Minecraft Survival MCP Server
A TypeScript Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Minecraft Survival, powered by Mineflayer. This server is specifically designed to allow LLM agents to play and survive in Minecraft.
Vision: The Helix Approach
This project is inspired by the architecture of Figure AI’s Helix. While existing implementations like yuniko-software/minecraft-mcp-server provide a comprehensive set of low-level tools, mc-mcp is designed to shift the burden of "trivial" execution away from the LLM.
- The Mind (LLM): Focuses on high-level intent, strategy, and long-term goals.
- The Body (MCP Server): Handles the "transactions"—autonomous pathfinding, geometric math, block-by-block construction logic, and environmental processing.
The goal is to prevent the LLM from getting bogged down in coordinate arithmetic or individual tool selection, allowing it to act as a pure cognitive layer.
Quick Start
Installation
npm install
npm run build
Screenshot Dependency (Optional)
The capture_bot_view tool needs node-canvas-webgl.
Use Node 24 LTS (or 22 LTS) before installing:
nvm install 24
nvm use 24
npm install github:PrismarineJS/node-canvas-webgl
The Helix Approach & Key Improvements
Traditional Minecraft MCP implementations often treat the LLM as a "low-level controller." This results in high latency, token waste, and frequent failures due to the LLM struggling with 3D coordinate math or step-by-step block placement.
mc-mcp flips this model by implementing a "Transactional Body" architecture:
1. Intent vs. Execution (Mind/Body Split)
Instead of asking the LLM to "Move forward, then turn left, then jump," the LLM simply states "Go to the village at [X, Y, Z]." The MCP server (the Body) handles the A* pathfinding, obstacle avoidance, and physics calculations autonomously.
2. Transactional Operations
Complex tasks are exposed as single high-level transactions.
- Current:
get_own_position,move_to_coordinates,move_to_player,open_door_or_trapdoor,close_door_or_trapdoor,mine_block_by_coords,mine_room,break_tree,mine_stairs,place_block_at,place_wall,place_ceiling,get_inventory_contents,get_inventory_status,drop_inventory_item,put_item_in_chest,take_item_from_chest,get_chest_contents,get_chest_status,craft_item,smelt_item,capture_bot_view,get_biome_info,get_daytime_info,sleep_in_bed,locate_blocks_in_area,locate_dropped_items,search_blocks_wiki,search_items_wiki,get_crafting_recipe,list_players,find_player,get_player_coordinates,distance_to_player,find_nearest_players. - Planned:
build_structure(Geometric templates handled by the server),harvest_area(Area scanning and path optimization).
3. Reduced Cognitive Load
By abstracting the "how," the LLM has more context window available for the "why"—allowing for more complex reasoning, multi-agent coordination, and creative problem-solving without being distracted by Minecraft's technical constraints.
4. Container-First Architecture
Designed to run in isolated environments (Docker/GHCR), making it easy to deploy "worker bees" that can be controlled by a centralized intelligence.
Development & Deployment
Local Development
npm install
npm run dev
Environment Variables
MCP_TRANSPORT: Set toremoteto enable the HTTP/SSE server (default:stdio).PORT: Port for the remote server (default:3000).HOST: Host for the remote server (default:0.0.0.0).MC_HOST: Minecraft server host used at startup (default:localhost).MC_PORT: Minecraft server port (default:25565).MC_USERNAME: Bot username (default:MCP-Bot).ENABLE_VIEWER: Set to1/trueto start prismarine-viewer web stream after bot spawn (default: disabled). Viewer page includes a HUD overlay (hearts and held item).VIEWER_PORT: Port for prismarine-viewer (default:3000).ENABLE_IMAGES: Set to1/trueto enable registration ofcapture_bot_view.LOG_LEVEL: Pino log level (trace,debug,info,warn,error,fatal; default:info).
Available Tools
Movement Module
get_own_position: Get the bot's current coordinates.move_to_coordinates: Move to target coordinates. Inputs:x,y,z,allow_block_breaking,allow_block_placement,timeout_ms.move_to_player: Move near a player. Inputs:username,range,allow_block_breaking,allow_block_placement,timeout_ms.open_door_or_trapdoor: Open a door/trapdoor by optional coordinates or nearest in range. Inputs: optionalx,y,z,max_distance.close_door_or_trapdoor: Close a door/trapdoor by optional coordinates or nearest in range. Inputs: optionalx,y,z,max_distance.
Mining Module
mine_block_by_coords: Mine one block with mineability/tool checks. Inputs:x,y,z,timeout_ms.mine_room: Mine a cuboid area layer-by-layer. Inputs:start_x,start_y,start_z,length,width,depth,timeout_ms.break_tree: Break all connected log-like blocks (log,stem,hyphae). Inputs:x,y,z,timeout_ms,allow_build_up_if_needed.mine_stairs: Create a descending stair tunnel to a target depth. Inputs:depth,timeout_ms.
Building Module
place_block_at: Place one block at coordinates with support/entity/inventory checks. Inputs:block_name,x,y,z,timeout_ms.place_wall: Place a wall plane from start coordinates. Inputs:block_name,start_x,start_y,start_z,x_length,y_height,z_length, optionalx_direction,y_direction,z_direction,timeout_ms. Resource check is enforced before building.place_ceiling: Place a ceiling plane from start coordinates. Inputs:block_name,start_x,start_y,start_z,x_length,z_length, optionalx_direction,z_direction,timeout_ms. Resource check is enforced before building.
Inventory Module
get_inventory_contents: List inventory item stacks with item names and counts.get_inventory_status: Report inventory slot usage (used,free,total).drop_inventory_item: Drop items by query/name and amount. Inputs:query,count. Returns clear errors if missing or insufficient quantity.put_item_in_chest: Put items from inventory into the nearest chest in reach. Inputs:query,count. Returns clear errors if chest/item is missing.take_item_from_chest: Take items from the nearest chest in reach into inventory. Inputs:query,count. Returns clear errors if chest/item is missing or insufficient.get_chest_contents: List nearest chest contents with item names and counts.get_chest_status: Report nearest chest slot usage (used,free,total).
Vision Module
capture_bot_view: Capture a first-person screenshot from the bot. Inputs:width(default800),height(default400),view_distancein blocks (default96),quality,look_at_x,look_at_y,look_at_z.get_biome_info: Get biome info at current or optional coordinates. Inputs: optionalx,y,z.get_daytime_info: Get day/time state and ticks until sleep window.sleep_in_bed: Sleep in bed by optional coordinates or nearest bed in range. Inputs: optionalx,y,z,max_distance,timeout_ms.locate_blocks_in_area: Locate blocks by name/id/wildcard, sorted by nearest. Inputs:query,radius,max_results, optionalcenter_x,center_y,center_z.locate_dropped_items: Locate dropped item entities, sorted by nearest. Inputs:radius,max_results, optionalquery.
Wiki Module
search_blocks_wiki: Search block names and ids from Mineflayer's built-in registry. Inputs:query,max_results.search_items_wiki: Search item names and ids from Mineflayer's built-in registry. Inputs:query,max_results.get_crafting_recipe: Show recipe ingredient requirements for an item and amount, including crafting-table requirement. Inputs:item,amount.
Crafting Module
craft_item: Craft an item by name and amount. Uses inventory crafting or a nearby crafting table. On failure, returns actionable guidance about missing resources and/or crafting table requirement. Inputs:item,amount.smelt_item: Smelt an item in a nearby furnace-like block. On failure, returns actionable guidance about missing furnace, fuel, and/or input resources. Inputs:item,amount, optionalfuel_query. Uses a fixed internal timeout (2x the normal Minecraft smelt time) for progress stalls.
Multiplayer Module
list_players: Get all currently known players on the server.find_player: Search players by partial username (case-insensitive). Inputs:query.get_player_coordinates: Get coordinates of a visible player. Inputs:username.distance_to_player: Calculate 3D distance from the bot to a player in blocks. Inputs:username.find_nearest_players: Find nearest visible players. Inputs:x_parameter.
The server manages exactly one bot process and attempts connection automatically on startup.
License
MIT