Explorer's Compass in FTB Skies 2
FTB Skies 2 1.24.0 ships version 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge · First seen in 1.0.1
Explorer's Compass is a mod in FTB Skies 2 1.24.0, where it is version 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge. Allows you to locate structures anywhere in the world. (Summary from the mod's Modrinth page.)
Explorer's Compass guide for FTB Skies 2
Last verified for FTB Skies 2 v1.24.0 on Oct 17, 2026 · text last changed Oct 17, 2026
- Sections
- 8
- Recipes shown
- 2
- Items named
- 4
- Quests covered
- 2
Every recipe and number here was checked against FTB Skies 2 1.24.0, read from the running game on Oct 13, 2026.
What is Explorer's Compass?
2 parts
Explorer's Compass adds one item, the Explorer's Compass, which lets you locate structures anywhere in the world. If you want a compass for biomes instead, the mod's author points to a separate mod called Nature's Compass.[1]
The pack ships version 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge of the mod.[2]
What it does
- Right-click with the compass to open a GUI where you pick a structure or a group of structures to search for.[1]
- Shift-right-click to reset the compass state.[1]
- Information about your current structure search is shown on the HUD.[1]
- When the compass isn't pointing at a structure, it points at the world spawn.[1]
- It supports all registered structures, both vanilla and modded.[1]
The mod's config file lets you adjust properties like the maximum search radius and which structures are blacklisted.[1]
Where it sits in the quest book
The pack's quest book includes the compass in the "the_travelers_quest" chapter, "Adventuring Beyond!" quest, and in the "useful_items_tips" chapter, "Explorer's Compass" quest. In both, the task is the Explorer's Compass item.[3][4]
How do you get started with Explorer's Compass?
4 parts
The Explorer's Compass is the first thing to make if you want to find structures without wandering blindly. It locates structures anywhere in the world, and it supports all registered structures, both vanilla and modded.[1]
Step 1: Craft the compass
This pack adds its own crafting recipe for the compass, so use the recipe below rather than the one you may remember from the mod's own page.[5]
Shaped (kubejs)
Recipe id: ftb:explorerscompass
This recipe is added by the pack.
The compass also appears as a task in two quests: "Adventuring Beyond!" quest in the Traveler's Quest chapter and "Explorer's Compass" quest in the useful items and tips chapter. Both are untitled in the quest data.[3][4]
Step 2: Learn the controls
- Right-click with the compass to open a GUI where you pick a structure or a group of structures to search for.[1]
- Watch the HUD, which displays information about your structure search.[1]
- Shift-right-click to reset the compass state when you want to start over.[1]
Repairing
The mod also has a shapeless recipe, repair_explorers_compass, that takes an Explorer's Compass and a vanilla compass and gives you an Explorer's Compass.[5]
This one is the mod's own recipe, not added by the pack.
Tuning it
The mod's config file lets you adjust properties like the maximum search radius and blacklisted structures. The sources here do not show the values this pack uses.[1]
How does Explorer's Compass work?
4 parts
Explorer's Compass is built around one item, Explorer's Compass, which locates structures anywhere in the world. Everything below is about how you use it and which limits the pack sets.[1][6]
Using the compass
- Right-click with the compass to open a GUI where you pick a structure or a group of structures to search for.[1]
- Shift-right-click to reset the compass state.[1]
- Information about the search shows up on the HUD.[1]
- When the compass is not pointing at a structure, it points at the world spawn.[1]
- It supports all registered structures, vanilla and modded.[1]
Search limits in this pack
Searches are shaped by a handful of options in the common config. General.maxRadius is 10,000 here, which is also the mod default. Raising it makes searches more accurate but can make the process more resource intensive. General.maxSamples caps how many samples a search takes, and the pack leaves it at the mod default of 100,000.[7]
You can also search for the next instance of a structure you already located. General.maxNextSearches limits this to 100 times, the mod default, and setting it to 0 turns it off so the compass always finds the nearest instance.[7]
General.displayCoordinates is true, so the HUD can show the precise coordinates and distance of a located structure instead of making you rely on the pointing direction alone.[7]
General.allowTeleport is true. That lets you teleport to a located structure, but only in creative mode, when opped, or in cheat mode.[7]
The pack's General.structureBlacklist is set to ["mss:*"], so any structure matching that pattern is hidden from the GUI and cannot be searched for. The wildcard * matches any number of characters and ? matches one.[7]
XP cost and durability
Searching costs no XP by default: General.defaultXpLevels is 0, and General.xpLevelOverrides is empty. If a structure is ever given its own cost through overrides, the maximum is 3 levels.[7]
General.compassDurability is 0, the mod default, which disables durability. Your compass will not break from successful searches. If you raise the value, it counts the successful searches before the compass breaks and needs repairing.[7]
Getting and repairing it
The pack adds its own crafting recipe for the compass.[5]
Shaped (kubejs)
Recipe id: ftb:explorerscompass
This recipe is added by the pack.
The mod's shapeless repair recipe is also present. With durability at 0 in this pack, it only matters if you turn durability on.[5][7]
This is the mod's own repair recipe.
The pack's Wandering Trader also has an offer for the compass: one Gold Coin buys one compass, limited to 1 use.[8]
How do you progress through Explorer's Compass?
2 parts
In this pack the Explorer's Compass is a single item. The sources show no tiers or upgrade steps for it, so there is no ladder to climb. What the pack gives you is a quest-book mention and a custom recipe.[3][4][5]
Where the quest book places it
The compass is the task of "Adventuring Beyond!" quest in the "the_travelers_quest" chapter. It is also the task of "Explorer's Compass" quest in the "useful_items_tips" chapter. Both quests are untitled in the pack files, and the sources list nothing else for them.[3][4]
How you get the compass
The pack adds its own shaped recipe for the compass through KubeJS. This is the recipe to follow in this pack.[5]
Shaped (kubejs)
Recipe id: ftb:explorerscompass
This recipe is added by the pack, not by the mod.
The mod also has a shapeless crafting recipe with the compass as its result. Its recipe id contains "repair".[5]
This one comes from the mod itself.
How does Explorer's Compass work with other mods?
2 parts
The clearest link between Explorer's Compass and the rest of the pack is how you craft it. The pack adds its own KubeJS recipe for the compass, shown below. Items from other mods, such as Diamond Gear and Netherite Nugget, are what tie it to the rest of the pack.[5]
Shaped (kubejs)
Recipe id: ftb:explorerscompass
This recipe is added by the pack through KubeJS, so it is the pack's own recipe and not something you should assume from the mod itself.
Quests
The compass is a quest task in the chapters the_travelers_quest ("Adventuring Beyond!" quest) and useful_items_tips ("Explorer's Compass" quest). In both, the only task is the compass itself, so these quests don't combine it with items from other mods.[3][4]
Structures from other mods
The mod's project page says the compass supports all registered structures, both vanilla and modded. That means structures added by other mods can show up in its selection screen when you right-click with it.[1]
Which FTB Skies 2 quests use Explorer's Compass?
1 part
The Explorer's Compass appears in the quest book in the chapters "the_travelers_quest" and "useful_items_tips". In each one, the quest's task is the compass itself, and neither quest has a title in the pack files.[3][4]
The chapters
- The chapter "the_travelers_quest" contains "Adventuring Beyond!" quest. Its task is the Explorer's Compass item.[3]
- The chapter "useful_items_tips" contains "Explorer's Compass" quest. Its task is also the Explorer's Compass item.[4]
Which Explorer's Compass config options matter?
3 parts
Explorer's Compass has two config files: a common one for gameplay rules and a client one for how the HUD looks. Wherever the pack files list a mod default, this pack's value is the same as that default. The one setting I can't compare is the structure blacklist, covered below.[7][9]
Search limits and costs
- General.maxRadius is 10,000, the mod default. It is the farthest radius the compass will search for a structure. Raising it improves search accuracy but can make the search more resource intensive.[7]
- General.maxSamples is 100,000, also the mod default. It caps how many samples are taken during a structure search.[7]
- General.maxNextSearches is 100, the mod default. It is how many times you can search for the next instance of a located structure. Setting it to 0 turns that off, so the compass always finds the nearest instance.[7]
- General.compassDurability is 0, the mod default, which means durability is disabled. Your compass won't break after a number of searches.[7]
- General.defaultXpLevels is 0, the mod default, so searching costs no XP levels. The allowed range is 0 to 3, and General.xpLevelOverrides is an empty list, so no structure has its own cost.[7]
Structures, teleporting and coordinates
- General.structureBlacklist is set to ["mss:*"]. Blacklisted structures don't show up in the compass GUI and can't be searched for. The * wildcard matches any number of characters, so this hides every structure whose id starts with mss:.[7]
- General.allowTeleport is true. You can teleport to a located structure if you are in creative mode, opped, or in cheat mode.[7]
- General.displayCoordinates is true. The HUD shows the exact coordinates and distance of a located structure, so you don't have to rely only on which way the compass points.[7]
Unverified The sources don't show the mod's default for the structure blacklist, so it is unconfirmed whether the mss:* entry is a pack change or the mod's own default.
HUD settings (client)
- Client.displayWithChatOpen is true, so the compass info stays on the HUD while chat is open.[9]
- Client.overlaySide is "LEFT". The other allowed value is RIGHT.[9]
- Client.overlayLineOffset is 1, the mod default, with an allowed range of 0 to 50. It moves the compass info up or down on the HUD by line.[9]
- Client.translateStructureNames is true. The mod tries to translate structure names before falling back to the raw names, though translations may not exist for every structure.[9]
What changed in Explorer's Compass between versions?
2 parts
FTB Skies 2 1.22.0 ships Explorer's Compass 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge. The mod has been in the pack since FTB Skies 2 1.0.1 or earlier.[2]
Version 3.4.0
This is the version you get in 1.22.0. Its changelog is made up of backports, meaning changes brought over from other versions of the mod. Here is what it lists:[2][10]
- A config option to add durability to the compass, plus a recipe to repair a broken compass.[10]
- A feature to search for the next instance of a structure you have already located.[10]
- Config options to make the compass consume XP levels when it searches for a structure.[10]
- A fix for structures with the c:hidden_from_locator_selection tag not being hidden.[10]
- A fix for certain structure types where instances west of the search starting position were missed.[10]
- Improvements to the structure selection GUI.[10]
- Turkish and Ukrainian translations.[10]
Version 3.0.3
The changelog for this earlier release has a single entry: the mod was updated to NeoForge 1.21.1.[11]
Unverified The sources do not say whether the pack turns on the durability and XP cost options, or what values it uses for them, so check the in-game config before relying on either. No pack changelog entries for this mod were available either.
Sources
- Explorer's Compass project page (modrinth) · official mod data
- FTB Skies 2 1.22.0 mod list · pack file
- FTB Skies 2 1.22.0 quests: "the_travelers_quest" · pack file
- FTB Skies 2 1.22.0 quests: "useful_items_tips" · pack file
- FTB Skies 2 1.22.0 recipe dump: recipes making Explorer's Compass items · pack recipe dump
- explorerscompass names, screen text and descriptions (English lang file) · official mod data
- FTB Skies 2 1.22.0 config: config/explorerscompass-common.toml · pack file
- kubejs/server_scripts/common/ftb_event_system/events/event_trader.js (FTB Skies 2's own script) · pack file
- FTB Skies 2 1.22.0 config: config/explorerscompass-client.toml · pack file
- Explorer's Compass 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge changelog · changelog
- Explorer's Compass 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge changelog · changelog
Where this guide comes from
Written from what FTB Skies 2 itself ships: its files and recipes, the in-game guidebooks and the mods' own pages. Every statement links to the source it came from, and the numbers are checked against the pack before publishing.
Guide last verified Oct 17, 2026.
Guides for other versions: 1.0.1 to 1.14.3
Report wrong info
Version in each release
44 releases, first in 1.0.1
| FTB Skies 2 | Version | Jar | Where it came from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.24.0 Oct 12, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.23.0 Sep 24, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.22.0 Sep 3, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.21.1 Jul 29, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.20.1 Jul 29, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.20.0 Jul 27, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.19.0 Jul 24, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.18.2 Jun 21, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.18.1 Jun 16, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.18.0 May 31, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.17.0 May 27, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.16.0 May 13, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.15.0 May 1, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.4.0-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.14.3 Apr 1, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.14.2 Apr 1, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.14.1 Mar 27, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.14.0 Mar 21, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.13.4 Feb 27, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.13.3 Feb 19, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.13.2 Feb 17, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.13.1 Feb 13, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.13.0 Feb 12, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.12.0 Jan 6, 2026 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.11.0 Dec 10, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.10.2 Nov 24, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.10.1 Nov 20, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.9.2 Oct 7, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.9.1 Sep 29, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.9.0 Sep 22, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.8.0 Aug 27, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.7.0 Aug 23, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.6.1 Aug 8, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.6.0 Aug 6, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.5.2 Jul 24, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.5.1 Jul 23, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.5.0 Jul 22, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.4.1 Jul 15, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.4.0 Jul 15, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.3.1 Jul 9, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.3.0 Jul 8, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.2.0 Jul 6, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.1.1 Jul 2, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.1.0 Jul 1, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
| 1.0.1 Jul 1, 2025 | 1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge | ExplorersCompass-1.21.1-3.0.3-neoforge.jar | From the published release |
"From pack files" means the list came from the pack's own files; "from the published release" means ForgeBase read the jars of the release itself.
Items and blocks
1 items from the 1.24.0 recipe dump.
FTB Skies 2 quests (2)
Quests from the pack's FTB Quests book that ask for this mod's items.
The Traveler's Quest (1)
- Adventuring Beyond!
Useful Items & Tips (1)
- Explorer's Compass
Config options (how FTB Skies 2 sets them)
13 settings shipped in the pack's config files; 0 differ from the mod's documented default.
Show settings
| Setting | FTB Skies 2 value | Mod default |
|---|---|---|
Client.displayWithChatOpen Displays Explorer's Compass information on the HUD even while chat is open. config/explorerscompass-client.toml | true | not documented |
Client.overlaySide The side for information rendered on the HUD. Ex: LEFT, RIGHT config/explorerscompass-client.toml | LEFT | not documented |
Client.translateStructureNames Attempts to translate structure names before fixing the unlocalized names. Translations may not be available for all structures. config/explorerscompass-client.toml | true | not documented |
General.allowTeleport Allows a player to teleport to a located structure when in creative mode, opped, or in cheat mode. config/explorerscompass-common.toml | true | not documented |
General.displayCoordinates Allows players to view the precise coordinates and distance of a located structure on the HUD, rather than relying on the direction the compass is pointing. config/explorerscompass-common.toml | true | not documented |
General.structureBlacklist A list of structures that the compass will not display in the GUI and will not be able to search for. Wildcard character * can be used to match any number of characters, and ? can be used to match one character. Ex: ["minecraft:buried_treasure", "minecraft:end*", "minecraft:*village*"] config/explorerscompass-common.toml | ["mss:*"] | not documented |
Which FTB Skies 2 mods work with Explorer's Compass?
The FTB Skies 2 mods that share the most recipes with Explorer's Compass. Highlighted ones have a guide.
Comments and tips
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