BedWars Server Setup: Plugins, Maps, Store and Hosting

This guide is for anyone who wants to run their own BedWars server, whether it is for a group of friends or the start of a public network. By the end you will know which BedWars plugin fits you, which Minecraft version to run, which support plugins to add, where to find maps, how to sell ranks through a webstore and where to host it.

Pick a BedWars plugin first#

The BedWars plugin decides almost everything else: which Minecraft version you can run, which server software works and how your network is laid out. Choose it before you install anything. Here are the four the community asks about most, side by side.

BedWars1058#

BedWars1058 by andrei1058 is the classic choice. Players defend their bed and lose the ability to respawn once it breaks. It ships with custom teams, scoreboards, shops, team upgrades and per-player language selection. Its latest SpigotMC release is 25.2 from February 2025, and the author says Modrinth gets updates more often.

It runs in four modes, set with the serverType option in its config:

• SHARED: BedWars sits alongside other minigames on one server.
• MULTIARENA: the whole server is BedWars, with a protected lobby and joining through commands, NPCs, signs or menus.
• BUNGEE-LEGACY: one game per server instance behind a proxy.
• BUNGEE: several arenas per instance with automatic cloning, for growing networks.

It needs Spigot or Paper with NMS code and Java 11 or newer. Citizens is optional for join NPCs, and SlimeWorldManager is optional for faster world restoring.

BedWars1058 Free Free, open source BedWars minigame with team upgrades, shops and four server modes from shared to scalable Bungee. On SpigotMC

The author has a setup video that walks through creating your first arena:

How to setup BedWars1058 / How to create arenas #1 andrei1058

BedWars2023#

BedWars2023 by tomkeuper started in March 2023 as a fork of BedWars1058, with the aim of adding features and modernising the code. It keeps the same four modes (Shared, MultiArena, Bungee-Legacy and Bungee) and has strong add-on support. Its GitHub page lists Java 11 or newer, Spigot or Paper with NMS, and the TAB plugin as a dependency. Many add-ons on SpigotMC, such as play-again buttons and lobby shops, support both BedWars1058 and BedWars2023.

BedWars2023 Free An open source fork of BedWars1058 that modernises the code and adds features, with strong add-on support. On GitHub

ScreamingBedWars#

ScreamingBedWars from ScreamingSandals began as a modern replacement for BedwarsRel. Besides BedWars it can run EggWars, AnchorWars and CakeWars style games. It supports several shops per arena, spectators who can join running games, arena rebuilding, boss bar or XP bar timers, and BungeeCord and Velocity integration. Modrinth lists it for Bukkit, Spigot, Paper and Purpur.

ScreamingBedWars Free Flexible BedWars plugin that also runs EggWars, AnchorWars and CakeWars, with BungeeCord and Velocity support. On Modrinth

ClashWars#

ClashWars is a paid BedWars plugin sold on SpigotMC. Its thread lists features such as TNT and fireballs in the shop, Iron Forge upgrades, egg bridges, spectator items, quick join to a random arena and a top killer announcement at the end of a game. The thread lists support for 1.8.9 to 1.12. We could not load the resource page itself to check newer versions, so confirm current support on the ClashWars SpigotMC thread before you buy.

Install Paper and the right Java version#

All four plugins run on Paper, which you download from the Paper downloads page (older versions are listed there too). Java must match the Minecraft version you picked:

• Minecraft 1.20.5 to 1.21.x needs Java 21.
• Minecraft 1.18 to 1.20.4 needs Java 17.
• Minecraft 1.12 and older run on Java 8, and newer Java usually works too.
• Minecraft 26.1 and newer needs Java 25.

Add the core plugins every BedWars server needs#

A BedWars plugin runs the games. These four handle everything around them: ranks, basic commands, lobby protection and pasting maps.

LuckPerms for ranks and permissions#

LuckPerms is a free, open source permissions plugin. You build groups such as Default, VIP and MVP, give each one permissions, and later hand those ranks out from your webstore. Our guide on setting up LuckPerms groups, prefixes and promotions covers it step by step.

LuckPerms Free Free permissions plugin for building rank groups and controlling what each player can do. On Modrinth

EssentialsX for everyday commands#

EssentialsX is a free plugin suite with more than 130 commands, such as spawn, messaging, kits and moderation basics. On a BedWars server you will mostly use it in the lobby. Turn off any modules you do not need so they do not clash with your BedWars plugin.

EssentialsX Free Free suite of more than 130 everyday server commands for Paper and Spigot. On Modrinth

WorldGuard to protect the lobby#

WorldGuard protects areas from griefing and lets you switch off PvP, mob spawns and block breaking in regions. Use it on your lobby and any hub builds; the BedWars plugin handles the arenas themselves. It needs WorldEdit or FastAsyncWorldEdit installed. Follow our walkthrough on protecting spawn with WorldGuard regions for the exact flags.

WorldGuard Free Region protection plugin that stops griefing and lets you toggle PvP, mobs and building per area. On Modrinth

FastAsyncWorldEdit for pasting maps#

FastAsyncWorldEdit (FAWE) is a free, faster take on WorldEdit, made for large edits. You need it to paste BedWars maps that come as schematics. It supports Bukkit, Spigot, Paper and Purpur.

Upload the plugins#

Get BedWars maps#

Every arena needs a map with team islands, generators and a middle. You can build your own, or search BuiltByBit for BedWars maps, where builders sell single maps and multi-map packs. We could not load individual BuiltByBit listings to check them, so look at the listed Minecraft version and file format yourself before you buy, and make sure the size suits your team count.

If you want ready themed arenas, these two packs are made by our team. The BedWars Arenas pack includes a medieval arena (about 360x360) and an aquatic arena (about 580x580), built natively on 1.12 with schematics for 1.8 and newer versions up to 1.21+.

Made by our team Builds BedWars Arenas | Medieval & Aquatic Two Themed BedWars Arenas with Medieval & Aquatic Designs, Built for 4-Team Play | 1.8 - 1.21+ $2.15 $3.59 View product

The BedWars 4v4 Arenas pack, also made by our team, has three floating island maps (fantasy, medieval and futuristic) built for 4v4 team play, native on 1.21.8 with schematics from 1.8 up to 1.21.11.

Made by our team Builds BedWars 4v4 Arenas | x3 Themed Maps 3 Themed 4v4 BedWars Arenas with Fantasy, Medieval & Futuristic Designs | 1.8 - 1.21+ $2.15 $3.59 View product

To paste a schematic map:

1. Put the .schem file in plugins/FastAsyncWorldEdit/schematics (upload it the same way as the plugin jars above).
2. Go to an empty void world and run //schem load <name>.
3. Stand where you want it and run //paste.
4. Set up the arena with your BedWars plugin's setup commands: team spawns, beds, generators and shop NPCs.

Make money with a webstore#

Most BedWars servers fund themselves by selling ranks and cosmetics. A webstore plugin takes the payment on a website and then runs a command on your server, such as giving a LuckPerms group.

Tebex#

Tebex lets you create a free webstore, then connects it to your server with a plugin. You run /tebex secret your-key once, and the plugin checks for new orders every two minutes and delivers them, even to players who were offline when they paid. It supports Paper, Spigot, Purpur, Velocity, BungeeCord and more.

Tebex Free Connects a Tebex webstore to your server and delivers purchases automatically. On Modrinth

CraftingStore#

CraftingStore has a free Bronze plan with unlimited packages, servers and coupons, plus paid plans with extras such as gift cards. You create the store in its dashboard, paste the API key from the servers page into the plugin config, and players can open a /buy menu in game (/csb on BungeeCord).

CraftingStore Free Webstore platform with a free plan and a plugin that adds an in-game buy menu and runs reward commands. On SpigotMC

PayNow#

PayNow has an official open source plugin on GitHub for Bukkit, Folia, BungeeCord, Velocity, Sponge, Fabric and NeoForge. Download it from the GitHub releases page, drop it in plugins, and link your store with /paynow link <token>.

Choose where to host it#

BedWars games are short and busy, so the server needs steady CPU more than huge RAM. A single MULTIARENA server on a hosting panel is plenty for a first launch; a VPS gives you room to add a proxy and more game servers later. Pick a location close to most of your players to keep ping low.

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ARROWTAN iTitan Hosting

Sparked Host is another host owners often ask about. We could not check its plans against our sources, so compare locations, panel type and support for any host yourself before you pay.

Launch checklist#

1. BedWars plugin chosen and Minecraft version matched to it.
2. Paper running on the right Java version, EULA accepted.
3. LuckPerms, EssentialsX, WorldGuard and FAWE installed with no console errors.
4. At least two arenas set up and tested with a few friends.
5. Lobby protected and ranks in place.
6. Webstore linked and a test package delivered.