Encounter Elements

Encounter Elements

Encounter elements are the building blocks of every encounter. Each element has a unique type key and its own set of configuration options, signals it emits, and signals (or wiring actions) it consumes.

This page catalogs all 27 built-in types. For the lifecycle, signal bus model, phase logic, and editor workflow, see the Encounters architecture page.

27 built-in types

Spawning

spawner, wave_spawner, npc — place entities in the world with respawn, tags, equipment, and Cobblemon integration.

Logic & Flow

timer, delay, counter, condition_gate, sequence, randomizer, objective, trigger — the control-flow toolbox.

Interaction

interactable, dialogue, checkpoint, elevator, launch_pad, teleporter, barrier — player-facing mechanics.

Presentation

camera, hologram, item_display, screen_effect, soundscape, effect_zone, structure, platform, script — visuals, audio, and scripting.

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Common Element Fields

Every element entry is a JSON object with a shared set of top-level fields that apply to all 27 types:

Field	Type	Default	Purpose
id	String	""	Unique element ID inside its encounter. Used for signal addressing (id:signal_name).
type	String	"spawner"	One of the 27 registered type keys (case-sensitive).
position	{x,y,z}	null	Absolute world position. Overrides offset.
offset	{x,y,z}	null	Offset from the encounter anchor when no position is set.
radius	Double	5.0	Default sphere radius if no explicit shape is provided.
shape	Object	null	Optional shape override — sphere, cylinder, box, etc.
rotation	Float	0	Rotation in degrees. Used for entity facing and block offset rotation.
config	Object	{}	Per-type configuration. Each element type defines its own keys.
signals	SignalWiring[]	[]	Outgoing signal wirings — see the Encounters page.
active_in_phases	String[]	null	Phase whitelist. If set, the element is only active in these phases.
initially_active	Boolean	true	Whether the element activates on encounter start.
script	String	null	Molang script source (used by the script element type).
visibility	String	"all"	Per-player visibility tier — all, eligible, party, none.
visuals	Object	null	Optional { structure, blocks } for fake-block rendering.

Elements share a custom-data map — a per-element key/value bag that handlers and signal wirings can read and write at runtime.

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Spawning

Elements that put entities into the world.

spawner

Spawns and manages a configurable number of vanilla entities, Cobblemon Pokemon, or Cobblemon NPCs at the element position.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
entity_type	String	"minecraft:zombie"	Entity ID. Prefixes cobblemon:pokemon / cobblemon:npc switch to Pokemon / NPC spawning.
count	Int	1	Number of entities to spawn.
tags	String[]	[]	Tags applied to spawned entities (used by Objective tracking).
spread_radius	Double	15.0	Random offset radius around the center.
nbt	String	null	NBT compound applied to vanilla entities.
properties	String	null	Cobblemon Pokemon properties string.
npc_preset	String	null	Cobblemon NPC preset ID.
custom_name / name_visible	String / Boolean	null / false	Display name override.
equipment	Object	null	{mainhand, offhand, head, chest, legs, feet} item map.
effects	Array	null	[{effect, duration, amplifier}] mob effects.
respawn_delay	Int	0	Respawn killed entities after this tick delay.
max_alive	Int	0	Cap on concurrent live entities (0 = no cap).
spawn_table	String	""	Spawn table blueprint ID. When set, ignores entity_type / count.

Emits: spawned, entity_killed, all_dead, battle_won, battle_lost, battle_fled

{
  "id": "zombie_wave",
  "type": "spawner",
  "config": {
    "entity_type": "minecraft:zombie",
    "count": 5,
    "tags": ["wave_1"],
    "respawn_delay": 100,
    "equipment": { "mainhand": "minecraft:iron_sword" }
  }
}

wave_spawner

Multi-wave entity spawner with configurable intermission delays and per-wave entity definitions. State machine: waiting → active → intermission → ... → complete.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
waves	JSON array (string)	""	Each wave is {entity_type, count, spread, nbt?, npc_preset?, properties?, spawn_table?}.
intermission_ticks	Int	60	Ticks between waves.
auto_start	Boolean	true	Start the first wave on activate.

Emits: wave_started, wave_cleared, all_waves_complete, entity_killed Wiring actions: start_wave

{
  "id": "arena_waves",
  "type": "wave_spawner",
  "config": {
    "intermission_ticks": 100,
    "waves": "[{\"entity_type\":\"minecraft:zombie\",\"count\":5,\"spread\":8.0},{\"entity_type\":\"minecraft:skeleton\",\"count\":3},{\"spawn_table\":\"boss_wave\"}]"
  }
}

A wave with a spawn_table field rolls from the table instead of inline entity_type / count.

npc

Spawns a single Cobblemon NPC from a preset with respawn, custom names, paths, and dialogue support.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
npc_preset	String	required	Cobblemon NPC preset ID.
custom_name / name_visible	String / Boolean	"" / true	Display name override.
path_id	String	""	Journey path ID — auto-starts walking on spawn.
respawn_delay	Int	0	Respawn after death if > 0.
dialogue	String	""	Cobblemon dialogue ID (priority 3).
dialogue_blueprint	String	""	Encounter dialogue blueprint ID (priority 2).

Emits: spawned, despawned, interacted, battle_started, battle_won, battle_lost, battle_fled Wiring actions: set_dialogue, walk_path, stop_walking

Dialogue priority: wiring-set > blueprint > config string.

---

Logic & Flow

The control-flow toolbox. These elements do the work of tying other elements together without placing anything visible.

timer

Countdown timer with threshold signals and pause / resume / start support via signal listeners.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
auto_start	Boolean	true	Start on activate.
duration	Int	200	Total duration (ticks).
mode	String	"countdown"	"countdown" emits completed + expired when elapsed >= duration.
signals_at	String (CSV ints)	""	Tick values at which to emit a threshold signal.

Emits: started, tick, completed, expired, paused, resumed, threshold Consumes: <id>:pause, <id>:resume, <id>:start

{
  "id": "boss_timer",
  "type": "timer",
  "config": {
    "duration": 6000,
    "mode": "countdown",
    "signals_at": "3000,5400,5700,5880"
  }
}

delay

Buffers a signal and re-emits an output signal after a tick delay. Supports multiple in-flight delays simultaneously.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
input_signal	String	""	Signal name to listen for (subscribed as *:input_signal).
delay_ticks	Int	20	Delay before re-emit.
output_signal	String	"delayed"	Signal name emitted after the delay.

Emits: received, delayed

counter

Numeric accumulator with threshold signals and optional data store sync.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
initial_value	Double	0.0	Starting value (also the reset target).
increment_amount	Double	1.0	Default delta for increment_on / decrement_on.
increment_on	String	""	Signal pattern that triggers an increment.
decrement_on	String	""	Signal pattern that triggers a decrement.
reset_on	String	""	Signal pattern that resets.
thresholds	String	""	Pipe-separated value:signal pairs (e.g. `“10:halfway
store_key	String	""	If set, syncs the value to the encounter data store.

Emits: changed (with value / previous), plus per-threshold custom signals Wiring actions: increment, decrement, reset, set

condition_gate

Boolean evaluator that listens for a list of named condition signals and emits satisfied / unsatisfied based on logic mode.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
conditions	String[]	[]	Signal patterns to watch. Each match adds the pattern to the “met” set.
mode	String	"and"	One of and, or, not, xor.
latch	Boolean	false	Once satisfied, stays satisfied.
output_signal	String	""	Optional extra signal emitted alongside satisfied.

Emits: satisfied, unsatisfied, plus output_signal

{
  "id": "all_levers_pulled",
  "type": "condition_gate",
  "config": {
    "conditions": ["lever_a:activated", "lever_b:activated", "lever_c:activated"],
    "mode": "and",
    "latch": true,
    "output_signal": "puzzle_solved"
  }
}

sequence

Tracks ordered signal completion. Listens for a list of signals that must arrive in order (or any order if strict_order=false).

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
steps	String[]	[]	Signal patterns expected in order.
strict_order	Boolean	true	Out-of-order signals count as failure.
reset_on_fail	Boolean	false	Reset current_step to 0 on out-of-order.

Emits: step_completed, sequence_complete, sequence_failed, sequence_reset

randomizer

Weighted random outcome picker. Listens for a trigger signal, then emits one of N outcome signals plus a generic rolled signal.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
trigger_on	String	""	Signal pattern that triggers a roll.
outcomes	String (JSON)	""	[{signal, label?, weight}]. Weight defaults to 1.

Emits: rolled (with outcome + label), plus each chosen outcome’s signal name Wiring actions: roll

{
  "id": "loot_picker",
  "type": "randomizer",
  "config": {
    "trigger_on": "boss:defeated",
    "outcomes": "[{\"signal\":\"common_drop\",\"weight\":70},{\"signal\":\"rare_drop\",\"weight\":30}]"
  }
}

objective

Tracks progress toward a typed goal and emits complete + optional reward distribution.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
objective_type	String	"kill_all"	kill_all, kill_count, survive_duration, protect_entity, capture_zone, interact, collect, custom.
target	String (number)	"1"	Target value.
tag	String	""	Entity tag for kill_all / kill_count / protect_entity.
zone_id	String	""	Zone ID for capture_zone.
reward_pack	String	""	Reward pack blueprint distributed to all players on completion.
description	String	""	Dashboard / UI hint.
required	Boolean	true	Gates phase on_all_objectives_complete transitions.

Emits: complete, progress_changed

trigger

Player-presence sensor that emits enter / exit / all-inside signals.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
one_shot	Boolean	false	Stop firing after the first activation.
player_count_threshold	Int	1	Player count required to fire activated.
require_all	Boolean	false	Require all encounter players inside before firing all_inside.

Emits: player_entered, player_exited, activated, deactivated, all_inside, tick_inside

---

Interaction

Player-facing elements — things players click, stand on, walk through, or get teleported by.

interactable

General-purpose interactive entity with multiple interaction types, multi-stage progression, hold-to-interact, visual states, and command pool execution.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
interaction_type	String	"custom"	One of npc, pickup, button, custom.
npc_preset	String	""	Cobblemon NPC preset (type=npc).
dialogue	String	""	Cobblemon dialogue ID.
item / item_blueprint	String	""	Item for pickup.
custom_name / name_visible	String / Boolean	"" / true	Entity display name.
one_time	Boolean	false	Only one interaction allowed across all players.
cooldown	Int (ticks)	0	Per-player cooldown.
condition	Molang	""	Required predicate; failing players see unavailable_text.
unavailable_text	String	""	Message sent when condition fails.
stages	String (JSON)	""	Multi-stage progression spec.
hold_duration	Int	0	If > 0, hold-to-interact mode.
visual_states	String (JSON)	""	Map of state name to {custom_name?, glow?} overrides.
command_pool	String	""	Command pool blueprint run after each interaction.

Emits: interacted, collected, dialogue_complete, battle_won/lost/fled, stage_advanced, stage_blocked, hold_started/completed/cancelled, visual_state_changed Wiring actions: set_visual_state, set_stage, reset_stages

{
  "id": "ancient_lever",
  "type": "interactable",
  "config": {
    "interaction_type": "button",
    "custom_name": "<gold>Ancient Lever",
    "hold_duration": 40,
    "one_time": true
  }
}

dialogue

Plays per-player dialogue using either simple mode (chat / title / actionbar) or Cobblemon’s Dialogue API. Optionally reads from a dialogue blueprint.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
dialogue_blueprint	String	""	Reference to a dialogue blueprint ID (takes priority).
dialogue_mode	String	"simple"	"simple" or "cobblemon".
auto_play	Boolean	false	Start dialogue on activate.
lines	String (JSON)	""	Simple-mode line array: [{text, speaker?, delay, mode}].
pages	String (JSON)	""	Cobblemon-mode page definitions.
escape_action	String	""	Molang run when a player escapes.

Emits: started, line_played, completed, page_opened, option_selected, text_entered, escaped Wiring actions: play, stop, skip, set_page

checkpoint

Saves player position / health when entered or interacted with, then restores them on death.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
auto_save	Boolean	true	Auto-save when a player enters the shape.
restore_on_death	Boolean	true	Teleport dying players back to their last save.
restore_health	Boolean	true	Reset health to the saved value on restore.

Emits: saved, restored

elevator

Convenience element that spawns a clickable interactable, opens a floor-selection GUI, then emits floor_selected so a wired Platform can go_to_point for that index.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
floors	JSON array	[]	Array of {name, index} objects.
platform_id	String	""	ID of the platform this elevator controls (informational).
custom_name	String	"Elevator"	GUI title and entity nameplate.

Emits: floor_selected (with {index, floor}), interacted

{
  "id": "elevator_main",
  "type": "elevator",
  "config": {
    "platform_id": "elevator_platform",
    "custom_name": "Tower Lift",
    "floors": [
      { "name": "Lobby",   "index": 0 },
      { "name": "Floor 5", "index": 1 },
      { "name": "Roof",    "index": 2 }
    ]
  },
  "signals": [
    { "on": "elevator_main:floor_selected", "action": "go_to_point", "target": "elevator_platform" }
  ]
}

launch_pad

Applies a velocity vector to players who enter.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
velocity	String (CSV)	"0,1,0"	Velocity components vx,vy,vz.
add_to_existing	Boolean	false	Add to current delta movement instead of replacing.
one_shot	Boolean	false	Each player can only launch once.
cooldown	Int	0	Per-player cooldown ticks.
sound	String	""	Optional sound event.

Emits: launched

teleporter

Teleports players to another element or fixed coordinates. Supports enter-trigger or signal-trigger modes.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
trigger_mode	String	"enter"	enter (auto) or signal (waits for <id>:teleport).
delay_ticks	Int	0	Delay before executing.
target_element	String	""	Element ID whose position to teleport to (priority).
target_position	String (CSV)	""	Fixed coordinates x,y,z.
sound	String	""	Sound event played at the teleporting player.

Emits: teleported

barrier

Places fake / invisible blocks (default minecraft:barrier) at the element position. Auto-generates a filled box from shape_size if no manual blocks map is supplied.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
blocks	Object	auto-gen	Map of "x,y,z" relative offsets to block ID.
shape_size	String (CSV dx,dy,dz)	""	Triggers auto-generation.
block_type	String	"minecraft:barrier"	Block ID for auto-generated cells.

Emits: activated, collision

---

Presentation

Visuals, audio, structure, scripting, and platform movement.

camera

Plays a cinematic camera sequence. Supports a Ceremony cutscene path or manual waypoint interpolation with easing.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
freeze_player	Boolean	true	Locks players during the manual-mode sequence.
camera_path	String	""	Ceremony cutscene ID (preferred for long sequences).
camera_points	String[]	[]	Manual waypoints: "x,y,z,yaw,pitch,duration" per entry.
return_on_complete	Boolean	true	End the camera and unfreeze when the sequence finishes.
target_players	Boolean	false	Auto-start when a player enters the element shape.
easing	String	"linear"	One of linear, ease_in, ease_out, ease_in_out.

Emits: started, point_reached, completed Consumes: <id>:start

Prefer camera_path (Ceremony) for long cinematics. Manual mode teleports the player every tick while interpolating — use it for short sequences only.

hologram

Per-player text display entity rendered via packet-based fake entities. Supports placeholders, billboards, and live updates.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
lines	String[]	[]	Text lines, joined with newlines. Resolved through placeholder substitution.
update_interval	Int	20	Ticks between refreshes (0 disables).
billboard	String	"center"	center / fixed / vertical / horizontal.
background_color	String	"40000000"	ARGB hex (no 0x prefix).
see_through	Boolean	false	Sets the see-through flag.
scale	Double	1.0	Uniform scale.
line_width	Int	200	Max text width in pixels.

Emits: spawned

Hologram entities are packet-only fake entities — they never exist server-side after spawn.

item_display

Spawns a real Display.ItemDisplay entity. Supports spinning, bobbing, scaling, glow, and custom model data.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
item	String	"minecraft:diamond"	Item ID.
glow	Boolean	false	Glow tag on spawn.
scale	Double	1.0	Uniform scale.
custom_model_data	Int	0	Sets custom model data if > 0.
spin_speed	Double	0.0	Y-axis rotation per tick.
bob_amplitude	Double	0.0	Sinusoidal vertical bob.

Emits: spawned

screen_effect

Client-side title / subtitle / actionbar / fade / shake overlays.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
effect_type	String	"title"	title, subtitle, actionbar, fade_black, fade_white, shake.
text	String	""	Text to display (MiniMessage).
fade_in / duration / fade_out	Int	10 / 40 / 10	Title timing.
intensity	Double	0.05	Shake intensity.
auto_trigger	Boolean	varies	Trigger without external signal.

Emits: started, completed Consumes: <id>:trigger

auto_trigger defaults differ

auto_trigger defaults to false on activate and true on player-enter. Set the field explicitly for predictable behavior.

soundscape

Ambient sound / music element with one-shot, looping, ambient, and spatial modes.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
sound	String	""	Sound resource ID.
sound_pack	String	""	Blueprint sound pack (weighted random).
volume / pitch	Double	1.0	Sound params.
mode	String	"oneshot"	oneshot, loop, ambient, spatial.
loop_interval	Int	100	Interval between plays in loop mode.
min_interval / max_interval	Int	60 / 200	ambient mode range.
auto_play	Boolean	true	Play on activate.

Emits: played Wiring actions: play, stop

effect_zone

Periodic area effect emitter. Modes: particles, sound, potion.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
effect_type	String	"particles"	particles / sound / potion.
interval	Int	20	Ticks between continuous emissions.
continuous	Boolean	true	Fire on interval vs. per-player on enter.
particle	String	""	Particle resource ID.
particle_count	Int	10	Count per emission.
sound / sound_pack	String	""	Sound ID or blueprint pack.
volume / pitch	Double	1.0	Sound params.
potion_effect	String	""	Mob effect ID.
potion_duration / potion_amplifier	Int	100 / 0	Potion params.

Emits: player_entered, player_exited

structure

Dedicated element for placing structured fake blocks. Block placement is performed by the fake-block layer; the handler tracks state and emits break / interact signals.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
structure	String	null	Resource location of an .nbt structure file.
blocks	Object	null	Manual block list ("x,y,z" to block ID).
breakable	Boolean	false	Gates block-break events.
interactable	Boolean	false	Gates block-interact events.
replace_on_break	String	null	Block rendered in place of broken cells.

Emits: block_broken, block_interacted, all_blocks_broken

platform

Moving block platform that follows a multi-point path. Auto-generates a flat slab if no manual blocks are supplied.

Key	Type	Default	Purpose
blocks	Object	auto-gen	Manual "x,y,z" to block ID map.
block_type	String	"minecraft:stone_bricks"	Auto-gen block.
platform_size_x / platform_size_z	Int	3 / 3	Auto-gen slab size.
path	String[]	[]	Each entry "x,y,z" (relative). Needs >= 2 points.
loop	String	"none"	none / loop / ping_pong. none waits for go_to_point.
speed	Double	0.05	Progress fraction per tick per segment.
pause_at_points	Int	0	Pause duration at non-target waypoints.

Emits: point_reached, loop_complete, started, arrived Wiring actions: go_to_point (consumes index from wiring data or signal data)

script

Minimal element that runs the definition’s top-level script field on activate. Use to invoke Molang from signal wiring without needing a physical entity.

No config fields. Reads definition.script (top-level, not under config).

Emits: activated

{
  "id": "intro_script",
  "type": "script",
  "script": "p.send_message('Welcome'); q.complete_task('intro');"
}

---

Signal Glossary

Signals shared across multiple elements. Reuse these names in wirings without surprise.

Signal	Emitted by	Meaning
activated / deactivated	Barrier, Condition Gate, Script, Trigger	State entered / left active
started / completed	Camera, Dialogue, Platform, Screen Effect, Timer	Process began / finished
spawned / despawned	NPC, Spawner, Hologram, Item Display	Entity / display created / removed
interacted	Elevator, Interactable, NPC	Player right-clicked the element entity
entity_killed / all_dead	Spawner, Wave Spawner	Tracked entity died / all tracked dead
all_waves_complete	Wave Spawner	Final wave cleared
battle_won / battle_lost / battle_fled	Spawner, Wave Spawner, NPC, Interactable	Battle outcome
player_entered / player_exited	Effect Zone, Trigger	Shape proximity changes
progress_changed / complete	Objective	Objective progress
changed	Counter	Counter value changed
rolled	Randomizer	A roll occurred
played	Soundscape	A sound was played
teleported / launched	Teleporter / Launch Pad	Player moved
saved / restored	Checkpoint	Checkpoint state changed
arrived / point_reached / loop_complete	Platform	Platform navigation
floor_selected	Elevator	GUI floor selection
step_completed / sequence_complete / sequence_failed / sequence_reset	Sequence	Sequence events
received / delayed	Delay	Buffered signal received vs. released
satisfied / unsatisfied	Condition Gate	Boolean evaluation
threshold / tick / expired / paused / resumed	Timer	Time-based events
tick_inside / all_inside	Trigger	Presence events
block_broken / block_interacted / all_blocks_broken	Structure	Fake-block events
hold_started / hold_completed / hold_cancelled	Interactable	Hold-to-interact lifecycle
stage_advanced / stage_blocked	Interactable	Multi-stage lifecycle
visual_state_changed	Interactable	After set_visual_state
collected	Interactable	Pickup interaction
dialogue_complete	Interactable	Cobblemon dialogue closed
line_played / page_opened / option_selected / text_entered / escaped	Dialogue	Dialogue runtime events

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Related

• Encounters — architecture, lifecycle, editor, commands
• Molang
• Events