Trails

Trails are visual effects that follow an entity as it moves. They are defined as client-side asset files and can be referenced by the palladium:trail ability or by a size change type.

Creating a Trail

Trail files go in your resource pack at:

assets/<namespace>/palladium/trails/<filename>.json

{
  "spacing": 1,
  "lifetime": 20,
  "requires_movement": true,
  "renderer": {
    "type": "palladium:gradient",
    "color": "#ff0000"
  }
}

A single file can also define multiple independent trails using a list:

assets/<namespace>/palladium/trails/<filename>.json

[
  {
    "spacing": 1,
    "lifetime": 20,
    "renderer": { "type": "palladium:gradient", "color": "#ff0000" }
  },
  {
    "spacing": 0.5,
    "lifetime": 10,
    "renderer": { "type": "palladium:after_image", "opacity": 0.3 }
  }
]

Settings

spacing (optional, default: 1) is the distance in blocks between spawned trail segments.

lifetime (optional, default: 20) is how many ticks each segment stays visible before fading out.

requires_movement (optional, default: true) when true, new segments are only spawned while the entity is actually moving.

tick_delay (optional) delays segment spawning by this many ticks after the trail becomes active. Accepts a plain integer (ticks) or a time string: "1s" (seconds), "20t" (ticks), "1m" (minutes).

anchor (optional) attaches the trail to a named model part instead of the entity's hitbox, so segments spawn at that part and follow it (arm animation included). Common part names are "right_arm", "left_arm", "head", and "body"; nested parts can be reached with a dotted path. When omitted, the full entity hitbox is used. Only works for entities rendered with a player-style model.

offset (optional, default: [0, 0, 0]) shifts the spawn point, in voxels (1 voxel = 1/16 of a block). When anchor is set the offset is applied in the part's local space, so it rotates with the part; otherwise it is applied in world space. For example, [0, -11, 0] moves from an arm's pivot down to the hand.

Anchoring to a body part

This file defines two trails, one streaming lightning from each hand:

assets/<namespace>/palladium/trails/hand_lightning.json

[
  {
    "spacing": 2,
    "anchor": "right_arm",
    "offset": [0, -11, 0],
    "requires_movement": false,
    "renderer": {
      "type": "palladium:lightning",
      "amount": 1,
      "area": [0.1, 0.1, 0.1],
      "render_settings": { "glow": "#00aaff", "size": 0.5 }
    }
  },
  {
    "spacing": 2,
    "anchor": "left_arm",
    "offset": [0, -11, 0],
    "requires_movement": false,
    "renderer": {
      "type": "palladium:lightning",
      "amount": 1,
      "area": [0.1, 0.1, 0.1],
      "render_settings": { "glow": "#00aaff", "size": 0.5 }
    }
  }
]

Using Trails

Reference a trail by its identifier (namespace:filename) in either of these places:

• The palladium:trail ability's trail field -- see the Abilities page.
• The trails list in a size change type.

Trail Renderers

The renderer object inside each trail entry defines how it looks. The type field selects the renderer.

After Image Trail

ID: palladium:after_image

Renders copies of the entity behind it.

Settings

Key	Type	Description	Required	Fallback
color	Color	Defines the color/tint of the after image		#ffffff
opacity	Float	Starting opacity of the after image		0.5

Example

{
  "type": "palladium:after_image",
  "color": "#ff0000",
  "opacity": 0.2
}

---

Gradient Trail

ID: palladium:gradient

Renders a colored gradient behind the players.

Settings

Key	Type	Description	Required	Fallback
color	Color	Defines the color of the gradient		#ffffff
opacity	Float	Starting opacity of the gradient		0.5
orientation	horizontal vertical	Defines the orientation in relation to the entity in which the gradient will render		VERTICAL
offset	Float	Defines where the gradient will start in relation to entity hitbox. 0.5 is equal to the center.		0.5

Example

{
  "type": "palladium:gradient",
  "color": "#ff0000",
  "opacity": 0.7,
  "orientation": "horizontal",
  "offset": 0.2
}

---

Lightning Aura Trail

ID: palladium:lightning_aura

Renders independently growing lightning arcs with branches around an entity (inspired by DCEU Flash).

Settings

Key	Type	Description	Required	Fallback
amount	Integer	Arcs created per timer event		1
branches	Integer	Branches created for each arc		2
segments	Integer	Segments in each arc		5
growth	Integer	Ticks required for an arc to fully grow		3
render_settings	Laser Renderer Settings	The render settings for the arcs.		/
arc_settings	Anything	Arc range, branch timing, jitter, and block-target search settings		ArcSettings[idleRange=4.5, runningRange=8.0, sprintingRange=11.0, sideRangeMultiplier=0.7, rearRangeMultiplier=1.2, branchStartMin=0.22, branchStartMax=0.6, branchDelayMin=0.08, branchDelayMax=0.3, jitterAmount=0.055, jitterSpeed=0.27, searchDirections=64, minimumTargetDistance=0.75]

Example 1

{
  "type": "palladium:lightning_aura",
  "branches": 1,
  "render_settings": {
    "glow": {
      "color": "#ff7a1a",
      "opacity": 0.75
    }
  }
}

Example 2

{
  "type": "palladium:lightning_aura",
  "amount": 2,
  "branches": 3,
  "segments": 8,
  "growth": 4,
  "render_settings": {
    "glow": {
      "color": "#00aaff",
      "opacity": 0.8,
      "rainbow": 0.5,
      "pulse": {
        "scale": 0.25,
        "frequency": 2
      }
    },
    "core": {
      "pulse": {
        "scale": 0.1
      }
    },
    "bloom": 3,
    "size": 2,
    "rotation_speed": 4
  },
  "arc_settings": {
    "search_directions": 48
  }
}

---

Lightning Trail

ID: palladium:lightning

Renders lightning behind the entity.

Settings

Key	Type	Description	Required	Fallback
amount	Integer	Defines how many lightnings will follow the player		10
area	Vector 3D	Box (in blocks) the lightning spreads within. Defaults to the entity hitbox.		[0.6, 1.8, 0.6]
render_settings	Laser Renderer Settings	The render settings for the lightning.		/

Example

{
  "type": "palladium:lightning",
  "amount": 7,
  "render_settings": {
    "glow": "#0000ff",
    "size": 2
  }
}

---

Laser Renderer Settings

The render_settings field of the Lightning Trail and Lightning Aura Trail renderers uses a laser renderer. For trails it is drawn as a single connected, camera-facing ribbon that runs the whole length of each bolt, so segments join seamlessly and the glow does not double up where they meet. It supports two visual layers: a solid inner core and a softer outer glow.

"render_settings": {
  "core": "#ffffff",
  "glow": { "color": "#4444ff", "opacity": 0.6 },
  "bloom": 3,
  "size": 2,
  "rotation": 0,
  "rotation_speed": 0
}

core (optional) is the inner beam. Can be a plain hex color string as shorthand, or a full laser part object. Defaults to white at full opacity.

glow (optional) is the outer glow layer rendered around the core. Same format as core. Defaults to white at full opacity.

bloom (optional, default: 1) controls the number of additional glow passes rendered around the beam. Range 0 to 10. Higher values produce a wider, softer glow.

size (optional, default: 1) is the beam width and height in voxels (1 voxel = 1/16 of a block). Can be a single number for a square beam, or [width, height] for a rectangular one. Because a trail ribbon is flat and always faces the camera, only the width is used there.

rotation (optional, default: 0) is a static rotation of the beam in degrees (0 to 360). Has no effect on trail ribbons.

rotation_speed (optional, default: 0) makes the beam spin continuously. Value is degrees per tick. Has no effect on trail ribbons.

Laser Part

Both core and glow accept either a plain hex color string (shorthand for full opacity, no effects) or a full object:

{
  "color": "#ff0000",
  "opacity": 0.8,
  "rainbow": 0.5,
  "pulse": {
    "scale": 0.3,
    "frequency": 2.0
  }
}

color (optional, default: "#ffffff") is the color of the layer.

opacity (optional, default: 1) is the opacity of the layer, from 0 to 1.

rainbow (optional, default: 0) cycles the color through the full Minecraft dye palette. Value is a speed from 0 (off) to 1 (fast). Also accepts true as shorthand for 1.

pulse (optional) makes the layer rhythmically scale in and out.

• scale (optional, default: 1) is the amplitude of the pulse.
• frequency (optional, default: 1) is the speed of the pulse, from 0 to 10.