickly by alternating between pull and boost.

The Tarzan Jump is the most dramatic move available. While swinging on a rope using A, W, S, D to build momentum, double-tap Space to release the rope at peak velocity. The momentum carries you forward through the air, letting you cover enormous distances. Timing matters: release at the highest point of your swing arc for maximum distance, or at the lowest point for maximum speed.

If another player hooks you with a Pudge Launcher, you can break free by pressing Left Shift plus the attack button. If you're riding an entity that gets hooked, simply left-click to dismount and escape.

Physics & Weight System

Advanced Hook Launchers features a realistic physics engine that accounts for weight, tension, and elasticity. When you hook an entity, the mod calculates both your weight and the target's weight to determine how the pull behaves. Your effective weight is doubled compared to the target's, giving you an inherent advantage when pulling creatures. This means lighter mobs like Chickens and Rabbits will fly toward you quickly, while heavier entities like Iron Golems or the Ender Dragon will barely budge, and you may find yourself being pulled toward them instead.

Rope tension is calculated based on the difference between the current rope length and the actual distance between you and the hook point. If the distance exceeds the rope length, tension force builds up. When that tension exceeds the hook's strength rating, the hook detaches and begins reeling back. Higher elasticity ropes absorb more of this tension by stretching, which is why the Web Launcher's rope bounces while the Pudge Launcher's rigid rope transfers force directly.

The rope also has visible sagging. When there's slack in the line (rope length exceeds actual distance), the rope visually droops between you and the attachment point. This isn't just cosmetic; it gives you a visual indicator of how much slack you have before the rope goes taut.

Block Interactions

Each hook type interacts with blocks differently based on their material. Understanding these interactions is critical for effective traversal.

The Spear Hook is the most versatile for block attachment. It hooks into any block with a hardness below 2.5, which includes most natural blocks like Stone, Dirt, Wood, and Cobblestone. It breaks Glass on impact, passes through Leaves without catching, and bounces off hard materials like Iron Blocks, Diamond Blocks, and Obsidian. Wool has a special interaction and always allows hooking regardless of the hardness check.

The Web Hook sticks to almost everything. Sand is its only weakness since it bounces off sandy materials. Every other block type, from Stone to Wood to Metal Blocks, is fair game for the Web Hook. This makes it the most reliable for traversal through diverse terrain.

The Pudge Hook has the most limited block interaction. It bounces off most solid blocks and primarily serves as an entity-pulling tool. It does break Glass and removes attached blocks like Torches, Bells, and Lanterns on contact, which can be useful for clearing lighting in PvP scenarios.

Configuration

All hook and launcher stats are fully configurable through config files located in your Minecraft config directory under the "adhooks" folder. Each hook type has its own config file with separate sections for the hook, launcher, and rope.

Hook settings include strength (0.0 to 20.0), damage (0.0 to 100.0), fire resistance (0.0 to 60.0 seconds), whether it affects NPCs, whether it affects players, and the "canHookAnyBlock" toggle. Enabling canHookAnyBlock on any hook type removes all material restrictions, allowing it to attach to any block regardless of hardness. This is particularly useful for the Pudge Hook if you want to use it for terrain traversal.

Launcher settings control durability, reeling speed (0.1 to 4.0), and boost-up strength (0.0 to 3.0). Rope settings include max length (1 to 80 blocks), width (1.0 to 10.0, purely visual), elasticity (0.0 to 0.95), and ARGB color. Changing the rope color is a popular server customization; each launcher's rope can be given a unique color for team-based play or personal preference.

Durability & Repair

Each launcher consumes 1 durability per shot fired. The Pudge Launcher lasts the longest at 300 shots, followed by the Web Launcher at 240, and the Spear Launcher at 180. Once a launcher's durability reaches zero, it becomes broken and can no longer fire hooks. Broken launchers display without their hook model, showing only the launcher body. Launchers can be repaired using String at an Anvil, following standard Minecraft item repair mechanics.