Horizons Claims
Lightweight region-based land claiming with GUI management, 50+ protection flags, subclaims, economy support, and Dynmap/BlueMap integration.
HorizonsClaims
A lightweight yet powerful region-based land claim plugin built for modern Paper, Purpur, and Spigot servers. HorizonsClaims gives players an intuitive golden shovel claiming experience with deep protection, a flexible trust system, economy-driven claim blocks, and extensive integration support. Whether you run a small SMP or a large network, HorizonsClaims scales to fit your needs while remaining simple for players to use.
Features at a Glance
- Golden Shovel claim creation with visual feedback
- Subclaims, merging, naming, and cross-world support
- Comprehensive block, entity, and PvP protection
- Granular trust system with ban/kick/transfer
- Claim block economy with playtime rewards and buy/sell shop
- Automatic claim expiration for inactive players
- Beautiful boundary visualization (particles, ghost blocks, glow entities)
- PvP toggle system with per-claim and wilderness rules
- Teleportation to claims with warmup
- Claim flight for trusted players
- NPC system via Citizens2
- Map integrations (Dynmap, BlueMap)
- Extensive custom item support (ItemsAdder, Oraxen, and more)
- SQLite and MySQL database backends
- PlaceholderAPI, Vault, and multi-currency economy support
- Multilingual (English & German)
- bStats metrics
Claiming System
Golden Shovel Tool
Claims are created using a golden shovel (or any configurable material). Right-click two opposite corners to define a rectangular region. The tool can be customized:
- Material -- change from golden shovel to any item
- Display name -- custom name shown on the tool
- Glow effect -- make the claim tool glow with an enchantment shimmer
Obtain the claim tool with /claim tool or the shortcut /claimtool.
Claim Size & Limits
Server administrators can configure:
- Minimum claim size -- prevent tiny, cluttered claims
- Maximum claim size -- cap how large a single claim can be
- Maximum claims per player -- limit the number of separate claims a player can own
- Players with
horizonsclaims.unlimitedbypass size and count limits
Claim Naming
Give your claims meaningful names using the claim settings. Named claims are displayed in enter/leave messages, the claim list, and teleportation menus, making it easy to organize multiple claims.
Cross-World Claiming
Players can own claims across different worlds. Each claim is world-specific, but the player's total claim block pool is shared globally.
Subclaim System
Create claims within claims for fine-grained area control. Subclaims are ideal for:
- Designating public areas within a private base
- Giving specific players access to only part of a larger claim
- Creating shop plots inside a town claim
Subclaims can operate with independent flags (their own protection settings) or inherited flags (inheriting from the parent claim). This flexibility lets you build complex permission structures without multiple overlapping claims.
Claim Merging
Own two adjacent claims? Use /claim merge or /claimmerge to combine them into a single claim. Merging simplifies management when claims have grown to touch each other. The resulting claim inherits the settings and trust lists that you configure.
Claim Block Economy
Players need claim blocks to create and expand claims. The system provides multiple ways to earn and manage blocks:
- Starting blocks -- every new player begins with a configurable number of claim blocks
- Playtime rewards -- earn additional blocks automatically for time spent on the server
- Buy blocks -- purchase claim blocks using the server economy
- Sell blocks -- sell unused claim blocks back for money
- Admin grants -- administrators can give or set blocks for any player
Claim Block Refund
When a player shrinks or deletes a claim, a configurable percentage of the invested claim blocks is refunded. Set it to 100% for full refunds or lower to add an economic cost to restructuring claims.
Anti-Claim Camping
Prevent players from claiming land directly adjacent to other players' claims. A configurable minimum distance between claims ensures everyone has breathing room. Players with the horizonsclaims.bypass.distance permission can ignore this restriction.
Protection
HorizonsClaims provides comprehensive protection for claimed land. Every protection type is active by default and covers a wide range of grief vectors.
Block Protection
- Block breaking -- untrusted players cannot break blocks inside a claim
- Block placing -- untrusted players cannot place blocks inside a claim
Container Protection
- Chests, barrels, shulker boxes and all other container types are locked to untrusted players
- Prevents item theft from any interactable storage block
Entity Protection
- Armor stands -- protected from manipulation and destruction
- Item frames -- protected from item removal and breaking
- Entity interaction -- controls who can interact with entities inside the claim
Entity Damage Protection
- Animals -- prevents killing or harming passive mobs in claims
- Villagers -- protects villagers from being attacked or killed
- Full control over entity damage within claim boundaries
PvP Protection
Claims can individually control whether PvP is allowed within their borders. See the dedicated PvP Toggle section below for the full rule set.
Explosion Protection
- TNT -- explosions from TNT do not damage blocks or entities in claims
- Creepers -- creeper explosions are neutralized within claim boundaries
- Covers all explosion sources to keep builds safe
Fire Protection
- Fire spread is prevented within claims, stopping both natural and intentional fire grief
Piston Protection
- Cross-border piston movement is blocked -- pistons outside a claim cannot push or pull blocks into or out of the claimed area
- Prevents a common grief technique where players use pistons to bypass claim boundaries
WorldGuard Integration
When WorldGuard is installed, HorizonsClaims can be configured to prevent players from creating claims inside WorldGuard regions. This ensures server-managed areas (spawn, arenas, event zones) remain free of player claims. Players with horizonsclaims.bypass.worldguard can override this restriction.
Trust System
Control who can interact with your claims through a flexible trust system.
Trust & Untrust
Use /claim trust <player> or /trust <player> to grant a player access to your claim. Trusted players can build, break, and interact within the claim as if it were their own. Revoke access at any time with /claim untrust <player> or /untrust <player>.
Trust is per-claim -- you can trust different players in different claims.
Ban & Unban
Ban problematic players from your claim entirely with /claim ban <player> or /claimban <player>. Banned players:
- Cannot enter the claim
- Are teleported out if already inside
- Cannot be trusted until unbanned
Unban with /claimunban <player>.
Kick
Immediately remove a player from your claim with /claim kick <player> or /claimkick <player>. The player is teleported outside the claim boundaries. Kicking does not ban the player -- they can re-enter unless also banned.
Transfer Ownership
Transfer full ownership of a claim to another player with the transfer command. The new owner gains complete control, including trust management and claim settings. Requires the horizonsclaims.transfer permission.
PvP Toggle System
HorizonsClaims includes a dedicated PvP toggle system that integrates with claims and the wilderness.
/pvp Command
Players can toggle their personal PvP status on or off using /pvp. This determines whether they can engage in combat with other players.
PvP Rules
| Location | Rule |
|---|---|
| Wilderness | PvP occurs only if both players have PvP toggled ON |
| Inside a Claim | PvP occurs only if the claim's PvP flag is enabled AND both players have PvP toggled ON |
| WorldGuard Region | WorldGuard PvP flags take priority over the HorizonsClaims PvP system |
This layered approach gives both server owners and individual players control over combat.
Teleportation
/claimtp
Teleport directly to any of your claims using /claim tp or /claimtp. If the claim has a custom spawn point set, you arrive there; otherwise, you are teleported to a safe location within the claim.
/claimsetspawn
Set a custom spawn point for your claim with /claim setspawn or /claimsetspawn. This is where trusted players and the owner arrive when using /claimtp.
Respawn at Claim
When enabled, players can respawn at their claim after dying, rather than at the world spawn. This feature provides a convenient home-respawn mechanic without requiring a separate homes plugin.
Warmup System
Teleportation can include a warmup delay before the player is teleported. During the warmup:
- Moving cancels the teleport
- Taking damage cancels the teleport
Players with the horizonsclaims.bypass.warmup permission skip the warmup entirely. A separate cooldown between teleports can also be configured, bypassable with horizonsclaims.bypass.cooldown.
Economy
Claim Block Shop
HorizonsClaims features a complete economy system for buying and selling claim blocks.
Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/claimblockbuy <amount> | Buy a specific number of claim blocks |
/claimblocksell <amount> | Sell a specific number of claim blocks |
/claimblockshop | Open the visual claim block shop GUI |
Configuration
- Buy price per block -- how much each claim block costs to purchase
- Sell price per block -- how much each claim block sells for
- Minimum transaction -- minimum number of blocks per buy/sell
- Maximum transaction -- maximum number of blocks per buy/sell
- Maximum total blocks -- cap on total claim blocks a player can own
- Confirmation dialogs -- require confirmation for large transactions to prevent accidental spending
Shop GUI
The /claimblockshop command opens a beautiful graphical shop interface featuring:
- Dynamic buttons that update in real-time to reflect current prices and block counts
- Buy Max button -- purchase the maximum number of blocks you can afford in one click
- Sell All button -- sell all unused claim blocks at once
- Statistics display -- see your current blocks, used blocks, available blocks, and balance
Supported Currency Providers
| Provider | Description |
|---|---|
| Vault | Standard economy through any Vault-compatible plugin |
| PlayerPoints | Use PlayerPoints as currency |
| CoinsEngine | Use any CoinsEngine currency (configurable currency name) |
| XP-based | Deduct experience levels or points (configurable mode) |
| Item-based | Use specific items as payment (configurable material and amount) |
Players with horizonsclaims.bypass.cost skip all economy costs.
Claim Expiration
Keep your world clean by automatically expiring claims of inactive players.
How It Works
- The plugin tracks each player's last login date.
- If a player has not logged in for more than the configured inactivity threshold (in days), their claims are eligible for expiration.
- Expired claims are automatically deleted, freeing the land and returning claim blocks according to the refund configuration.
Configuration Options
- Days threshold -- number of days of inactivity before claims expire
- New player protection -- recently joined players are exempt from expiration for a configurable grace period, ensuring new players are not punished for exploring other servers
- Block refund -- configure what percentage of claim blocks are returned upon expiration
- Notifications -- notify administrators or log expiration events
Admin Control
Use /claimadmin expire to manually trigger an expiration check or review pending expirations.
Visualization
HorizonsClaims offers multiple ways to visualize claim boundaries, ensuring players always know where claims begin and end.
Boundary Particles
Particle effects are displayed along claim borders when a player enters or interacts with a claim. Particles provide a clear, non-intrusive visual marker.
Ghost Blocks
Temporary client-side blocks are placed along claim boundaries. These blocks are visible only to the player viewing the claim and disappear after a short time. Glowstone accents highlight corners and edges for enhanced visibility.
Glow Entities (1.19.4+)
On servers running 1.19.4 or newer, HorizonsClaims can use Display Entities with glow effects to outline claim borders. This modern visualization method provides clean, glowing boundary lines without modifying any actual blocks.
Selection Blocks
When creating or resizing claims, temporary blocks indicate:
- Corner markers -- show the selected corners of your claim
- Success indicators -- confirm a valid claim selection
- Failure indicators -- warn when a selection is invalid (overlap, too small, insufficient blocks)
Enter & Leave Messages
Players are notified when entering or leaving a claim. The notification method is configurable:
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Title | Large text displayed center-screen |
| ActionBar | Compact text above the hotbar |
| Chat | Standard chat message |
| Both | Title and ActionBar displayed simultaneously |
Message display timing (fade-in, stay, fade-out) is configurable for title-based messages. Messages can include the claim name, owner name, and other dynamic information.
Claim Flight
Players with the horizonsclaims.flag.fly permission can toggle flight within claims where they are trusted.
- Use
/claim flyor/claimflyto toggle flight on or off - Flight is automatically disabled when leaving the claim boundaries
- Provides a safe creative-like flying experience within protected areas
NPC System (Citizens2)
When Citizens2 is installed, HorizonsClaims can create management NPCs that players interact with.
Features
- Spawn NPCs that open claim management interfaces when clicked
- Choose from multiple entity types: Player, Villager, Zombie, Skeleton, and more
- Enable the look-at-players feature so NPCs turn to face nearby players
- Use custom player skins for Player-type NPCs
- Manage NPCs with
/claimnpc
Map Integrations
Dynmap
When Dynmap is installed, all player claims are displayed on the web map:
- Claims appear as colored overlays on the map
- Labels show the claim name and owner
- Fill opacity is configurable for visual clarity
BlueMap
When BlueMap is installed, the same claim visualization is available:
- Colored overlays with configurable fill opacity
- Labels for claim identification
- Clean integration with BlueMap's rendering system
Custom Item Support
HorizonsClaims integrates with popular custom item plugins, allowing these items to be used as claim tools, shop currencies, or in other configurable roles.
| Plugin | Support |
|---|---|
| ItemsAdder | Custom items recognized within claims |
| Oraxen | Custom items recognized within claims |
| HeadDatabase | Custom heads usable in configurations |
| MMOItems | MMOItems integration |
| Slimefun | Slimefun items recognized within claims |
| Nexo | Nexo custom items support |
| ExecutableItems | ExecutableItems integration |
| EcoItems | EcoItems integration |
Claim Flags & Settings GUI
HorizonsClaims provides a comprehensive GUI interface for managing claim flags and settings.
Claim Flags (/claim flags or /claimflags)
Toggle individual protection flags per claim through an intuitive click-based GUI. Flags control specific behaviors such as:
- PvP, explosion damage, fire spread
- Mob spawning, entity interactions
- Container access, block modification
Claim Settings (/claim settings or /claimsettings)
Manage broader claim properties:
- Claim name
- Enter/leave messages
- Spawn point
- Trust list management
- Subclaim configuration
Database
HorizonsClaims supports two database backends:
| Backend | Description |
|---|---|
| SQLite | File-based, zero configuration, ideal for single servers. Default option. |
| MySQL | Network database via HikariCP connection pooling. Ideal for multi-server setups or large servers requiring external database management. |
Switch between backends in the configuration. Data includes claims, trust relationships, player block balances, and settings.
PlaceholderAPI
HorizonsClaims provides an extensive set of placeholders (requires PlaceholderAPI):
Claim Block Placeholders
| Placeholder | Description |
|---|---|
%horizonsclaims_claims_count% | Number of claims owned by the player |
%horizonsclaims_claims_limit% | Maximum claims allowed per player |
%horizonsclaims_blocks_total% | Total claim blocks allocated to the player |
%horizonsclaims_blocks_used% | Claim blocks currently in use |
%horizonsclaims_blocks_available% | Remaining available claim blocks |
%horizonsclaims_blocks_bonus% | Bonus claim blocks received |
%horizonsclaims_total_claim_area% | Total area (in blocks) of all owned claims |
Current Location Placeholders
| Placeholder | Description |
|---|---|
%horizonsclaims_current_claim% | Name of the claim at the player's location (empty in wilderness) |
%horizonsclaims_current_claim_name% | Alias for current_claim |
%horizonsclaims_current_claim_owner% | Owner of the claim at the player's location |
%horizonsclaims_current_claim_id% | Numeric ID of the current claim |
%horizonsclaims_current_claim_area% | Area of the current claim in blocks |
%horizonsclaims_in_claim% | Whether the player is inside a claim (true/false) |
%horizonsclaims_is_owner% | Whether the player owns the current claim (true/false) |
%horizonsclaims_is_trusted% | Whether the player is trusted in the current claim (true/false) |
%horizonsclaims_can_build% | Whether the player can build at their location (true/false) |
%horizonsclaims_trusted_count% | Number of trusted players in the current claim |
Subclaim Placeholders
| Placeholder | Description |
|---|---|
%horizonsclaims_in_subclaim% | Whether the player is inside a subclaim (true/false) |
%horizonsclaims_current_subclaim% | Name of the current subclaim |
%horizonsclaims_current_subclaim_name% | Alias for current_subclaim |
Playtime Placeholders
| Placeholder | Description |
|---|---|
%horizonsclaims_playtime% | Total tracked playtime in hours (decimal, e.g., "12.5") |
%horizonsclaims_playtime_hours% | Playtime in whole hours |
%horizonsclaims_playtime_minutes% | Total playtime in minutes |
PvP Placeholders
| Placeholder | Description |
|---|---|
%horizonsclaims_pvp_status% | PvP toggle status (ON, OFF, or N/A if disabled) |
%horizonsclaims_pvp% | Alias for pvp_status |
%horizonsclaims_pvp_enabled% | Whether PvP is enabled (true/false) |
Commands
Player Commands
| Command | Aliases | Description |
|---|---|---|
/claim tool | /claimtool | Obtain the claim creation tool |
/claim list | /claims | List all your claims |
/claim info | /claiminfo | View information about the current claim |
/claim trust <player> | /trust | Trust a player in your claim |
/claim untrust <player> | /untrust | Remove trust from a player |
/claim expand <amount> | /expand | Expand the current claim's borders |
/claim shrink <amount> | /shrink | Shrink the current claim's borders |
/claim delete | /deleteclaim | Delete the current claim |
/claim ban <player> | /claimban | Ban a player from your claim |
/claim unban <player> | /claimunban | Unban a player from your claim |
/claim kick <player> | /claimkick | Kick a player from your claim |
/claim setspawn | /claimsetspawn | Set the claim's spawn point |
/claim merge | /claimmerge | Merge two adjacent claims |
/claim fly | /claimfly | Toggle flight within your claim |
/claim flags | /claimflags | Open the claim flags GUI |
/claim settings | /claimsettings, /claimoptions | Open the claim settings GUI |
/claim tp | /claimtp | Teleport to a claim |
/claim help | -- | Display help information |
/claimblockbuy <amount> | -- | Buy claim blocks |
/claimblocksell <amount> | -- | Sell claim blocks |
/claimblockshop | -- | Open the block shop GUI |
/claimblocks | -- | View your claim block balance |
/pvp | -- | Toggle your PvP status |
/claimnpc | -- | Manage claim NPCs (requires Citizens2) |
Admin Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
/claimadmin reload | Reload the plugin configuration |
/claimadmin delete | Delete any claim (standing in it) |
/claimadmin deleteall <player> | Delete all claims of a specific player |
/claimadmin list [player] | List claims, optionally filtered by player |
/claimadmin info | View detailed info about the current claim |
/claimadmin expire | Manually trigger claim expiration |
/claimadmin wilderness | Mark current location info (wilderness check) |
/claimadmin giveblocks <player> <amount> | Give claim blocks to a player |
/claimadmin setblocks <player> <amount> | Set a player's total claim blocks |
Permissions
Player Permissions
| Permission | Description |
|---|---|
horizonsclaims.use | Access to core claim commands (tool, create, list, info, trust, untrust, expand, shrink, delete, flags, settings, help) |
horizonsclaims.pvp | Access to the /pvp toggle command |
horizonsclaims.npc | Access to claim NPC management |
horizonsclaims.teleport | Access to /claimtp and /claimsetspawn |
horizonsclaims.subclaim | Ability to create subclaims |
horizonsclaims.transfer | Ability to transfer claim ownership |
horizonsclaims.economy.buy | Buy claim blocks |
horizonsclaims.economy.sell | Sell claim blocks |
horizonsclaims.economy.shop | Open the claim block shop GUI |
horizonsclaims.ban | Ban players from claims |
horizonsclaims.kick | Kick players from claims |
horizonsclaims.merge | Merge adjacent claims |
horizonsclaims.unlimited | Bypass claim size and count limits |
horizonsclaims.flag.fly | Toggle flight in trusted claims |
horizonsclaims.pvp.bypass | Bypass PvP toggle restrictions (always able to PvP) |
Bypass Permissions
| Permission | Description |
|---|---|
horizonsclaims.bypass.cost | Bypass all economy costs |
horizonsclaims.bypass.worldguard | Create claims inside WorldGuard regions |
horizonsclaims.bypass.distance | Bypass minimum distance between claims |
horizonsclaims.bypass.warmup | Skip teleportation warmup |
horizonsclaims.bypass.cooldown | Skip teleportation cooldown |
Wildcard permissions:
horizonsclaims.economy.*-- grants all economy permissionshorizonsclaims.bypass.*-- grants all bypass permissions
Admin Permission
| Permission | Description |
|---|---|
horizonsclaims.admin | Access to all /claimadmin commands |
Getting Started
- Install -- place the HorizonsClaims JAR file in your server's
pluginsfolder and restart. - Grant permissions -- give players
horizonsclaims.usefor basic claiming functionality. - Obtain the tool -- players run
/claimtoolto receive the golden shovel. - Create a claim -- right-click one corner, then right-click the opposite corner. The claim is created instantly with visual feedback.
- Trust friends -- use
/trust <player>to give friends access to your claim. - Manage settings -- use
/claimflagsand/claimsettingsto fine-tune your claim's behavior through the GUI. - (Optional) Configure economy, expiration, visualization, and other systems in the configuration files.
- Use
/claimadmin reloadto apply changes without restarting.
Configuration
HorizonsClaims uses organized YAML configuration files. Major configuration sections include:
- Claim Tool -- material, name, glow, lore
- Claim Limits -- min/max size, max claims per player, minimum distance
- Claim Blocks -- starting amount, playtime rewards (interval, amount), max total blocks
- Refund -- percentage of blocks refunded on shrink/delete
- Economy -- currency provider, buy/sell prices, min/max transactions, confirmation thresholds
- Protection -- toggle individual protection types (blocks, containers, entities, PvP, explosions, fire, pistons)
- Expiration -- enable/disable, inactivity days, new player protection, refund percentage
- Visualization -- mode (particles, ghost blocks, glow entities), colors, duration
- Enter/Leave Messages -- display mode (title, actionbar, chat), timing, format
- Teleportation -- warmup duration, cooldown duration, respawn at claim
- Claim Flight -- enable/disable
- PvP -- default toggle state, wilderness rules
- Sounds -- configurable sounds for various events
- Database -- SQLite or MySQL with full connection configuration
- Integrations -- WorldGuard, Dynmap, BlueMap, Citizens2, custom item plugins
Language files support MiniMessage formatting with HEX colors, gradients, and click/hover events. The plugin ships with English and German translations, and additional languages can be added easily.
Compatibility
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Server Software | Paper, Purpur, or Spigot 1.21 or newer |
| Java Version | Java 21 or newer |
Optional Integrations
| Plugin | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Vault + Economy Plugin | Currency provider for claim block shop |
| PlayerPoints | Alternative currency provider |
| CoinsEngine | Alternative currency provider |
| PlaceholderAPI | Placeholder support for external plugins |
| WorldGuard | Prevent claiming in protected regions |
| Citizens | Claim management NPCs |
| Dynmap | Web map claim overlay |
| BlueMap | Web map claim overlay |
| ItemsAdder | Custom item support |
| Oraxen | Custom item support |
| HeadDatabase | Custom head support |
| MMOItems | Custom item support |
| Slimefun | Custom item support |
| Nexo | Custom item support |
| ExecutableItems | Custom item support |
| EcoItems | Custom item support |
Metrics
HorizonsClaims collects anonymous usage statistics via bStats to help guide development. This can be disabled in the bStats configuration.
Support
If you encounter any issues or have feature suggestions, please reach out through the Modrinth project page or the linked support channels. When reporting a bug, please include:
- Your server version (
/version) - The plugin version
- Your database backend (SQLite or MySQL)
- A clear description of the issue
- Relevant console errors or logs, if any
