Crystal PvP
Crystal PvP (commonly abbreviated as cpvp) is a high-damage combat strategy that revolves around using End Crystals to attack opponents. It is especially common on 2b2t and other anarchy servers, where this method of fighting has become the dominant meta due to its immense damage potential. As end crystals inflict severe harm to both armor and health, they quickly replaced traditional combat styles involving swords and bows. The technique originated during the Rusher War in 2016, where players first experimented with end crystals in battle.
Over time, players began using hacked clients that introduced Crystal Aura, AutoPlace, and positioning aids to optimize crystal use and survivability.
History and Evolution
Origins: Suicide Bombing
The earliest incarnation of Crystal PvP was a crude and risky method known as "suicide bombing." Introduced after the 1.9 Combat Update (February 2016), this technique involved placing an end crystal (or bed in the Nether/End) and detonating it at close range—often resulting in mutual destruction. Players would then return to the site of the explosion to recover any loot from fallen enemies.
This tactic gained traction among less-equipped players ("poorfags"), who could eliminate fully geared opponents with a single blast. It was particularly effective during the Rusher War when standard melee fights became tedious due to server TPS issues. Eventually, this became the default combat method across 2b2t for several months.
Types of Bombing
- Bed Bombing: Takes advantage of the mechanic where beds explode in the Nether or End. A well-placed bed explosion can instantly kill even the most armored players. This method lost popularity as end crystals became more stackable and convenient for rapid deployment.
- End Crystal Bombing: Utilizes end crystals placed on obsidian or bedrock. Initially considered expensive due to crystal and obsidian scarcity, the method became widespread following the rise of item dupes.
Usage During the Rusher War
While suicide bombing was occasionally used before 2016, it became widespread during the Rusher War. Players like Babbaj and Parthicus pioneered its use, but it was The 4th Reich that institutionalized the tactic in large-scale battles. Entire factions were overwhelmed by suicide bombers wielding end crystals.
The once skill-based nature of PvP gave way to chaotic, high-explosive confrontations. Nearly every major faction adopted the strategy by the war's end.
Modern Crystal PvP
The introduction of Totems of Undying in Minecraft 1.11 dramatically shifted the meta. Suicide bombing lost its effectiveness, as totems allowed players to survive single explosions. In response, a new form of Crystal PvP emerged—emphasizing rapid placement of crystals and obsidian to outpace totem regeneration and overwhelm enemies with sheer speed.
Combat Mechanics and Survival
Modern crystal combat requires a blend of mechanical skill, awareness, and preparation. Although a direct crystal blast can instantly kill a fully armored player, survival is possible via:
- Enchanted golden apples
- Blast Protection IV armor
- Positional tactics (e.g., standing one block lower than the crystal or hiding behind blocks)
These methods take advantage of explosion mechanics, which often fail to damage players from above. Thus, players frequently compete for the lower ground during engagements.
30 Million PvP (30mil PvP)
At the world border (~30 million blocks), placement offset and chunk desynchronization cause crystals to behave unpredictably. In this chaotic form of PvP, players can stack multiple crystals in a single location and place them inside blocks, leading to erratic but deadly combat. This "30mil PvP" has its own subculture and specialized strategies.
Post-1.19 Meta and GrimAC
With the server's update to 1.19, the anti-cheat plugin shifted from NoCheatPlus to GrimAC. Grim compares a player’s movement to a vanilla simulation and flags discrepancies. Initially, this forced a return to nearly vanilla PvP, and players like SyndicateNA, 0wning, and Puggers fought without clients.
However, bypasses were quickly developed in clients such as Future and Boze, allowing exploits like Velocity, Noslow, and Automine to resurface. As of 2024, the meta includes ender pearl phasing, instant mining, and extremely high crystal placement speeds—some players can place and detonate over 40 crystals per second with low ping.
Notable Figures
- Babbaj: First to popularize crystal bombing with a video from the 4th Incursion.
- Parthicus: Used crystals to kill multiple Resistance members in early PvP.
- 4th Reich: Instrumental in mainstreaming suicide bombing tactics.
- Torogadude: Shared tutorials on crystal strategies and mechanics.
- Flyinqq: Skilled bomber known for surviving attacks and defeating armored opponents.
- Spawnfags: Regular players at spawn who master Crystal PvP and rely on nearby stashes for re-gearing.
- IHackedWalmart: Prominent Crystal PvPer and leader in groups like Armorsmith's Followers, Peacekeepers, and Infrared.
- Killet: Known for integrating Harming Arrows into crystal combat to drain enemy healing.
- cityboss1: Helped develop tactics like “Citying” and use of Weakness Arrows to disrupt opponents’ Crystal Auras.
- 086: Developer of KAMI Client, which introduced the first public Auto-Place.
- WomenAreObjects: Founder of Team WAO and widely regarded as the top Crystal PvPer from 2017–2024.
- Dot5 & Eclipcen: Advanced Crystal PvP through client development, notably DotGod.cc and Butterfly.
- Gearplayed: Also known as vasler2000; developed Dynamic Surround, AutoTrap, and co-created Wraith with*
- Zltb: Friend of cityboss1 and member of Paranormal which helped popularize the method*