Shard

Shard is a Minecraft anti-cheat service for operators who want combat-cheat analysis alongside statistics for multiple servers. It best suits Paper or Folia networks comfortable with a cloud dashboard and credit-based checks. Its appeal is centralized oversight; its fit depends on staying within player, server and credit caps.

Overview

Shard pairs a server plugin with a cloud service that analyzes behavior and collects statistics across connected servers. Its behavior analysis is trained on real gameplay and is designed to identify cheaters without manual review. Setup involves installing the plugin, creating a server in the dashboard and linking it with the /shard connect command.

The default response is a kick on the first detection, followed by temporary bans of up to 30 days. That gives operators a ready-made enforcement path, but those consequences warrant review against a server’s moderation policy before activation.

Key features

• Combat coverage: Shard detects killaura, aim assist and triggerbot, with replay analysis available. It is focused on combat cheating rather than a broad set of automation categories.
• Two analysis models: Shard 1 Flash is available on every plan; Shard 1 Pro, described as more accurate, requires a paid plan and account verification. A credit covers 400,000 checks with Flash but 100,000 with Pro, so choosing Pro trades credit capacity for the more accurate model.
• Central dashboard: Statistics from connected servers appear in one cloud dashboard, useful for operators managing a network rather than checking each server separately.
• Server integration and control: Optional WorldGuard region controls are described, and storage can use SQLite, MySQL or MariaDB. Online player counts and TPS are sent to the dashboard by default, though telemetry can be disabled in configuration.
• Open source: Shard says its software is fully open source; the plugin is released under GPLv3. Operators can inspect checks, self-host or contribute on GitHub, offering more transparency and control than a closed plugin.

The plugin requires Java 17 or newer and a Paper- or Folia-based server. It supports SQLite or MySQL storage, while the documentation also describes MariaDB as a database option. This is a poor fit for operators on other server software or older Java versions.

Credits are operationally important: when they run out, Shard stops accepting checks and reports INSUFFICIENT_CREDITS in the server console. Operators should choose a model and plan with enough monthly allowance for their activity rather than treating the credit count as a minor billing detail.

Pricing

Shard is freemium, with monthly RUB plans scaling by credits, concurrent players and server count. Each paid tier includes ML cheat detection, a cloud dashboard and stats.

The Free plan is a low-commitment way to try Shard, but its five credits, 10-player ceiling and single-server limit leave little room for a busy or growing network. Plus is the first paid step for a small server with up to 60 players and three servers; Pro raises those ceilings for a larger operation. Business, Scale and Max progressively suit networks with higher concurrent populations or more servers, while Enterprise targets operators needing unlimited servers and dedicated services at custom pricing.

Across the paid plans, the increasing credit allowance matters as much as the player and server caps: checks stop when credits are exhausted. Pro model access also requires account verification, so paying alone does not remove that condition. The published plans specify monthly pricing and credit quotas; operators should match both their server scale and expected checking needs to a tier.

Platforms

Shard is a self-hosted plugin paired with a web dashboard. The plugin runs on Paper or Folia servers and requires Java 17 or newer. That combination suits Minecraft operators willing to maintain server-side software while using cloud tools for analysis and monitoring.

Who it's for

Shard is best suited to operators of Paper or Folia Minecraft servers who want cloud-based combat-cheat detection, a shared view of server statistics and the option to inspect or self-host open-source software. Its higher tiers accommodate larger player counts and multi-server networks. It is less suitable for servers outside the supported software and Java requirements, or for operators unwilling to monitor credit consumption and cloud telemetry.

Support is available by email for support, billing and refund requests, alongside Telegram and a Discord community. That gives operators several contact routes, though the service remains dependent on managing its plan caps and detection policy.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Network-level visibility: one dashboard consolidates statistics from connected servers, making it more practical for multi-server operators.
• Open-source control: inspection, self-hosting and contributions are possible, and the plugin’s GPLv3 license makes its terms clear.
• Scalable plan ladder: paid tiers increase player, server and credit limits up to 800 players and 100 servers on Max.
• Model choice: Flash is included on any plan and stretches credits further, while verified paid users can opt for the more accurate Pro model.

Cons

• Narrow detection focus: the stated coverage is killaura, aim assist and triggerbot, so it is not positioned as all-category cheat detection.
• Hard credit cutoff: checks stop when credits run out, potentially interrupting detection until the allowance is sufficient again.
• Strict server requirements: Java 17 or newer and Paper or Folia exclude older Java setups and other server platforms.
• Cloud telemetry by default: online player counts and TPS are sent to the dashboard unless disabled in configuration.

Alternatives

Shard belongs in the Minecraft Anti-Cheat Plugins category. Consider these alternatives if their platform or pricing model better matches your setup:

• MLSAC is another freemium option with a free Beginner plan that includes its Mini model, and supports web and Windows.
• GuardAC has a free plan and free trial, with API and web platforms.
• Intave offers a free self-hosted and web plan with movement and combat cheat detection, but excludes combat and build automation detection as well as priority support.
• AntiGuard is free, MIT-licensed software for Paper/Purpur 1.20.x on Java 17.
• CheckHacks is a free self-hosted option described as always free, with donations optional.
• GK AntiCheat is a free self-hosted plugin by hackerG7.
• Nimbus AntiCheat is a free self-hosted option with 43 checks, Paper 1.21.8 support, per-check punishments, player reports, staff inspection tools and Discord webhook notifications.
• NoCheatPlus is a free self-hosted Minecraft Bukkit/Spigot server plugin under GPL-3.0.

Verdict

Choose Shard if you run Java 17 or newer on Paper or Folia and want centralized cloud statistics with configurable, credit-based combat detection across one or more servers. Its open-source plugin and tiered limits make it a clear fit for operators who value inspection and network visibility. Look elsewhere if your server platform is unsupported, you need broader detection coverage, or a hard credit cutoff is unacceptable.