Tidal is a Fabric mod for Minecraft 1.21.1 that introduces ambient water waves to beaches and oceans. The waves are most noticeable along shores where they grow larger, but they can also spawn around islands to add life to still water. When waves encounter blocks in their path, they crash against them, creating dramatic effects on rocky cliffs and shorelines. During full moons, the waves emit a soft glow at night, adding a subtle visual touch to nocturnal coastal scenes.
The mod is currently in alpha, meaning it includes known bugs and ongoing optimizations. Some reported issues include waves washing up in midair instead of falling, improper connections at spawn points causing overlapping hitboxes, and potential Z-fighting due to recent scaling changes. The developer notes that wave spawning logic involves complex calculations for position and length, and if waves fail to spawn or behave unusually, players can recalculate this data by reloading chunks using F3 + A.
Tidal requires Fabric API to run, with a config library possibly needed in the future. For resource pack creators wishing to customize wave textures, the mod uses a specific naming and mcmeta structure. Instead of the standard animation format, it relies on a custom wave_animation property. Here's the thing, this allows control over frametime (default 5 ticks) and frame_height (default 16 pixels), with the expectation that textures are provided as a single vertical sprite sheet. The number of frames is derived from the frame_height value.
Designed for players who want more dynamic and immersive water environments, Tidal focuses on ambient visual enhancement rather than gameplay mechanics. It does not add new items, entities, or server-side features, and is client-side only. The mod is best suited for those building coastal bases, exploring ocean biomes, or seeking subtle environmental details to enrich their world’s atmosphere.
