RFTools Builder guide for FTB Skies 2 1.0.1 to 1.5.2
RFTools Builder guide for FTB Skies 2
Last verified for FTB Skies 2 v1.5.1 on Oct 17, 2026 · text last changed Oct 17, 2026
A newer release (1.24.0) is out Guide for the current version
Also applies to:All the Mods 10 2.7 to 2.12All the Mons 0.3.0-beta to 1.3.0FTB Skies 2: Aero 1.0.3 to 1.10.0FTB StoneBlock 4 1.1.1 to 1.23.0Project Infinity 0.1 0.0.45.4 to 0.0.51.4-hotfix-2
- Sections
- 6
- Recipes shown
- 27
- Items named
- 34
4 sections are written for this pack; 2 are shared from another pack's guide.
Every recipe and number here was checked against FTB Skies 2 1.5.1's own files.
What is RFTools Builder?
1 part
Same as in the All the Mods 10 2.12 guide
RFTools Builder is an addon for RFTools Base that adds the builder, all of the shape cards, and the shield system. If you like automating big construction jobs or protecting your base with shields, this is the mod you're looking for.[1]
It's meant to be used together with RFTools Power. It also needs RFTools Base and McJtyLib to work, so those come along with it.[1]
In this pack
The pack ships RFTools Builder version 1.21-7.0.1. It has been in the pack since version 1.27 or earlier, so it's a long-standing part of the mod list.[2]
Unverified No sources were available on where RFTools Builder fits into the pack's progression, and no in-jar guidebook was found. Recipes, config values and usage details for the builder, shape cards and shields are therefore not covered in this overview.
How do you get started with RFTools Builder?
4 parts
RFTools Builder is an addon for RFTools Base. It adds the Builder, all the shape cards and the shield system. The mod is meant to be used with RFTools Power and needs RFTools Base and McJtyLib. Here is what I would make first, in order.[1]
First, a Shape Card
Start with the Shape Card. It represents an area that the shield or the builder can use. To set the area, sneak right click on the builder to start mark mode, then right click to mark two corners of the area you want.[3]
Next, craft the Builder
The Builder is the heart of the mod. It can quarry areas, pump liquids, move, copy or swap structures, collect items and XP, move entities and build structures.[3]
It needs power. In this pack it holds up to 1,000,000 RF (builder.builderMaxRF) and can receive 20,000 RF per tick (builder.builderRFPerTick). A shape card used in the builder can be at most 512 blocks across (builder.maxBuilderDimension), with an offset of at most 260 (builder.maxBuilderOffset).[4]
Then, upgrade to a quarry card
Quarrying is a good first job for the builder. Shape cards and quarry cards are both enabled in this pack (builder.shapeCardAllowed and builder.quarryAllowed). The config notes that you must have shape cards enabled to use the quarry system.[4]
Copy Components (mcjtylib)
Diamond Pickaxe
Diamond Shovel
Redstone
Shape Card
- any iron ingot
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_quarry
The base quarry speed is 8 blocks per tick (builder.quarryBaseSpeed).[4]
The base cost is 300 RF per block (builder.builderRfPerQuarry), though the real cost depends on the hardness of the block. The quarry also chunkloads one chunk at a time (builder.quarryChunkloads).[4]
The clearing quarry cards are also allowed here (builder.clearingQuarryAllowed), but the config notes they can be heavier on the server.[4]
The Shape Card (Fortune Quarry) multiplies the builder's RF per operation by 2 (builder.fortunequarryShapeCardFactor), so expect a higher power bill with it.[3][4]
The Shape Card (Silk Quarry) multiplies the builder's RF per operation by 3 (builder.silkquarryShapeCardFactor).[3][4]
Finally, try the shield system
The Shield Projector Tier 1 forms a shield out of adjacent template blocks. It can filter by type of mob and do various things, such as damage or solid. Use the Smart Wrench to add sections to the shield.[3]
Crafting Shaped
| any gold ingot | any gold ingot | |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shield_block1
Template blocks come in four colors: red, blue, green and yellow. The set of template blocks with the same color has to touch the shield projector. Here is the red one as an example.[3][5]
Crafting Shaped
| any wool | any wool | any wool |
| any red dye | any glass blocks | any red dye |
| any wool | any wool | any wool |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:red_shield_template_block
The shield block stores up to 200,000 RF (shield.shieldMaxRF) and can receive 5,000 RF per tick (shield.shieldRFPerTick).[4]
How does RFTools Builder work?
9 parts
RFTools Builder is an addon that adds the builder, all the shape cards and the shield system. It builds on RFTools Base and McJtyLib, and it is meant to be used together with RFTools Power. Almost everything below comes from the pack's config files and recipes, so these are the values you will actually see in this pack.[1]
The Builder and its power
The Builder is the heart of the mod. It stores up to 1,000,000 RF (builder.builderMaxRF) and can accept 20,000 RF per tick (builder.builderRFPerTick). The pack leaves both at the mod default.[4]
What the builder spends depends on what it is doing. These are the pack's values:[4]
- Building: 500 RF per block operation (builder.builderRfPerOperation).[4]
- Pumping: a base of 300 RF per operation when it is used as a pump (builder.builderRfPerLiquid).[4]
- Quarrying or voiding: a base of 300 RF per block, and the real cost depends on the hardness of the block (builder.builderRfPerQuarry).[4]
- Moving entities: 5,000 RF each (builder.builderRfPerEntity).[4]
- Moving players: 40,000 RF each (builder.builderRfPerPlayer).[4]
- Skipped blocks: 50 RF per block that gets skipped, which applies when you add a filter to the builder (builder.builderRfPerSkipped).[4]
- Moving across dimensions costs 5 times more (builder.dimensionCostFactor).[4]
There is also a holo hud above the builder that shows its current progress. It is switched on in the pack (builder.showProgressHud).[6]
Shape cards
Shape cards are enabled in this pack (builder.shapeCardAllowed). The config notes that you must keep this on if you want to use the quarry system. A shape used in the builder can be up to 512 blocks in dimension (builder.maxBuilderDimension) and offset by up to 260 (builder.maxBuilderOffset). The basic Shape Card is the starting point.[4][5]
The fluid cards are made by upgrading that card. Shape Card (Placing Liquids) is the one for placing liquids, and Shape Card (Pump) is the pump card.[5]
Copy Components (mcjtylib)
Lava Bucket
Water Bucket
- any iron ingot
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_liquid
You can turn the pump card into Shape Card (Clearing Pump). A separate recipe converts the clearing version back into a normal pump card.[5]
Copy Components (mcjtylib)
Shape Card (Pump)
- any glass blocks
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_pump_clear
Quarry mode
Quarry cards are allowed in this pack (builder.quarryAllowed), and so are the clearing quarry cards (builder.clearingQuarryAllowed). The config warns that the clearing ones can be heavier on the server. The quarry's base speed is 8 blocks per tick (builder.quarryBaseSpeed). The infusion factor is multiplied by 20 and added to that base speed (builder.quarryInfusionSpeedFactor).[4]
- The quarry chunkloads one chunk at a time. If you turn that off, it stops when a chunk is not loaded (builder.quarryChunkloads).[4]
- It also quarries tile entities. Otherwise it would just ignore them (builder.quarryTileEntities).[4]
- The replacement block is minecraft:dirt (builder.quarryReplace).[4]
- The fortune quarry card multiplies the RF per operation by 2 (builder.fortunequarryShapeCardFactor).[4]
- The silk quarry card multiplies it by 3 (builder.silkquarryShapeCardFactor).[4]
- The void card multiplies it by 0.5 (builder.voidShapeCardFactor).[4]
Moving tile entities
The pack sets the tile entity mode to MOVE_BLACKLIST (builder.tileEntityMode). That means every tile entity can be moved except the blacklisted ones. The block list for that mode is empty (builder.blackWhiteListedBlocks).[4]
The NBT list is where the pack makes a change. It contains minecraft:chest=false, which blacklists chest NBT data so it is not transferred (builder.blackWhiteListedNBTBlocks). Any block that is not in that list is blacklisted by default.[4]
Collect items mode
The builder can also collect items in an area. Each item costs 20 RF (builder.collectRFPerItem), and 1 XP level costs 2 RF (builder.collectRFPerXP). Keeping watch on an area costs 0.5 RF per tick per area (builder.collectRFPerTickPerArea). It waits 10 ticks between collections (builder.collectTimer).[4]
Space Chamber
The space chamber is limited to a maximum dimension of 128 (builder.maxSpaceChamberDimension). The parts are the Space Chamber, the Space Chamber Controller and the Space Card.[4][5]
Crafting Shaped
| any blue dye | any glass blocks | any blue dye |
| any glass blocks | any glass blocks | |
| any blue dye | any glass blocks | any blue dye |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:space_chamber
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | any ender pearl | Empty slot |
| Empty slot | any ender pearl | Empty slot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:space_chamber_controller
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| any iron ingot | ||
| Empty slot | Empty slot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:space_chamber_card
Mover and vehicles
The Mover Controller holds up to 100,000 RF (mover.moverControllerMaxRF) and accepts 1,000 RF per tick (mover.moverControllerRFPerTick). One movement costs 1,000 RF (mover.rfPerMove). The vehicle control module uses 0 RF per tick per block (mover.vehicleControlRFPerTick), and the vehicle status module uses 2 (mover.vehicleStatusRFPerTick). All of these are the mod defaults.[4][5]
The Mover Control has four pages: Mover Control (Page 2), Mover Control (Page 3) and Mover Control (Page 4) follow it. The recipes below show how the pages connect, including the one that takes page 4 back to the first.[5]
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:mover_control
Shield system
The shield system starts with the Shield Projector Tier 1. It comes with template blocks in four colors: Red Shield Template, Green Shield Template, Blue Shield Template and Yellow Shield Template. The shield shares the sphere and cylinder calculation with the builder. The pack keeps the corrected version, because the old one is switched off (builder.oldSphereCylinderShape).[4][5]
Crafting Shaped
| any gold ingot | any gold ingot | |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shield_block1
Client-side settings
These only affect your own game. The projector sound volume is 0.4 (scanner.baseProjectorVolume), and a scanline flash lasts 400 milliseconds (scanner.projectorFlashTimeout). Unused shape render data is removed after 10,000 milliseconds (scanner.clientRenderDataTimeout), and a locator beacon is 30 blocks high (scanner.locatorBeaconHeight).[6]
How do you progress through RFTools Builder?
5 parts
RFTools Builder doesn't give you one long ladder. In this pack's recipes it splits into a few branches: the Builder with its Shape Cards, the Shield Projectors, the Space Chamber, the Mover and the Vehicle Builder. Most of the machines are built on a frame from RFTools Base, so that is where your progression really starts. The Shield Projector is the only branch with numbered tiers.[5]
Start with the Builder and Shape Cards
The Builder and the basic Shape Card are your entry points. The Quarry, Pump, Placing Liquids and Void cards are all made from a basic Shape Card, so craft a few of those first.[5]
Crafting Shaped
| any ender pearl | ||
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:builder
The Builder is a shaped crafting recipe built on a Machine Frame.
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | ||
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_def
The plain Shape Card that the other cards are made from.
Copy Components (mcjtylib)
- any iron ingot
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_liquid
The Placing Liquids card.
The quarry cards are the clearest upgrade chain: Shape Card (Quarry) first, then Shape Card (Fortune Quarry) or Shape Card (Silk Quarry). The recipes below show each step.[5]
Copy Components (mcjtylib)
- any iron ingot
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_quarry
Made from a basic Shape Card.
Copy Components (mcjtylib)
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_quarry_fortune
Made from the Quarry card.
Copy Components (mcjtylib)
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_quarry_silk
Also made from the Quarry card.
The Pump card.
Each Quarry card, and the Pump card, has a Clearing version, such as Shape Card (Clearing Quarry) and Shape Card (Clearing Pump). You make it from the matching card plus glass. A recipe with dirt turns a Clearing card back into its normal version.[5]
Copy Components (mcjtylib)
- any glass blocks
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_pump_clear
The Clearing version of the Pump card.
Shield Projector tiers
The shield line has four tiers. Shield Projector Tier 1 is crafted from scratch. Tiers 2, 3 and 4 are each crafted from the projector one tier below, so you upgrade the block you already have instead of building a new one.[5]
Crafting Shaped
| any gold ingot | any gold ingot | |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shield_block1
Tier 1, the only projector crafted from base materials.
Upgrades Tier 1 to Shield Projector Tier 2.
Upgrades Tier 2 to Shield Projector Tier 3.
Upgrades Tier 3 to Shield Projector Tier 4.
The coloured templates are separate from the projector tiers: Red Shield Template, Green Shield Template, Blue Shield Template and Yellow Shield Template. Each craft makes 8 blocks, and the red recipe is shown below.[5]
Crafting Shaped
| any wool | any wool | any wool |
| any red dye | any glass blocks | any red dye |
| any wool | any wool | any wool |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:red_shield_template_block
The red template, which makes 8 blocks.
Space Chamber
The Space Card is separate from the Shape Cards. The Space Chamber is its own machine, and the Space Chamber Controller comes after it, so build the chamber first.[5]
Crafting Shaped
| any blue dye | any glass blocks | any blue dye |
| any glass blocks | any glass blocks | |
| any blue dye | any glass blocks | any blue dye |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:space_chamber
Build this first.
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | any ender pearl | Empty slot |
| Empty slot | any ender pearl | Empty slot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:space_chamber_controller
Uses the Space Chamber as an ingredient.
Mover
The Mover, Mover Control, Mover Controller and Mover Status each have their own recipe. The Mover Control also has page variants, Page 2 to Page 4, and a further recipe turns Page 4 back into the first page.[5]
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot | |
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:mover
The Mover itself.
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any ender pearl | |
| any ender pearl | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:mover_controller
The Mover Controller.
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:mover_control
The first Mover Control page.
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:mover_status
The Mover Status.
Vehicles
The Vehicle Card is where the vehicle branch starts. The Vehicle Control Module and Vehicle Status Module follow it, and the Vehicle Builder is a separate machine.[5]
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:vehicle_card
Both vehicle modules are crafted from this card.
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot | |
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:vehicle_builder
The Vehicle Builder machine.
Unverified Where the pack's quest book places this mod, and which quests lead to or from it, is told in the quest chapters. The sources here do not show it, so this guide does not say.
How does RFTools Builder work with other mods?
2 parts
In this pack, RFTools Builder connects to other mods through crafting. Its in-pack recipes mix its own items with vanilla Minecraft items and with parts from RFTools Base, so that is where the links show up.[5]
RFTools Base
The Machine Frame from RFTools Base is the common base part of the machines you craft in this pack, including the Builder, the Space Chamber and the entry-level Shield Projector Tier 1. Get your Machine Frames sorted before you plan a Builder setup. The recipes below show each one.[5]
Crafting Shaped
| any ender pearl | ||
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:builder
The Builder takes a Machine Frame from RFTools Base plus vanilla items and any ender pearl.
Crafting Shaped
| any blue dye | any glass blocks | any blue dye |
| any glass blocks | any glass blocks | |
| any blue dye | any glass blocks | any blue dye |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:space_chamber
Crafting Shaped
| any gold ingot | any gold ingot | |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shield_block1
The Dimensional Shard shows up in the upgrade recipes. It is needed for the Fortune and Silk quarry cards and for Shield Projector Tier 3 and Tier 4.[5]
The project page also says RFTools Builder depends on RFTools Base and McJtyLib, and that it is intended to be used together with RFTools Power.[1]
Vanilla Minecraft items
The Mover family (Mover, Mover Control, Mover Controller and Mover Status) is crafted with vanilla Minecraft items next to a Machine Frame. The Vehicle Builder is the one that builds on a vanilla Minecart. The Mover recipe is a good example, and the others follow below.[5]
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot | |
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:mover
The Mover combines a vanilla rail and redstone torch with a Machine Frame and any iron ingot.
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:mover_control
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any ender pearl | |
| any ender pearl | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:mover_controller
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:mover_status
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot | |
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:vehicle_builder
The upgrades go further into vanilla territory. Each one is crafted from an item you already own, and the higher ones also take rarer vanilla items on top of the Dimensional Shard:[5]
- Shape Card (Fortune Quarry) is made from Shape Card (Quarry).[5]
- Shape Card (Silk Quarry) is also made from Shape Card (Quarry).[5]
- Shield Projector Tier 3 is made from Shield Projector Tier 2.[5]
- Shield Projector Tier 4 is made from Shield Projector Tier 3.[5]
Copy Components (mcjtylib)
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_quarry_fortune
The Fortune quarry card upgrades a Shape Card (Quarry) using vanilla items and a Dimensional Shard.
Copy Components (mcjtylib)
Recipe id: rftoolsbuilder:shape_card_quarry_silk
Shield Projector Tier 4 upgrades a Tier 3 projector using vanilla items and a Dimensional Shard.
Which RFTools Builder config options matter?
5 parts
Same as in the FTB Skies 2 1.22.0 guide
RFTools Builder has a lot of config options, and in this pack they live in two files: a server file for costs, limits and permissions, and a client file for visuals. Every option here that lists a mod default is set to exactly that default. So the pack hasn't changed any of these values, and the numbers below are simply what you get in this pack.[7][8]
Builder power and limits
- builder.builderMaxRF is 1,000,000 RF of storage for the builder.[8]
- builder.builderRFPerTick lets the builder receive 20,000 RF per tick.[8]
- Building a block costs 500 RF through builder.builderRfPerOperation.[8]
- Moving an entity costs 5,000 RF, set by builder.builderRfPerEntity.[8]
- Moving a player costs 40,000 RF, set by builder.builderRfPerPlayer.[8]
- Shapes can be up to 512 blocks across (builder.maxBuilderDimension).[8]
- The shape offset can be up to 260 (builder.maxBuilderOffset).[8]
- Moving something across dimensions is 5 times more expensive, set by builder.dimensionCostFactor.[8]
Shape cards and quarries
Shape cards (builder.shapeCardAllowed), quarry cards (builder.quarryAllowed) and clearing quarry cards (builder.clearingQuarryAllowed) are all allowed to be crafted in this pack. The quarry also chunkloads one chunk at a time (builder.quarryChunkloads) and will quarry tile entities (builder.quarryTileEntities).[8]
- The quarry's base speed is 8 blocks per tick (builder.quarryBaseSpeed).[8]
- The fortune quarry card multiplies the builder's RF per operation by 2 (builder.fortunequarryShapeCardFactor).[8]
- The silk quarry card multiplies it by 3 (builder.silkquarryShapeCardFactor).[8]
- The void card multiplies it by 0.5 (builder.voidShapeCardFactor), so voiding is the cheapest option.[8]
Moving tile entities
builder.tileEntityMode is set to MOVE_BLACKLIST, which means every tile entity can be moved except blacklisted ones. The NBT list in builder.blackWhiteListedNBTBlocks contains minecraft:chest=false. Because that list works as a blacklist, a chest's NBT data is not transferred. The other list, builder.blackWhiteListedBlocks, is empty.[8]
Shield and scanner
- The shield block stores up to 200,000 RF (shield.shieldMaxRF).[8]
- The maximum size of a first-tier shield is 256 blocks (shield.shieldMaxSize).[8]
- Invisible shield mode is allowed (shield.allowInvisibleShield).[8]
- The scanner uses 1,000 RF per tick during a scan (scanner.scannerUsePerTick) and stores up to 500,000 RF (scanner.scannerMaxRF).[8]
- The projector uses 1,000 RF per tick while in use (scanner.projectorUsePerTick) and stores up to 500,000 RF (scanner.projectorMaxRF).[8]
- Scanner and projector shapes can be up to 512 blocks across (scanner.maxScannerDimension).[8]
Client options
builder.showProgressHud is on, so you see a holographic progress display above the builder. The projector sound volume (scanner.baseProjectorVolume) is 0.4, and 0.0 turns it off. If you find the sound annoying, this is the option to change.[7]
Sources
- RFTools Builder project page (modrinth) · official mod data
- All the Mods 10 2.12 mod list · pack file
- rftoolsbuilder names, screen text and descriptions (English lang file) · official mod data
- FTB Skies 2 1.5.1 config: config/rftoolsbuilder-server.toml · pack file
- FTB Skies 2 1.5.1 recipe dump: recipes making RFTools Builder items · pack recipe dump
- FTB Skies 2 1.5.1 config: config/rftoolsbuilder-client.toml · pack file
- FTB Skies 2 1.22.0 config: config/rftoolsbuilder-client.toml · pack file
- FTB Skies 2 1.22.0 config: config/rftoolsbuilder-server.toml · pack file
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: 1.6.0 to 1.24.0