Molang Scripting

Molang is the scripting language that powers everything dynamic in Journey. It’s how you write filters (“only count shiny Pokemon”), conditions (“require 3 gym badges”), and scripts (“give the player a reward and send a message”).

If you’ve written an if statement or a formula in a spreadsheet, you already know the basics. Molang is just expressions that evaluate to values.

Molang Basics

Values

Everything in Molang is either a number or a string:

42          A number
3.14        A decimal number
0.0         Zero (also means "false")
1.0         One (also means "true")
'hello'     A string (use single quotes)

Booleans don’t exist as a separate type — 0.0 is false, anything non-zero is true.

Operators

10 + 5       → 15       Addition
10 - 5       → 5        Subtraction
10 * 5       → 50       Multiplication
10 / 5       → 2        Division

10 == 10     → 1.0      Equal
10 != 5      → 1.0      Not equal
10 > 5       → 1.0      Greater than
10 >= 10     → 1.0      Greater than or equal
10 < 5       → 0.0      Less than
10 <= 10     → 1.0      Less than or equal

true && false  → 0.0    AND (both must be true)
true || false  → 1.0    OR (at least one must be true)
!true          → 0.0    NOT (flips true/false)

Ternary (If/Else)

condition ? value_if_true : value_if_false

Example:

q.player.has_flag('vip') ? q.player.tell_minimessage('<gold>Welcome, VIP!') : q.player.tell_minimessage('<gray>Welcome!')

Semicolons for Multiple Statements

In script contexts (rewards, timeline actions), you can chain multiple statements with semicolons:

q.player.add_flag('quest_done'); q.player.tell_minimessage('<gold>Quest complete!'); q.player.progress_levelable('story', 50);

Where Molang is Used

Context	Example
Task filters	`"filter": "q.pokemon.is_shiny"`
Start requirements	`"start_requirement": "q.player.has_flag('tutorial_done')"`
Script rewards	`"scripts": ["q.player.add_flag('badge_1');"]`
Timeline actions	`"script": "q.player.tell_minimessage('<gold>Hello!')"`
Zone scripts	Entry, exit, and inside scripts
Levelable filters	`"filter": {"type": "script", "filter": "q.block.id == 'minecraft:stone'"}`
Buff scripts	`on_apply_script`, `on_tick_script`, `on_remove_script`
Entity visibility	Conditions that control per-player entity visibility
NPC dialogues	Scripts in Cobblemon NPC dialogue actions

Player Functions

These functions are available in any context that has a player (task filters, rewards, timeline scripts, zone scripts, etc.). All are called on q.player.

Task Management

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.has_task('journey:task_id')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if the player has an active task
`q.player.has_subtask('journey:task_id', 'subtask_id')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if a specific subtask is active
`q.player.has_completed_task('journey:task_id')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if the player has completed a task
`q.player.has_completed_subtask('journey:task_id', 'subtask_id')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if a specific subtask is completed
`q.player.start_task('journey:task_id')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Start a task for the player

Flags

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.has_flag('flag_name')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if the player has a flag
`q.player.add_flag('flag_name')`	—	Add a flag to the player
`q.player.remove_flag('flag_name')`	—	Remove a flag from the player

Inventory

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.has_item('minecraft:diamond')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if player has at least 1
`q.player.has_item('minecraft:diamond', 5)`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if player has at least 5
`q.player.remove_item('minecraft:diamond', 1)`	—	Remove items from inventory
`q.player.level`	Number	Player’s Minecraft XP level

Pokemon

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.pokedex()`	Struct	Get the player’s Pokedex data
`q.player.starter_pokemon()`	Struct / `0.0`	Get the player’s starter Pokemon data
`q.player.has_party_pokemon_matching('criteria')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if any party Pokemon matches criteria
`q.player.remove_party_pokemon(slot)`	—	Remove the Pokemon in a specific party slot
`q.player.party_slot_for_pokemon('criteria')`	Number	Find slot index (0-5) for a matching Pokemon, `-1.0` if not found

Pokemon matching criteria use key=value pairs separated by spaces:

q.player.has_party_pokemon_matching('species=pikachu')
q.player.has_party_pokemon_matching('species=pikachu shiny=true')

Levelables

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.has_levelable('name')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if player has a levelable
`q.player.levelable_level('name')`	Number	Get current level
`q.player.levelable_experience('name')`	Number	Get current XP
`q.player.give_levelable('name')`	—	Give a levelable to the player
`q.player.progress_levelable('name', amount)`	`1.0`	Add XP to a levelable
`q.player.remove_levelable('name')`	—	Remove a levelable
`q.player.active_levelable()`	String	Get the currently active levelable ID (or `'none'`)
`q.player.is_levelable_active('name')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if a specific levelable is active
`q.player.switch_active_levelable('name')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Switch the active levelable
`q.player.levelable_mode()`	String	Get mode: `'exclusive'`, `'single_active'`, or `'multi_active'`

Buffs

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.has_buff('buff_id')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if a buff is active
`q.player.buff_amplifier('buff_id')`	Number / `-1.0`	Get buff amplifier level
`q.player.buff_remaining_ticks('buff_id')`	Number / `-1.0`	Get remaining ticks
`q.player.buff_count('buff_id')`	Number	Count active instances of this buff
`q.player.apply_buff('buff_id')`	—	Apply with default duration
`q.player.apply_buff('buff_id', duration)`	—	Apply with specific duration (ticks)
`q.player.apply_buff('buff_id', duration, amplifier)`	—	Apply with duration and amplifier
`q.player.apply_buff('buff_id', duration, amplifier, 'source')`	—	Apply with all parameters
`q.player.remove_buff('buff_id')`	Number	Remove buff, returns count removed
`q.player.remove_buff_by_source('source')`	—	Remove all buffs from a source
`q.player.clear_buffs()`	Number	Remove all buffs, returns count

Zones

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.is_in_zone('zone-uuid')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if player is in a specific zone

Communication

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.tell_minimessage('<gold>Hello!')`	—	Send a MiniMessage-formatted chat message
`q.player.execute_command('give {player} minecraft:diamond 1')`	—	Run a server command (`{player}` = player name)

Timelines & Cutscenes

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.launch_timeline('journey:timeline_id')`	—	Launch a timeline
`q.player.play_cutscene('cutscene_id')`	`1.0`	Play a cutscene
`q.player.stop_cutscene()`	`1.0`	Stop the current cutscene
`q.player.in_cutscene()`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if player is in a cutscene
`q.player.cutscene_progress()`	Number	Get cutscene progress (0.0 - 1.0)

Entity Visibility

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.start_watching_entity('entity-uuid')`	—	Make player see an entity
`q.player.stop_watching_entity('entity-uuid')`	—	Make player stop seeing an entity

See Entity Visibility for the full visibility system including types, groups, and managed spawn commands.

Battle

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.stop_battle()`	`1.0`	Force the player out of their current battle

Visual Effects

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.play_per_player_entity_animation('entity-uuid', 'anim')`	`1.0`	Play entity animation only this player sees

Physics

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.push(x, y, z, force)`	—	Apply a force push to the player

Backpack

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.backpack_add_item('item_id')`	`1.0`	Add 1 item to backpack
`q.player.backpack_add_item('item_id', count)`	`1.0`	Add items to backpack
`q.player.backpack_has_item('item_id')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if backpack has at least 1
`q.player.backpack_has_item('item_id', count)`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if backpack has at least N
`q.player.backpack_remove_item('item_id', count)`	Number	Remove items, returns count removed
`q.player.backpack_count_item('item_id')`	Number	Count items in backpack
`q.player.backpack_free_slots()`	Number	Get number of empty slots
`q.player.backpack_clear()`	`1.0`	Clear all items
`q.player.backpack_open()`	`1.0`	Open backpack GUI
`q.player.backpack_give_configured('config_id', count)`	—	Give a pre-configured item
`q.player.backpack_has_configured('config_id', count)`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check for configured item
`q.player.backpack_remove_configured('config_id', count)`	—	Remove configured item

Party

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.player_party()`	Struct	Get party data (see below)

The party struct has these sub-functions:

q.player.player_party().exists()           1.0 if in a party
q.player.player_party().size()             Number of members
q.player.player_party().is_leader()        1.0 if player is leader
q.player.player_party().has_member('Name') 1.0 if member exists
q.player.player_party().leader_name()      Leader's name
q.player.player_party().name()             Party name
q.player.player_party().max_members()      Max allowed members
q.player.player_party().is_public()        1.0 if party is public

Path Visualization (Debug)

Function	Returns	Description
`q.player.toggle_path_visualization()`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Toggle path debug display
`q.player.show_path_visualization(show)`	—	`1.0` to show, `0.0` to hide
`q.player.preview_path('path_id')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Preview a specific path

NPC Functions

These functions are available in NPC contexts (Cobblemon NPC dialogues, NPC interactions). Called on the npc object.

Animation & Particles

Function	Description
`npc.play_animation('anim_name')`	Play animation visible to all nearby players
`npc.play_animation('anim_name', 'player-uuid')`	Play animation visible to one player only

Communication

Function	Description
`npc.say('Hello! I am %npc%!')`	NPC says a message (`%npc%` = NPC name)
`npc.say('Hello!', 'player-uuid')`	Say to a specific player only

Distance

Function	Returns	Description
`npc.distance_to_player('player-uuid')`	Number	Distance in blocks to a player

Path Walking

Function	Returns	Description
`npc.walk_path('path_id')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Start walking a path
`npc.stop_walking()`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Stop walking
`npc.pause_walking()`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Pause walking
`npc.resume_walking()`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Resume walking
`npc.is_walking_path()`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if currently walking
`npc.walking_progress()`	Number	Walking progress (0.0 - 100.0)
`npc.assign_path('path_id')`	—	Assign a path (auto-starts by default)
`npc.assign_path('path_id', 0.0)`	—	Assign without auto-starting
`npc.unassign_path()`	`1.0`	Unassign current path
`npc.has_assigned_path()`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if a path is assigned
`npc.get_assigned_path()`	String	Get assigned path ID

Visibility

Function	Returns	Description
`npc.set_visibility_condition("molang_expression")`	—	Set condition for all players
`npc.set_player_visibility('player-uuid', "molang_expression")`	—	Set condition for one player
`npc.force_show_to_player('player-uuid')`	`1.0`	Force NPC visible to player
`npc.force_hide_from_player('player-uuid')`	`1.0`	Force NPC hidden from player
`npc.is_visible_to_player('player-uuid')`	`1.0` / `0.0`	Check if visible to player
`npc.update_visibility()`	`1.0`	Refresh visibility for all players

Event Context Data

When events fire (in task filters and levelable filters), they provide event-specific data through the q namespace. See the Events page for the full reference of what each event provides.

Common patterns:

q.pokemon.species.identifier    Pokemon species (e.g., 'cobblemon:pikachu')
q.pokemon.level                 Pokemon level
q.pokemon.is_shiny              1.0 if shiny
q.battle.is_pvw                1.0 if wild battle
q.battle.is_pvn                 1.0 if NPC trainer battle
q.zone.uuid                     Zone UUID
q.block.id                      Block registry ID
q.item.id                       Item registry ID
q.entity.uuid                   Entity UUID

Math Functions

Standard math functions are available:

math.abs(-5)         → 5          Absolute value
math.ceil(4.2)       → 5          Round up
math.floor(4.8)      → 4          Round down
math.round(4.6)      → 5          Round to nearest
math.sqrt(16)        → 4          Square root
math.pow(2, 3)       → 8          Power
math.random()        → 0.0-1.0    Random decimal
math.random(1, 10)   → 1-10       Random integer in range
math.sin(90)         → Sine
math.cos(0)          → Cosine
math.min(5, 10)      → 5          Minimum
math.max(5, 10)      → 10         Maximum

Practical Examples

Quest Chain Gating

Only allow this task when two previous quests are done:

{
  "start_requirement": "q.player.has_completed_task('journey:gym_1') && q.player.has_completed_task('journey:gym_2')"
}

Branching in Timelines

Show different messages based on a flag:

{
  "type": "molang",
  "script": "q.player.has_flag('secret_key') ? q.player.tell_minimessage('<green>The door opens!') : q.player.tell_minimessage('<red>The door is locked.')"
}

Complex Reward Script

Set flags, give XP, send a message, and launch a cutscene:

{
  "type": "script",
  "data": {
    "scripts": [
      "q.player.add_flag('champion_defeated');",
      "q.player.progress_levelable('story_progress', 500);",
      "q.player.tell_minimessage('<gold><bold>You are the Champion!');",
      "q.player.launch_timeline('journey:champion_celebration');"
    ]
  }
}

NPC That Only Appears After a Quest

npc.set_visibility_condition("q.player.has_completed_task('journey:rescue_professor')")

This NPC is invisible to players who haven’t completed the rescue quest.

Zone-Restricted Catching Challenge

{
  "event": "POKEMON_CAPTURE",
  "filter": "q.player.is_in_zone('safari-zone-uuid') && q.player.has_flag('safari_pass')",
  "target": 10
}

Only counts catches inside the Safari Zone when the player has a safari pass.

Checking Pokemon Party

q.player.has_party_pokemon_matching('species=pikachu') ? 1.0 : 0.0

temp.slot = q.player.party_slot_for_pokemon('species=pikachu');
temp.slot >= 0.0 ? q.player.tell_minimessage('<green>Pikachu is in slot ' + temp.slot) : q.player.tell_minimessage('<red>No Pikachu in your party!')

Tips

Short-circuit evaluation: Put cheap checks first — q.player.has_flag('eligible') && q.player.has_party_pokemon_matching('legendary=true') skips the expensive Pokemon check if the flag isn’t set
Strings use single quotes: 'cobblemon:pikachu' not "cobblemon:pikachu"
No semicolons in filters: Filters are single expressions. Semicolons are only for script contexts
Use q. prefix: Always q.player, q.pokemon, q.zone, etc.
No-param functions skip parentheses: q.pokemon.level works, no need for q.pokemon.level()
Test incrementally: Start with "filter": "1.0", verify events fire, then add conditions one at a time
Check server logs: Molang parse errors appear in the console