[ETF] Entity Texture Features | Random Mobs & Glowing Skins

If you have ever downloaded a resource pack full of custom mob variants, only to watch the same grey zombie shamble past for the hundredth time, ETF is the missing piece. [ETF] Entity Texture Features reads custom entity textures from your packs and layers extra tricks on top, from random mob skins to glowing eyes and blinking animations. With roughly 86 million downloads, it has become one of the standard picks for players who want their worlds to feel varied and alive. It is also actively maintained, with the latest update landing in June 2026.

Random and custom mob textures

The headline feature is random entity textures. Mobs that would normally spawn as identical copies can show up with different colors and patterns instead, so a cave full of zombies stops looking copy pasted. ETF reads the widely used custom entity format that resource packs have shipped with for years, and it goes beyond that format, adding extra properties on top of what it allows. Packs built for it, whether they are random, custom, or emissive, drop straight in with no conversion work.

It also loads those packs directly, so you do not need the old all-in-one graphics mod just to see custom mobs working. And if you want custom entity shapes and not just textures, ETF is built to run alongside Entity Model Features, the companion mod that handles custom entity models.

Glowing textures and blinking mobs

Emissive textures let parts of a mob glow. Packs use them for bright eyes and glowing markings that stand out even in a pitch black cave, which is a handy way to flag dangerous creatures before you get close. ETF reads emissive textures in the same custom entity format, so packs that use them work right away.

Blinking gets its own simple format, so pack makers can give their mobs blinking eyes without much effort. The result is subtle but weirdly effective. Mobs that blink feel alive in a way static textures never quite manage.

Player skin features

Your own skin gets the same treatment. ETF supports player skin features, including blinking and emissive textures, so your character can blink and glow right along with the mobs around you. The skin guide on the project's GitHub walks you through setting it up on the skin you already use.

None of this is forced on you either. Every feature can be toggled in the settings, so if one of them is not your thing, you can just switch it off.

How to install ETF

ETF is a client side mod, so this is a normal client install. It runs on Fabric, Forge, NeoForge, and Quilt.

1. Install a mod loader first, if you have not already. If you are new to modding, our guide to installing Minecraft mods covers the basics, and the Fabric setup guide walks you through that loader step by step.
2. Download the ETF file that matches your loader from the official project page. The download table on this page lists the current files for each loader.
3. Drop the file into your mods folder, the one inside your main game directory.
4. Add companion mods if you want them. Entity Model Features handles custom models, and performance mods like Sodium sit alongside without conflict.
5. Start the game through your loader's profile, then open the settings from the resource pack screen or Mod Menu to turn features on and off.

A note if you are coming from OptiFine: ETF was built as an alternative for entity features, with many more options and settings.

ETF FAQ

Does ETF work on servers?

ETF is a client side mod. The project lists client side as required and server side as unsupported, so the server does not need it installed. Since everything is handled on your client, each player who wants the effects needs it in their own game.

How do I change ETF settings?

Three ways. There is a settings button in the resource pack screen, Mod Menu adds another way in if you have it installed, and you can edit the config file directly at config/entity_texture_features.json.

Is ETF compatible with Sodium, EMF, and shaders?

Sodium works, and so do popular performance tools in general. ETF is also built to pair with Entity Model Features and with the older CEM mod by dorianpb. Shader support varies depending on the shader, so some shader packs cooperate better than others. Modded entities are supported too, as long as the mod uses regular vanilla rendering code.

Is ETF still updated?

Yes. The latest release landed in June 2026 and development is active. Bug reports and questions go through the links on the official project page.

If you are sorting out your entity rendering anyway, Entity Culling stops Minecraft from drawing mobs you cannot even see, and ImmediatelyFast speeds up entity rendering on top of that. Both pair nicely with a texture mod like this one.