Magma vs Mohist: Which Forge+Bukkit Hybrid to Choose?
Magma and Mohist are the two main Forge+Bukkit hybrid server projects. They serve the same purpose — running Forge mods and Bukkit plugins on the same server — but they have some real differences.
Quick verdict
- Mohist — More actively maintained, supports newer Minecraft versions. Default choice for most users.
- Magma — Stable choice for older Minecraft versions, especially 1.12.2 and 1.16.5.
Version support
This is the biggest difference:
- Mohist — Supports 1.7.10 through 1.20.1 with regular updates
- Magma — Supports a smaller set of versions and updates more slowly
If you want a recent Minecraft version, Mohist is more likely to support it.
Mod compatibility
Both have similar compatibility with Forge mods, but neither is perfect. Some mods refuse to load on hybrid servers regardless of which one you use. Common compatibility issues:
- Mods that hook deeply into Minecraft internals (NMS)
- Some Coremods/transformers
- Mods that override world generation
Test your mod set on whichever hybrid you choose before relying on it.
Plugin compatibility
Both support all standard Bukkit/Spigot plugins. Plugins that use NMS may behave slightly differently on each — usually fine, occasionally needs a plugin update.
Performance
Both are slightly slower than pure Paper or pure Forge due to the hybrid overhead. The performance difference between Mohist and Magma is minimal.
Stability
Mohist tends to be more stable on recent versions because it's more actively developed. Magma is stable on its supported older versions.
Community and support
Mohist has a more active Discord community and faster issue response. Magma is smaller but still active.
Which to pick
- Pick Mohist if you want a recent Minecraft version (1.18+) or active updates
- Pick Magma if you specifically need 1.12.2 or 1.16.5 with proven stability
- Either works for the hybrid use case in general
Avoid hybrids if you can
If you don't strictly need both mods AND plugins, pure Forge or pure Paper is more stable. Hybrids exist because some servers genuinely need both, but they're more complex and slightly more fragile.
Try both
On FreeMCServers.org you can create both a Magma server and a Mohist server and compare side by side. They're both free.