BetterBlockZ in Project Infinity 0.1

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]

Welcome to BetterBlockZ, a decorative mod with modern, industrial, fantasy and futuristic block sets. The mod's page says BlockZ Core is the main ingredient for all of its sets, so make this first.^[1]

8× BlockZ CoreMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Stone	Cobblestone	Stone
Cobblestone	Smooth Stone	Cobblestone
Stone	Cobblestone	Stone

Recipe id: betterblockz:blockz_core

This recipe makes 8 Cores at a time, and the Core is the base of every set.

Make a base variant

The mod's page says each set's base variant is made by combining the Core with a set-specific material. Here are two examples: Cray Base and Luxe Gold Base.^[1][3]

8× Cray BaseMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Clay	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:cray_custom

This recipe makes 8 Cray Base blocks.

8× Luxe Gold BaseMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	any gold ingot	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:gold_custom

This recipe makes 8 Luxe Gold Base blocks.

The mod's page says the base variant has a standard crafting recipe and every other variant is reached through the Stonecutter. In this pack there are 2,724 stonecutting recipes that turn this mod's blocks into other blocks from the same mod. The page also says AE2 supports auto-crafting with these Stonecutter recipes.^[1][3]

Learn to switch variants

You don't have to go back to the Stonecutter every time. The mod's page lists these ways to change a variant while you hold a block:^[1]

• Sneak + Right-Click in the air.^[1]
• Alt + Mouse Wheel Scroll.^[1]
• Press V to open the selection screen.^[1]

In your inventory, hover the block and use Alt + Mouse Wheel Scroll. For blocks already placed in the world, the mod's page names the BlockZ Cycler tool, with Block, Line and Area modes. The page also notes that not all tools are currently available on Forge.^[1]

Make BlockZ Aurora

BlockZ Aurora is the next useful item to make, because other recipes in the pack use it. One example is Agon White.^[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

This recipe makes 16 Aurora at a time.

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

An example of a recipe that uses Aurora.

Pick up the tools

Once you have a few sets, tools can make building faster. The mod's page says the BlockZ Checkered Cycler cycles checkered pattern variants, and it notes that not all tools are currently available on Forge. The pack also has recipes for the BlockZ Color Changer, the BlockZ Pattern Randomizer and the BlockZ CTM Toggle Tool. The page says CTM (connected textures) is on select variants and requires Athena.^[1][3]

BlockZ Checkered CyclerChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	any gold storage block	BlockZ Core
any gold storage block	any diamond gem	any gold storage block
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:checkered_spade

The pack changed this recipe.

BlockZ Color ChangerChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	any gold storage block	BlockZ Core
any gold storage block	BlockZ Aurora	any gold storage block
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:color_changer

The pack changed this recipe.

BlockZ Pattern RandomizerChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	any gold storage block	BlockZ Core
any gold storage block	any diamond storage block	any gold storage block
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:block_randomizer

The pack changed this recipe.

BlockZ CTM Toggle ToolMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Amethyst Shard	BlockZ Core
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:block_disconnect

The mod page describes BetterBlockZ as a decorative mod, so there are no machines, multiblocks, power or fluids to manage here. The mechanics that matter are how blocks behave when placed, how you switch between variants, and how the crafting chain works.^[1]

Block types

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

You can see the type in the block names: pillar variants carry [Pillar] and connected-texture variants carry (CTM), for example the Amber Core and Armz sets.^[4]

Switching variants

You rarely need to craft each variant separately. The mod page lists these ways to change variants while holding a block:^[1]

• Sneak and right-click in the air, as the mod page describes.^[1]
• Hold Alt and scroll the mouse wheel, as the mod page describes.^[1]
• Press V to open the selection screen, as the mod page describes.^[1]
• In your inventory, hover the block and use Alt plus the mouse wheel, as the mod page describes.^[1]
• For blocks already placed in the world, the mod page points to the BlockZ Cycler tool, which has Block, Line and Area modes.^[1]

The crafting chain

The mod page says every set starts with BlockZ Core, the main ingredient for all sets. It is crafted from stone, cobblestone and smooth stone, then combined with a set-specific material to get that set's base variant.^[1]

8× BlockZ CoreMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Stone	Cobblestone	Stone
Cobblestone	Smooth Stone	Cobblestone
Stone	Cobblestone	Stone

Recipe id: betterblockz:blockz_core

Here is one base variant as an example, Luxe Copper Base:^[3]

8× Luxe Copper BaseMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	any copper ingot	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:copper_custom

BlockZ Aurora is a second intermediate. Some bases, such as Agon White, use it in their recipe.^[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

Recipes the pack changed

Four base recipes are marked as changed by the pack, so they differ from the mod's own versions: Azur Base, Ztyl Base, Bitt Base and Sync Base. The recipes below are the ones that count in this pack.^[3]

8× Azur BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	any lapi gems	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:azur_custom

16× Ztyl BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	Charcoal or any coal gem	BlockZ Core
Charcoal or any coal gem	any iron ingot	Charcoal or any coal gem
BlockZ Core	Charcoal or any coal gem	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:ztyl_custom

8× Bitt BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Aurora	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Aurora	any coal gem or Charcoal	BlockZ Aurora
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Aurora	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:bitt_custom

8× Sync BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	any emerald gem	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:sync_custom

Stonecutter variants and automation

Only the base variant has a standard crafting recipe. All other variants come from the Stonecutter. In this pack that adds up to 2,724 stonecutting recipes producing 1,473 different results. For example, a white Cyber Light Panel can be cut into other colours:^[1][3]

Cyber Light Panel CyanMod recipe

Stonecutting

• Cyber Light Panel White

Recipe id: betterblockz:cyberlight_alt_thin0_to_variant10

If you run an AE2 network, you're covered: AE2 fully supports auto-crafting with Stonecutter recipes, so variants can be requested like any other pattern.^[1]

Lighting

The mod page describes Cyber Lights as no-shade, full-colour light blocks with Redstone control to toggle them on and off. They come as flat blocks and panels, placeable on walls, floors or ceilings. The Zeon set is described as a neon-style group with multiple patterns and variants, all emitting light, in 16 colours.^[1]

The pack also has recipes that convert between light shapes. Cyber Light White becomes Cyber Light ◇ White, a Cyber Light Bar White can be turned into the same diamond-style block, and that block can be turned into a Cyber Light Panel White.^[3]

4× Cyber Light ◇ WhiteMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

4 × Cyber Light White

Recipe id: betterblockz:cyberlight_alt_blockz_0

2× Cyber Light ◇ WhiteMod recipe

Crafting Shapeless

• Cyber Light Bar White

Recipe id: betterblockz:cyberlight_bar_to_cyberlight_alt

Cyber Light Panel WhiteMod recipe

Crafting Shapeless

• Cyber Light ◇ White

Recipe id: betterblockz:cyberlight_alt_to_thin

Building tools

The mod page lists the tools below, and it notes that not all tools are currently available on Forge. The sources here do not show which of them this pack includes.^[1]

• The mod page lists the Cycler, which cycles block variants in Line or Area mode.^[1]
• The mod page lists the Checkered Cycler, which cycles checkered pattern variants.^[1]
• The mod page lists the Placer, which places a saved block in Line or Area mode, with an Undo feature.^[1]
• The mod page lists the Cobble Crafter, a portable crafting table and cobblestone placer.^[1]
• The mod page lists the Block Extender, which extends connected blocks.^[1]
• The mod page lists the Block Replacer, which selects and replaces blocks dynamically.^[1]
• The mod page lists the BlockZ Master, which combines 4 main tools.^[1]

The mod page also lists Creative-only tools. The BlockZ Pallete instantly places a full set (sneak and right-click to place 5x5), and the Checkered Builder instantly places a checkered pattern.^[1]

BlockZ is a decorative block mod, so there is no power curve here. Progression is a chain of crafting steps, where many blocks are built from blocks you made earlier. Below is the order I'd follow, using the pack's recipes.^[3]

Tier 1: BlockZ Core

Everything starts with BlockZ Core. One craft makes 8 of them, so the whole mod is cheap to get into.^[3]

8× BlockZ CoreMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Stone	Cobblestone	Stone
Cobblestone	Smooth Stone	Cobblestone
Stone	Cobblestone	Stone

Recipe id: betterblockz:blockz_core

Tier 2: Aurora and the base blocks

BlockZ Aurora is the second building material, and one craft makes 16 of them. It is also an ingredient in many of the later blocks.^[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

The first real block families are the Luxe blocks, such as Luxe Iron Base, Luxe Gold Base, Luxe Copper Base and Luxe Diamond Base. Luxe Iron and Luxe Copper are shown below.^[3]

8× Luxe Iron BaseMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	any iron ingot	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:iron_custom

8× Luxe Copper BaseMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	any copper ingot	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:copper_custom

The CTM blocks are the bulk option: Metal Zone Iron Base (CTM), Metal Zone Copper Base (CTM), Metal Zone Oxidized Copper Base (CTM), Gold Frame Platform Base (CTM) and Diamond Frame Platform Base (CTM) all come in batches of 32.^[3]

32× Metal Zone Iron Base (CTM)Mod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	any iron ingot	BlockZ Core
any iron ingot	BlockZ Core	any iron ingot
BlockZ Core	any iron ingot	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:metalzone_iron_custom

This one makes 32 blocks per craft.

The pack changed the recipes for Azur Base, Sync Base, Eclipse Base, Ztyl Base and Bitt Base. Use the recipes shown here, not the mod's default.^[3]

8× Azur BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	any lapi gems	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:azur_custom

This recipe is changed by the pack, and it makes 8 Azur Base per craft.

8× Eclipse BaseChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Charcoal or any coal gem	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:eclipse_custom

This recipe is also changed by the pack.

Tier 3: blocks built from other blocks

Higher-tier blocks build on earlier BlockZ blocks, so you make the lower step first. The chains are Synth Alloy Base to Amber Core Base, Eclipse Base to Armz Base, and Iron Slate Base to both Crimson Slate Base and Hazard BlockZ Caution. Amber Core, Crimson Slate and Armz are shown below.^[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

8× Crimson Slate BaseMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Iron Slate Base	Iron Slate Base	Iron Slate Base
Iron Slate Base	Crimson Stem or Crimson Fungus	Iron Slate Base
Iron Slate Base	Iron Slate Base	Iron Slate Base

Recipe id: betterblockz:crimson_custom

8× Armz BaseMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Eclipse Base	Eclipse Base	Eclipse Base
Eclipse Base	Green Dye	Eclipse Base
Eclipse Base	Eclipse Base	Eclipse Base

Recipe id: betterblockz:armz_custom

Another group is finished with Aurora: Agon White, Fort Base, Iszm Base, Reactor 1 White and Lab Link 19 White. The Agon and Fort recipes are shown below.^[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

8× Fort BaseMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Ztyl 8	Ztyl 8	Ztyl 8
Ztyl 8	BlockZ Aurora	Ztyl 8
Ztyl 8	Ztyl 8	Ztyl 8

Recipe id: betterblockz:fort_custom

Lighting

The Cyber Light line starts with Cyber Light White, crafted as shown below. From there, crafting converts between the shapes: Cyber Light ◇ White, Cyber Light Flat White, Cyber Light Bar White and Cyber Light Bar (Vertical) White. The color-cycling Cyber Light Cycle Rainbow has its own recipe, shown after that.^[3]

8× Cyber Light WhiteMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	Glass	BlockZ Core
Glass	Glowstone Dust	Glass
BlockZ Core	Glass	BlockZ Core

Recipe id: betterblockz:cyberlight_custom

Base Cyber Light recipe.

8× Cyber Light Cycle RainbowMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

Cyber Light White	Cyber Light White	Cyber Light White
Cyber Light White	Redstone	Cyber Light White
Cyber Light White	Cyber Light White	Cyber Light White

Recipe id: betterblockz:cyberlight_cycle_custom

Color and pattern variants

You don't craft each color separately: the stonecutter handles variants, such as Cyber Light Panel White, Cyber Light Panel Light Gray and Cyber Light Panel Cyan. The pack has 2,724 stonecutting recipes from BlockZ blocks to BlockZ blocks, covering 1,473 different results.^[3]

Cyber Light Panel Light GrayMod recipe

Stonecutting

• Cyber Light Panel White

Recipe id: betterblockz:cyberlight_alt_thin0_to_variant1

One of the stonecutter variant recipes.

Tools

Four tools have recipes changed by the pack: BlockZ Cycler, BlockZ Checkered Cycler, BlockZ Color Changer and BlockZ Pattern Randomizer. BlockZ CTM Toggle Tool keeps the mod's own recipe, shown after the two changed examples.^[3]

BlockZ CyclerChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	any gold ingot	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	any diamond gem	BlockZ Core
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:omni_spade

This tool recipe is changed by the pack.

BlockZ Color ChangerChanged by the pack

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	any gold storage block	BlockZ Core
any gold storage block	BlockZ Aurora	any gold storage block
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:color_changer

This tool recipe is also changed by the pack.

BlockZ CTM Toggle ToolMod recipe

Crafting Shaped

Crafting Shaped

BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core	BlockZ Core
BlockZ Core	Amethyst Shard	BlockZ Core
Empty slot	Stick	Empty slot

Recipe id: betterblockz:block_disconnect

This tool keeps the mod's own recipe.

Project Infinity 0.1 0.0.51.4-hotfix-2 ships BetterBlockZ 0.2.10-1.20.1-forge, which was first included in pack version 0.0.49.0 or earlier. I have no pack changelog entries for this mod, so everything below comes from the mod's own changelogs for its last three releases.^[5]

0.2.10 (the version in this pack)

• New Zome set with 7 variants, available in 16 colors. Variants 0, 1, 2, 4 and 5 are CTM, and variants 3 and 7 are regular.^[6]
• Ztyl variant 13 was added as a crafting ingredient for Zome, and Korp gained variant 18 (CTM).^[6]
• The CTM Toggle Tool was updated to support both CTM and Tile mode.^[6]
• CTM states are now preserved when you use Building Gadgets 2 tools, Create's Wand of Symmetry, and the Color Changer Tool.^[6]
• Fix: the missing (CTM) and [Pillar] name tags were added to the color set blocks Zeon and Zeno.^[6]

New CTM placement modes

Version 0.2.10 also added new block placement modes, and which one you get depends on how you place the block.^[6]

• Placing from the main hand uses CTM Group A.^[6]
• Placing from the main hand while sneaking uses CTM Group B.^[6]
• Placing from the off-hand uses Tile Mode.^[6]

0.2.9

• Synth Alloy and Amber Core both got new variants: Regular (14, 15), Pillar (16, 17, 18), Rotatable (19), CTM (20, 21, 22, 23) and Retexture (6).^[7]
• Lab Link gained CTM variants 20, 21, 22 and 23, and Ztyl gained Regular (11) and Pillar (12).^[7]
• Cyber Lights (Flat, Panels, Bar) and other Rotatable blocks now support rotation and mirroring, so they align correctly when you use Building Gadgets or world-editing tools.^[7]

0.2.8

• New Sync (Ztones) set: Regular (0, 2), CTM (1) and Pillar (3, 4, 5, 6, 7).^[8]
• New variants for Tank (CTM 16 and 17, Regular 18 and 19), Iron Slate (Regular 22, CTM 23) and Zeon (CTM 8, 9 and 10).^[8]
• Tweak: Zeon 4 (Pillar) and Zeon 7 became fully rotatable blocks, for both floor and wall placement.^[8]
• New feature: you can cycle block variants straight from your inventory with Alt + Mouse Scroll while hovering over a block.^[8]