BetterBlockZ in FTB Skies 2: Aero

Same as in the FTB StoneBlock 4 1.21.0 guide

BetterBlockZ is a decorative building mod. It continues Ztones and adds modern, industrial, fantasy and futuristic block sets, with expanded variants and reworked textures. The pack ships version 0.2.10 for NeoForge 1.21.1, and the mod's author thanks the FTB team for including it.^[1][2]

It is for builders. If you want your base to look like more than a pile of cobble, this is your palette. It doesn't add machines or progression content.^[1]

What you get

• Block types: standard blocks, pillars you can rotate like logs, fully rotatable blocks for diagonal textures, and CTM (connected texture) variants on select blocks.^[1]
• Lighting: Cyber Lights are no-shade, full-color light blocks that Redstone can toggle. They come as flat blocks and panels for walls, floors or ceilings. The Zeon set is neon-style, its blocks all emit light, and it comes in 16 colors.^[1]
• Building tools: Cycler, Checkered Cycler, Placer, Cobble Crafter, Block Extender, Block Replacer and the BlockZ Master, which combines the 4 main tools.^[1]

Switching variants

While holding a block, you can sneak and right-click in air, hold Alt and scroll the mouse wheel, or press V to open a selection screen. In your inventory, hover the block and use Alt plus the mouse wheel. Alt and V are default keybinds, so rebind them if another mod uses the same keys. For blocks already placed, use the Cycler tool in Block, Line or Area mode.^[1]

Crafting in a nutshell

Each set has a base variant with a standard crafting recipe. Every other variant comes from the Stonecutter, and AE2 can auto-craft those Stonecutter recipes.^[1]

BetterBlockZ is a decorative mod with modern, industrial, fantasy and futuristic block sets. Everything starts from one item, so your first job is simple: get BlockZ Core going.^[1]

Step 1: Make BlockZ Core

BlockZ Core is the main ingredient for every set, and one craft gives you 8 of them. The pack has a few recipe variants that all give the same result, and this is one of them.^[1][3]

8× BlockZ CoreMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Cobblestone	Stone	Cobblestone
Stone	Smooth Stone	Stone
Cobblestone	Stone	Cobblestone

Recipe id: betterblockz:blockz_core_stone

Step 2: Craft the base block of a set

Each set has a base variant that you craft by combining Core with a set-specific material. Azur Base is a good first one to try, and one craft makes 8.^[1][3]

8× Azur BaseMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Lapis Lazuli	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:azur_custom

Watch out for Ztyl Base. The pack changed this recipe from the mod's own, so use the one below and don't rely on what you may have seen elsewhere. One craft makes 16.^[3]

16× Ztyl BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Steel Ingot	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:ztyl_blockz_0

Step 3: Make BlockZ Aurora

BlockZ Aurora is the next building block to make. One craft makes 16, so a single batch goes a long way.^[3]

16× BlockZ AuroraMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	any dye	BlockZ Core
any dye	Glass	any dye
BlockZ Core	any dye	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:aurora_blockz

8× Agon WhiteMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Aurora	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:agon_custom

Several set bases build on Aurora. Agon White is one example, and one craft makes 8.

Step 4: Get the other variants

The base variant has a standard crafting recipe, and all other variants are accessible through Stonecutter recipes, so keep a Stonecutter nearby while you build. The mod's page says AE2 fully supports auto-crafting with Stonecutter recipes.^[1]

You can also switch variants without crafting. While holding a block, sneak and right-click in the air, hold Alt and scroll the mouse wheel, or press V to open the selection screen. In your inventory, hover the block and use Alt and the mouse wheel. Alt and V are default keybinds, so if another mod uses them, rebind them in the controls menu.^[1]

Step 5: Build your toolkit

The mod's page describes the BlockZ Crafter as a portable crafting table and cobblestone placer. Keep in mind that the page also notes not all tools are currently available on Forge.^[1][3]

BlockZ CrafterMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
Water Bucket	Crafting Table	Lava Bucket
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:cobble_crafter

The page lists the BlockZ Placer, which places a saved block in Line or Area mode with an undo feature, and the BlockZ Replacer, which selects and replaces blocks dynamically. It also lists the BlockZ Extender, which extends connected blocks. The same note applies: not all tools are currently available on Forge.^[1][3]

BlockZ PlacerMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Iron Block	BlockZ Core
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:auto_placer

BlockZ ReplacerMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Ender Pearl	BlockZ Core
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:block_replacer

BlockZ ExtenderMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Piston	BlockZ Core
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:block_extend

The BlockZ Cycler (the Cycler) changes the variants of blocks already placed in the world, in Block, Line and Area modes. Once you have the main tools, the BlockZ Master combines four of them into one item, as the mod's page describes, again with the caveat that not all tools are currently available on Forge.^[1][3]

BlockZ MasterMod recipe

Crafting Shapeless

• BlockZ Placer
• BlockZ Replacer
• BlockZ Cycler
• BlockZ Extender

Recipe id: betterblockz:meta_wand

BetterBlockZ is a decorative mod, so there are no machines, multiblocks, power or fluids to wire up here. The systems that matter are how you craft block sets, how you switch between variants, and how the lights and building tools behave. That is what this section covers.^[1]

Block types

• Standard: regular blocks with no special properties or orientation.^[1]
• Pillar: rotatable along the X and Y axes, similar to logs.^[1]
• Rotatable: fully rotatable blocks for diagonal textures, placeable on floors and walls.^[1]
• CTM: connected textures on select variants. These need Athena installed.^[1]

How crafting works

Every set follows the same pattern. The base variant of a set has a normal crafting recipe, and every other variant comes from the Stonecutter. BlockZ Core is the main ingredient for all sets.^[1]

Core has three recipe variants in the pack, and each one gives 8 cores.^[3]

8× BlockZ CoreMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Stone	Cobblestone	Stone
Cobblestone	Smooth Stone	Cobblestone
Stone	Cobblestone	Stone

Recipe id: betterblockz:blockz_core_cobble

The Stonecutter side is huge. The pack has 2,724 stonecutting recipes that turn BetterBlockZ blocks into other BetterBlockZ blocks, covering 1,473 different results. The mod page also says AE2 fully supports autocrafting with Stonecutter recipes.^[1][3]

Set base recipes

Some set bases are made straight from Core, while others build on another set's base. Agon White gives 8 per craft.^[3]

8× Agon WhiteMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Aurora	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:agon_custom

Amber Core Base also gives 8 per craft and builds on another set's base.^[3]

8× Amber Core BaseMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Synth Alloy Base	Synth Alloy Base	Synth Alloy Base
Synth Alloy Base	Orange Dye	Synth Alloy Base
Synth Alloy Base	Synth Alloy Base	Synth Alloy Base

Recipe id: betterblockz:ambercore_custom

The pack has changed the recipe for Ztyl Base. The recipe dump marks it as changed by the pack, so don't rely on the mod's own default. It gives 16 per craft.^[3]

16× Ztyl BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Steel Ingot	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:ztyl_blockz_0

Switching variants

You don't have to craft each variant by hand. While holding a block, you can sneak and right-click in the air, hold Alt and scroll the mouse wheel, or press V to open a selection screen. In your inventory, hover the block and use Alt plus the mouse wheel.^[1]

For blocks that are already placed, use the BlockZ Cycler tool, which has Block, Line and Area modes.^[1]

Cyber Lights

Cyber Lights are no-shade, full-color light blocks, and redstone can toggle them on and off. They come as flat blocks and as panels, and you can place them on walls, floors or ceilings.^[1]

Converting between shapes is done with crafting. One Cyber Light White gives 4 of Cyber Light ◇ White.^[3]

4× Cyber Light ◇ WhiteMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

4 × Cyber Light White

Recipe id: betterblockz:cyberlight_alt_blockz_0

The alt block can then be turned into a Cyber Light Panel White by a shapeless craft. Panel colors are changed from the white panel with the Stonecutter, for example to Cyber Light Panel Light Gray.^[3]

Cyber Light Panel WhiteMod recipe

Crafting Shapeless

• Cyber Light ◇ White

Recipe id: betterblockz:cyberlight_alt_to_thin

Cyber Light Bar White and Cyber Light Bar (Vertical) White each convert back into 2 alt blocks. The alt block can be crafted into the bar again.^[3]

Cyber Light Bar WhiteMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Cyber Light ◇ White	Cyber Light ◇ White	Empty slot
Empty slot	Empty slot	Empty slot
Empty slot	Empty slot	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:cyberlight_bar_from_alt

Building tools

The mod page lists several tools: Cycler, Checkered Cycler, Placer, Cobble Crafter, Block Extender, Block Replacer and BlockZ Master, which combines 4 main tools. The BlockZ Placer places a saved block in Line or Area mode and has an undo feature. This pack has a crafting recipe for it.^[1][3]

BlockZ PlacerMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Iron Block	BlockZ Core
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:auto_placer

The mod page also notes that not all tools are available on Forge. Which of the other tools exist in this pack is unverified, because only the Placer recipe appears in the pack's recipes shown here.^[1]

Config

The pack's items is set to a list containing one item, and logDirtBlock is true. Their descriptions say they only control what is logged on common setup. magicNumber is 42, the same as the mod default, and magicNumberIntroduction sets an intro message for it. None of these options is described as changing gameplay.^[4]

In this pack, BetterBlockZ works as a crafting chain, not a set of power tiers. You start from one base item and branch out into more and more decorative blocks and tools. Here is how the chain looks from the recipes in the pack.^[3]

Tier 1: BlockZ Core

BlockZ Core is where you begin. The pack lists four different recipes that all give 8 cores per craft, so you have a few ways to set up the crafting grid.^[3]

8× BlockZ CoreMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Cobblestone	Stone	Cobblestone
Stone	Smooth Stone	Stone
Cobblestone	Stone	Cobblestone

Recipe id: betterblockz:blockz_core_stone

One of four core recipes, all with the same output of 8.

Tier 2: BlockZ Aurora

BlockZ Aurora is the next step. One craft gives you 16, and a lot of the later base blocks ask for it.^[3]

16× BlockZ AuroraMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	any dye	BlockZ Core
any dye	Glass	any dye
BlockZ Core	any dye	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:aurora_blockz

Base blocks made straight from Core

• Azur Base and Cray Base each use 2 cores and give 8 blocks per craft.^[3]
• Cyber Light White and Cyber Light ◇ White each give 8 blocks per craft from a core.^[3]
• Variant Shuffler Block turns a single core into 5 shuffler blocks.^[3]
• Luxe Copper Base uses 2 cores and gives 8 blocks. The pack changed this recipe from the mod's own version.^[3]
• Ztyl Base gives 16 blocks per craft and needs Steel Ingot from FTB Materials. The pack changed this recipe too, so expect steel to gate it.^[3]

16× Ztyl BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Steel Ingot	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:ztyl_blockz_0

Pack-changed recipe: steel from FTB Materials is part of it.

8× Luxe Copper BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Copper Ingot	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:copper_custom

Also changed by the pack.

Blocks that build on Aurora and other bases

Further up the chain, blocks build on earlier ones. Each of these crafts gives 8 blocks.^[3]

• Agon White and Bitt Base both use Aurora together with core.^[3]
• Fort Base, Zane Base and Iszm Base each use Aurora plus 2 of Ztyl 8, Ztyl 9 and Ztyl 10 respectively (Ztyl 8, Ztyl 9, Ztyl 10).^[3]
• Lab Link 19 White uses Aurora plus 2 Lab Link 19 pillars. Reactor 1 White and Reactor 7 White use Aurora plus 2 of the matching CTM Reactor blocks.^[3]
• Amber Core Base starts from 2 Synth Alloy Base. Armz Base starts from 2 Eclipse Base. Crimson Slate Base starts from 2 Iron Slate Base.^[3]
• The CTM Zeon blocks, such as Zeon Black Base (CTM) and Zeon Blue Base (CTM), combine 2 Eclipse Base with a Cyber Light in the matching colour.^[3]

Tools

The BlockZ tools are all built around a core, usually with a stick. The pack has recipes for BlockZ Placer, BlockZ Extender, BlockZ Replacer, BlockZ Pattern Randomizer, BlockZ Checkered Cycler, BlockZ Crafter, BlockZ CTM Toggle Tool and BlockZ Color Changer.^[3]

The top of the tool line is BlockZ Master. It is a shapeless recipe that combines the Placer, Extender, Replacer and BlockZ Cycler, so you need those four first.^[3]

BlockZ MasterMod recipe

Crafting Shapeless

• BlockZ Placer
• BlockZ Replacer
• BlockZ Cycler
• BlockZ Extender

Recipe id: betterblockz:meta_wand

Stonecutter variants

Once you own a block, you can usually switch its colour or variant at the stonecutter. The pack has 2,724 stonecutting recipes that turn BetterBlockZ blocks into other BetterBlockZ blocks. For example, Cyber Light Panel White can be cut into Light Gray, Gray, Black, Brown and more, up to variant 15.^[3]

The Cyber Light line also has crafting conversions between shapes. A Cyber Light White gives 4 Cyber Light ◇ White, and the reverse craft gives 4 Cyber Light White. The bar, vertical bar and flat panel shapes convert in a similar way.^[3]

The only link between BetterBlockZ and another mod that the pack's recipes show is with FTB Materials. No quests in the pack involve BetterBlockZ.^[3]

Ztyl Base needs an FTB Materials item

The recipe for Ztyl Base is a shaped crafting recipe that the pack has changed. It combines BlockZ Core with Steel Ingot from FTB Materials, so you need to have steel available before you can start building with this set. One craft makes 16 Ztyl Base blocks.^[3]

16× Ztyl BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Steel Ingot	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:ztyl_blockz_0

The pack's version of the Ztyl Base recipe, linking BetterBlockZ to FTB Materials.

The mod's own page says each set has a base variant with a standard crafting recipe, and the other variants come from the Stonecutter. Ztyl Base is the base block of its set, so it is the one to craft first.^[1]

Same as in the FTB StoneBlock 4 1.21.0 guide

Good news: BetterBlockZ has a very small common config, so there's not much to tweak. The file has four options, and none of them change how the decorative blocks look or behave. They mostly control what gets written to the log when the game starts.^[5]

What the pack sets

• items is a list of items to log on common setup. This pack sets it to a single entry, Iron Ingot.^[5]
• logDirtBlock controls whether the dirt block is logged on common setup. This pack has it set to true.^[5]
• magicNumber is just "a magic number", and it must be greater than 0. This pack sets it to 42, which is also the mod default, so the pack did not change it.^[5]
• magicNumberIntroduction is the introduction message shown with the magic number. This pack sets it to "The magic number is... ".^[5]

FTB Skies 2: Aero 1.10.0 ships BetterBlockZ 0.2.10 for Minecraft 1.21.1 on NeoForge. The mod was first included in pack version 1.0.3 or earlier. These are the two most recent mod releases and what they changed.^[6]

0.2.10 (the version in this pack)

• New Zome set with 7 variants: CTM for variants 0, 1, 2, 4 and 5, and regular blocks for 3 and 7. It comes in 16 colors.^[7]
• Ztyl variant 13 was added as a crafting ingredient for Zome, and Korp gets a new CTM variant 18.^[7]
• New CTM block placement modes. Placing from the main hand uses CTM Group A, main hand while sneaking uses CTM Group B, and the off-hand uses Tile Mode.^[7]
• The CTM Toggle Tool now supports both CTM and Tile mode.^[7]
• CTM states are now preserved when you use Building Gadgets 2 tools, Create: Wand of Symmetry and the Color Changer Tool.^[7]
• Fix: the missing (CTM) and [Pillar] name tags were added to the color set blocks Zeon and Zeno.^[7]

0.2.9

• New variants for Synth Alloy and Amber Core: Regular (14, 15), Pillar (16, 17, 18), Rotatable (19), CTM (20, 21, 22, 23) and Retexture (6).^[8]
• Lab Link gets CTM variants 20, 21, 22 and 23. Ztyl gets Regular (11) and Pillar (12).^[8]
• The mod is now compatible with the latest versions of Athena (4.0.2+).^[8]
• Cyber Lights (Flat, Panels, Bar) and other Rotatable blocks now support rotation and mirroring, so they line up correctly with Building Gadgets or world-editing tools.^[8]