Cobblemon Pokenav — a mod for finding Pokémon and predicting spawns in Minecraft

Cobblemon Pokenav — a mod for finding Pokémon and predicting spawns in Minecraft

Cobblemon Pokenav is a side mod for Cobblemon that adds the PokéNav device to Minecraft, inspired by the pocket gadgets from Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald and Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire. Base Cobblemon shows Pokémon spawn conditions only through server commands or external wiki tables. Pokenav solves this problem inside the game: the player opens a single screen and sees which species can appear in the current location, with what probability, and under what conditions. In addition to the PokéNav itself, the mod adds a PokéFinder radar item, a specialized FishingNav for fishing, and a cosmetic Gholdengo PokéNav variant. 

PokéNav: the location screen and the finder screen

PokéNav is the mod's main item. It has two display modes: the Location Screen and the Finder Screen.

The Location Screen shows the full list of Pokémon that can spawn within a radius around the player. For each species it displays the spawn probability and the conditions — biome, time of day, height by Y coordinate, moon phase, weather, the type of block underfoot, whether there is open sky overhead, and the light level. The list updates in real time: if the player descends into a cave or enters a new biome, the screen adjusts instantly.

The open PokéNav screen with the list of Pokémon and spawn conditions;

The Finder Screen is the mode for actively searching for a specific target. On this screen you set criteria: Pokémon species, shininess, Hidden Ability, the number of perfect IV stats, and the presence of an egg move. The system scans the area around the player, looking for matching specimens. If a Pokémon is found, a three-dimensional arrow appears, pointing toward the target. It rotates along with the player's camera and changes its tilt, so you can orient yourself both horizontally and vertically.

Tracking a Pokémon with the three-dimensional arrow; the player moves toward the target, and the arrow rotates and changes its tilt

PokéFinder: a radar instead of a minimap

PokéFinder is a separate radar item. It is intended for servers and players who, for one reason or another, do not use minimaps: because of server rules, aesthetic reasons, or the limitations of adventure maps. It works as an overlay: the radar is displayed on top of the in-game HUD and shows the dots of Pokémon within range.

The radar itself is configured through the client config — you can change the scale of the main screen and the overlay, the margins from the edges, and the display of name labels above the dots. Unlike a regular minimap, PokéFinder shows only Pokémon entities — no blocks, structures, or other mobs. 

PokéFinder active in the bottom corner of the screen

FishingNav: a forecast for fishing

FishingNav is a specialized device for those who plan to catch aquatic Pokémon. The regular Location Screen does not show data about spawns through fishing — the mod separates this mechanic into a distinct item. FishingNav shows the list of Pokémon that can be caught in the current body of water, taking into account the type of water body, the type of rod, the lure level, and the bait.

The FishingNav interface is given a stylized look with decorative clouds in the background — the number and speed of the clouds are adjusted in the client config via maxCloudNumber and maxCloudVelocity.

The FishingNav screen; you can see the interface with the list of fish and the clouds in the background

Gholdengo PokéNav: a combined version

Gholdengo PokéNav is a themed reskin of the main PokéNav, styled after the Pokémon of the same name. Functionally it does not differ from the base version: it shows the same location and finder screens. The only difference is the item's appearance and a separate crafting recipe. 

Crafting

Each of the four devices is crafted at a crafting table with its own recipe. The exact crafting layouts for PokéNav, PokéFinder, FishingNav, and Gholdengo PokéNav are shown below. 

Crafting variations of PokéNav

Crafting PokéFinder

Crafting FishingNav 

Crafting Gholdengo PokéNav

Config — the main parameters

Pokenav stores its settings in two files: the server server-config.json and the client client-config.json. Below are the parameters that actually affect the gameplay experience.

Server config (server-config.json)

Client config (client-config.json)

Conclusion

Cobblemon Pokenav closes one specific and tangible problem of base Cobblemon — the complete obscurity of the spawn mechanics. Instead of the command line or an external wiki to answer the question "where to find Charmander in this biome", the player opens PokéNav and gets the data in a second, along with all the conditions. Unlike minimap mods, PokéFinder shows only Pokémon and gives no advantage in navigating the terrain. It suits players who are seriously into collecting in Cobblemon, as well as the administration of large Pokémon servers.