FTB StoneBlock 4
Underground survival evolved. A 1.21.1 release featuring Vaults, Echoes, and the World Engine. A unique mining and building modpack starting in a world made entirely of stone.
Complete Guide for FTB StoneBlock 4
Early/mid/late progression with core mod strategies — read this first.
📖 What This Modpack Is About
FTB StoneBlock 4 is the latest installment in Feed The Beast's popular StoneBlock series. Built on 1.21.1 NeoForge with over 2.1 million downloads — the definitive entry in a series that's established itself as 'the polar opposite concept of skyblock.' Completely different from regular kitchen-sinks or skyblock — **a mining-focused challenge modpack where you start in a world filled with stone and mine your way to space and resources**.
**There are four core content pillars.** Vaults are ancient trial chambers filled with light, shadow, magic, and tech — each Vault tests different abilities such as logic puzzles, brutal combat, or endurance challenges, and rewards rare loot and resources. Echoes are holographic remnants of a previous civilization hidden beneath the 'Garden of Stone,' providing story and progression hints. World Engine is a system that generates various dimensions and structures, actively used for resource gathering and space expansion. FTB Worlds multiplayer creates a server instantly from the in-game multiplayer tab, and with Bisect Hosting integration, playing with friends and family becomes very easy.
**Progression flows in 3 stages**: 'secure space → automate → challenge Vaults.' Initial cramped quarters demand 30 minutes of mining stone to make workspace. Soon, automated mining handles space and resources simultaneously. After sufficient gear, Vault challenges open the late game. If skyblock (ATM10 Sky) is 'start in the air,' StoneBlock 4 is 'start inside stone' — opposite concept, but similar automation reliance and FTB Quests guidance.
With an 11-year-old, StoneBlock 4's biggest charm is **'gradual progression feel.'** The process of mining a cramped space into a growing large base gives kids clear sense of achievement. Small daily progress like 'we mined this much today!' is constantly visible. But **brutal combat challenges inside Vaults can feel heavy for kids**, so Vault challenges should wait until strong enough and only with parent. Slightly stronger boss/danger content than ATM10 Sky, but the base area is safe.
Comparison: ATM10 Sky is 'sky + skyblock' / StoneBlock 4 is **'inside stone + mining'**. Both have FTB Quests progression guidance, so next steps are clear and kid-friendly. If you love automation and prefer mining to floating, StoneBlock 4 is the answer.
Once you actually launch it, the natural starting point ends up being First 30 minutes — secure workspace first. There's a bit of fumbling at first, but after a death or two you start seeing the rhythm this pack is going for. If that sounds like your kind of thing, this is the sort of pack you'll end up sinking several days into the same save.
👉 Full progression, core mod analysis, and late-game builds are covered in the FTB StoneBlock 4 Complete Guide.
🚀 Or — Other Helpful Guides
💡 Quick Start Tips
If you're just starting, keeping these three in mind makes the first hour or two much smoother. Read top to bottom — they're written as a flow, not a checklist.
1 First 30 minutes — secure workspace first — Spending the first 30 minutes mining stone in cramped quarters is normal in StoneBlock 4. **Manually carve a 3x3x3 base area → place crafting table, furnace, chest → expand next.** Regular Minecraft just sends you cave-diving, but StoneBlock 4 makes everything stone, so deliberate space-making is the flow. With kids, the 'how big is our base today?' progression feel is immediate.
2 Open quest book and follow page 1 — **Open FTB Quests book (R or menu icon) within the first 5 minutes** and follow from page 1. The pack author's intended progression is laid out in clear 1-2-3 steps. The first few hours, following the quest book guide is the most efficient approach. Show your kid a separate quest book view so they can check 'what's next?' themselves.
3 Mekanism Digital Miner quickly — start auto-mining — Manual mining hits a wall fast. **Right after settling base and securing basic resources (iron, diamond), build Mekanism's Digital Miner.** Auto-mining starts handling space + resources simultaneously, noticeably accelerating late-game progression. But miners take up large space — plan base design before placing. First-time automation users can follow the quest book guide.
🧩 Included Mods (4)
Applied Energistics 2
기술A digital storage and auto-crafting system. Converts items into data for virtually unlimited storage.
FTB Ultimine
유틸리티A QoL mod that mines or chops connected blocks of the same type all at once. Essential for casual players short on play time.
Jade
편의Essential UI mod showing the name, mod, HP, and status of the block/mob you're aiming at, at the top of screen. Successor to WAILA/HWYLA.
Mekanism
기술From 5x ore processing to nuclear fusion power — a flagship Minecraft tech mod.
📚 Related Guides
Create Mod First 5 Hours — From Windmill & Water Wheel to Crushing Wheels, Automation Beginner
First 5 hours of Create mod, the core automation mod in ATM10 and automation packs. Step-by-step flow from first rotational power via windmill → water wheels, crushing wheels, mechanical crafter → first automation line — learnable alongside your kid.
Read More →Automation Modpack Beginner Guide — Mekanism, Create, AE2 Big Three
Common learning order for Mekanism, Create, and Applied Energistics 2 — the three pillars across automation modpacks like ATM10, FTB StoneBlock 4, and ATM10 Sky.
Read More →❓ FAQ
How is it different from ATM10 Sky?
**Concepts are opposites.** **ATM10 Sky**: start on tiny floating island → manufacture every resource via sieving (skyblock). **StoneBlock 4**: start in stone-filled underground → mining secures space and resources simultaneously (stoneblock). Automation reliance, FTB Quests guidance, and the fun of squeezing efficiency from scarcity are similar, but **resource acquisition and space usage are completely different**. Fall-death risk vs entombment risk are opposites too. Trying both shows how the same mods feel completely different in opposite environments.
How is it different from previous StoneBlock entries?
**Series content has evolved significantly.** Earlier entries were 'plain mining modpacks,' but StoneBlock 4 adds **Vaults (trial chambers), Echoes (story system), World Engine (dimension generation)** for a much deeper experience. Beyond simple automation/progression, it now combines dungeon challenges and story exploration — RPG-style elements. 1.21.1 NeoForge base gives the most stable performance.
Is it okay to play with an 11-year-old?
**Very good — 'gradual progression feel' is kid-friendly.** I play with my own 11-year-old, and StoneBlock 4's process of a cramped space growing into a large base gives kids immediate sense of achievement. But **brutal combat inside Vaults can feel heavy for kids**, so challenge Vaults only when strong enough and with parent. Main progression (mining, automation) is kid-friendly and safe.
How much RAM do I need?
**Minimum 6GB, recommended 8GB.** Late-game automation can require up to 10GB. Slightly lighter than ATM10 (simpler chunk data in stone environment). Stable at 12GB+ system RAM. CPU: 4+ cores recommended. Don't run too many Digital Miners simultaneously — limit to reasonable count.
Does it support multiplayer?
**Yes, instant server creation via FTB Worlds.** One-click server creation from the in-game multiplayer tab. Managed hosting through Bisect Hosting also supported. Co-op mining + automation + Vault challenges with friends/family is multiplayer's highlight. All players need the same modpack version.