---
title: "EliteSpawner Plugin Setup: Install, Config and Commands"
description: "Set up EliteSpawner virtual spawners on Paper or Folia: install, give spawners, edit config files, commands, boosts and troubleshooting."
url: "https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/elitespawner-plugin-setup-guide"
updated: "2026-10-28T18:36:40.919081+00:00"
source: "ZCraft Studios"
---

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# EliteSpawner Plugin Setup: Install, Config and Commands

ZCraft StudiosOct 28, 2026

Set up EliteSpawner virtual spawners on Paper or Folia: install, give spawners, edit config files, commands, boosts and troubleshooting.

## In this guide

- [What EliteSpawner does](#what-elitespawner-does)
- [Requirements](#requirements)
- [How to install EliteSpawner](#how-to-install-elitespawner)
- [What is in the plugin folder](#what-is-in-the-plugin-folder)
- [EliteSpawner commands](#elitespawner-commands)
- [How a virtual spawner works](#how-a-virtual-spawner-works)
- [Stacking, storage and selling](#stacking-storage-and-selling)
- [Progression and extras](#progression-and-extras)
- [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)
- [Frequently asked questions](#frequently-asked-questions)
- [Related reading](#related-reading)
- [More guides](#more-guides)

## EliteSpawner Plugin Setup: Install, Config and Commands

**Quick answer:** EliteSpawner is a Paper and Folia plugin that adds **virtual mob and item spawners**. Vanilla spawning is cancelled, so no mobs or item drops ever appear in the world. Each cycle rolls a loot table and puts the items and experience straight into the spawner's storage, where players collect or sell them. To set it up, drop the jar in `plugins/`, restart the server, run `/esp give <you> mob <type>`, then edit the generated files and `/esp reload`.

_Disclosure: the buy link in this post is a referral link, so ZCraft Studios may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. EliteSpawner is made by DenizenMC. Details below come from the developer's documentation and store pages, last checked October 2026, and the plugin is in early access (v0.1.0), so settings may change before 1.0._

**[Get EliteSpawner on BuiltByBit](https://builtbybit.com/resources/elitespawner-ui-based-virtual-spawners.125131/?ref=662024)**

## What EliteSpawner does

Normal spawner farms fill the world with real mobs and real dropped items, and that is what slows a server down as bases grow. EliteSpawner removes both. A spawner is just a marker block, and everything else is data the plugin stores for it.

| Feature             | What it means for your server                                             |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Fully virtual       | No mobs, no item entities, nothing for chunks to simulate                 |
| Stackable           | Right-click with a matching spawner, or sneak-click to add a whole stack  |
| Built-in storage    | A paged menu with take, take all, sell all and optional auto-sell         |
| Levels and prestige | Spawners grow stronger over time, then trade levels for a permanent bonus |
| Boosts              | Loot, experience and rare-loot multipliers, for everyone or one player    |
| Direct XP           | Experience goes straight to the player's XP bar                           |
| Duplication-safe    | Built to prevent item duplication, including on Folia                     |

If you want the background on why this helps performance, read [Virtual Spawners for Minecraft](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/virtual-spawners-minecraft-lag-free-spawner-farms).

## Requirements

| Requirement       | Details                                                                                                                                         |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Server software   | Paper, Purpur or Folia                                                                                                                          |
| Minecraft version | 1.20.6 up to 26.3, according to the docs                                                                                                        |
| Java              | 21 or newer. Minecraft 26.1 and newer itself needs Java 25\. See [Update a Minecraft Server to 26.1+](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-26-1-server-update-guide) |
| Dependencies      | None. Vault, shop plugins, hologram plugins and others are optional                                                                             |

## How to install EliteSpawner

1. **Back up** your server and any existing plugin data. See [Backup Strategy](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-backup-strategy).
2. **Download the jar** from where you bought it.
3. **Stop the server** and place `EliteSpawner-<version>.jar` in `plugins/`.
4. **Start the server.** Always do a full restart. Reloading with `/reload` or a plugin manager is not supported. See [Paper Reload vs Restart](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/paper-reload-versus-restart-explained).
5. **Check the console** for errors before changing anything. See [Plugin Not Loading?](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-plugin-not-loading-fix).
6. **Give yourself a spawner:**

```
/esp give <your-name> mob <type>
```

Tab completion lists every type you have, so you never need to look them up.

1. **Edit a setting, then apply it without a restart:**

```
/esp reload
```

## What is in the plugin folder

On first start EliteSpawner creates `plugins/EliteSpawner`:

| File                   | Controls                                                                                                                                   |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| config.yml             | Storage backend, activation mode, stacking, sounds, particles, boost caps, progression, ownership protection, logging, holograms and debug |
| mob\_spawners.yml      | Every mob spawner type: loot, experience, drop chance and icon                                                                             |
| item\_spawners.yml     | Every item spawner type                                                                                                                    |
| prices.yml             | Internal sell prices, used when no shop plugin is active                                                                                   |
| menus/main-menu.yml    | The per-spawner menu layout                                                                                                                |
| menus/storage-menu.yml | The storage menu layout                                                                                                                    |
| lang/en.yml            | Every chat message                                                                                                                         |
| database/              | The default SQLite data                                                                                                                    |

`config.yml` is split into commented sections, so most settings explain themselves where you edit them. When an update adds new settings, they are added to your files after a backup, and your own changes stay as they were. See [Plugin Config Review](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-plugin-config-review-checklist) for safe editing habits.

## EliteSpawner commands

The main command is `/elitespawner`, with `/espawner` and `/esp` as shortcuts.

| Command                                                                               | What it does                                             |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| /esp give <player> <mob\|item> <type> \[amount\]                                      | Give a spawner of any type                               |
| /esp settype <type>                                                                   | Change the type of the mob spawner you are looking at    |
| /esp trust <add\|remove|list> \[player\]                                              | Share or remove access to a spawner you own              |
| /esp list                                                                             | Open a menu with every spawner on the server             |
| /esp near \[radius\]                                                                  | Spawners around you. Default radius 50, up to 200 blocks |
| /esp top \[stacked\|value\] \[page\]                                                  | The biggest or most valuable spawners                    |
| /esp boost give <loot\|exp|rareloot|all> <multiplier> <duration|permanent> \[player\] | Start a boost                                            |
| /esp boost clear <loot\|exp|rareloot|all> \[player\]                                  | End a boost                                              |
| /esp boost list                                                                       | Show every active boost                                  |
| /esp convert \[world\]                                                                | Convert vanilla spawners in loaded chunks now            |
| /esp debug                                                                            | Turn detailed cycle logging on or off                    |
| /esp reload                                                                           | Reload every config file                                 |

Leave out `[player]` on a boost to boost the whole server. The permission for each command is in [EliteSpawner Permissions](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/elitespawner-permissions-storage-tiers-auto-sell).

## How a virtual spawner works

1. **The block is a marker.** A placed spawner is an ordinary `SPAWNER` or `DROPPER` block. The type, stack size, storage and owner are saved by the plugin, linked to the block location.
2. **Types are names, not mobs.** `zombie` and `elite_zombie` can both be zombies with different loot, experience and drop chance. Edit a type, run `/esp reload`, and every placed spawner of that type updates.
3. **Nothing really spawns.** Each cycle rolls the loot table, applies bonuses (stack size, levels, prestige, traits, enrichment and active boosts), and fills the storage up to its capacity.

### When spawners run

The activation mode in `config.yml` decides when spawners generate:

| Mode          | Spawners run                                 |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Near a player | Only while a player is close by              |
| Anyone online | While at least one player is online anywhere |
| Always        | Whether or not anyone is online              |

If a full storage fills up, a cycle can produce less than it rolled. `/esp debug` tells you when that happens.

## Stacking, storage and selling

- **Stack:** right-click with a matching spawner, or sneak-click to add the whole stack in your hand.
- **Storage:** a paged menu with 64 items per slot. Players can take one stack, take everything, or sell everything through Vault or the built-in price list.
- **Sorting:** cycle between default order, highest value first, or a specific stored item.
- **Auto-sell:** per spawner, behind its own permission, so you can offer it as a rank perk.
- **Receipts:** every sale shows the unit price and line total in chat and in a daily log.
- **Experience:** goes straight to the player's XP bar, with no bottles.

## Progression and extras

| Feature                 | What it does                                                                                                          |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Progression             | A small permanent bonus per completed cycle, on a curve that gets harder at higher levels. Capped and optional        |
| Prestige                | At max level, trade level progress for a smaller permanent bonus that stacks with future levels                       |
| Traits                  | A small chance on placement to roll a permanent random trait: bonus loot, bonus XP, or both                           |
| Enrichment              | Certain blocks near a spawner grant a loot and XP bonus once the setup has held for several rescans                   |
| Vanilla conversion      | Opt-in per world. Natural spawners are converted as their chunks load                                                 |
| Holograms and particles | A native hologram renderer, or DecentHolograms or FancyHolograms. Particles render only when a player is close enough |

## Troubleshooting

| Problem                                   | What to check                                                                                                                        |
| ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| A spawner is not making anything          | Run /esp debug. It explains whether the spawner was active, what it rolled and whether storage was full                              |
| Spawners only work when someone is nearby | The activation mode in config.yml                                                                                                    |
| Nothing happens after editing a file      | Run /esp reload, and check the console for YAML errors                                                                               |
| A player cannot open or break a spawner   | Only the owner, trusted players or admins with elitespawner.admin.bypass can                                                         |
| Prices are missing when selling           | Add the item to prices.yml or your shop plugin. See [EliteSpawner Integrations](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/elitespawner-integrations-vault-shopgui-mysql) |
| Plugin is red in /plugins                 | Wrong server software or version. See [Plugin Not Loading?](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-plugin-not-loading-fix)                                  |
| Spawners vanished after switching storage | Existing data is not moved automatically when you switch from SQLite to MySQL                                                        |

## Frequently asked questions

**Does EliteSpawner spawn real mobs?** No. Vanilla spawning is cancelled before a mob appears, and drops and experience come from the loot table.

**Do I need Vault or any other plugin?** No. Every integration is optional. Without an economy plugin, selling uses `prices.yml`.

**Does EliteSpawner work on Folia?** Yes, it supports Paper, Purpur and Folia. See [Folia vs Paper vs Purpur](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-software-paper-purpur-folia) before switching software.

**Can players duplicate items?** The plugin is built to prevent it by reserving stock before handing out items.

**Will an update overwrite my config?** No. New keys are added after a backup, and your changes stay.

**Is EliteSpawner stable?** It is at v0.1.0, which the developer calls early access, so config files and the developer API may change before 1.0\. Back up `plugins/EliteSpawner` before each update. See [Update Plugins Safely](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-plugin-update-checklist).

**Where can I buy it?** On [BuiltByBit](https://builtbybit.com/resources/elitespawner-ui-based-virtual-spawners.125131/?ref=662024), and it is also sold by the developer. Compare current prices and support on each store.

## Related reading

- [Virtual Spawners for Minecraft: Lag-Free Spawner Farms](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/virtual-spawners-minecraft-lag-free-spawner-farms)
- [EliteSpawner Custom Spawner Types](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/elitespawner-custom-spawner-types-loot-tables)
- [Planning a Skyblock Server](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-skyblock-server-design-guide)
- [Best Minecraft Server Plugins by Category](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/best-minecraft-plugins-by-category)

## More guides

- [Planning a Skyblock Server: Islands, Economy, Resets](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-skyblock-server-design-guide)
- [ShopGUIPlus Setup: Build an In-Game GUI Shop](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/shopguiplus-gui-shop-setup)
- [Best Minecraft Server Plugins: Essentials by Category (2026)](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/best-minecraft-plugins-by-category)
- [SQLite vs MySQL for Minecraft Plugins: Which to Choose](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-plugin-database-sqlite-vs-mysql)

## Continue reading

- [AdvancedBan Setup Guide: Commands, Config and Permissions](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/advancedban-setup-guide)
- [Minecraft Server Commands: Operator and Admin Command List](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/minecraft-server-commands-list-operators-admins)
- [EliteSpawner Permissions, Storage Tiers and Auto-Sell Perks](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/elitespawner-permissions-storage-tiers-auto-sell)
- [EliteSpawner Custom Spawner Types: Loot Tables and Prices](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/elitespawner-custom-spawner-types-loot-tables)

[ Previous guide Nations SMP Setup With Towny: Towns, Claims and Economy](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/nations-smp-setup-towny-towns-claims)[ Next guide Virtual Spawners for Minecraft: Lag-Free Spawner Farms](https://www.zcraftstudios.com/blog/virtual-spawners-minecraft-lag-free-spawner-farms)

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