- Raven B++ is free, open source, and built specifically for MC 1.8.9 Hypixel-style ranked PvP.
- Opal is $8.99, closed source, and built for the current MC 26.2 release.
- Raven ships more modules on paper (about 110), but its own source notes make no anticheat bypass claims behind that count.
- Still on 1.8.9 and want free? Raven B++ makes sense. On the current version and want a finished product? That's Opal.
At a glance
| Feature | Opal | Raven B++ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | Free |
| UI | Custom glass UI engine built on Blaze3D (blur, fresnel, refraction, shadow effects) | Two built-in ClickGUI themes (kv, raven) |
| Features | 70 modules (combat, movement, visual, world, utility) | About 110 module classes (combat, movement, player, render, minigame helpers) |
| Tuned for | BedWars/SkyWars-style minigame PvP and utility combat, targeting Watchdog | Hypixel ranked PvP on 1.8.9, per its own Bedwars/Duels/Sumo helper modules |
| Anticheat evasion | ||
| Setup | Launcher, log in, play | Build or download the Forge jar yourself, plus the Essential mod |
| Updates and support | Maintained by the Opal team, launcher-distributed updates | Community-maintained on GitHub, active commits through May 2026 |
| Minecraft version | MC 26.2 | MC 1.8.9 |
Free and open source vs $8.99 and closed
Raven B++ costs nothing. It's GPL-3.0, the full source tree is public on GitHub under author K-ov with a contribution from LycanLD, and you can read, build, or fork it yourself. That's a genuine advantage if you want to see exactly what a module does before you run it, or if you just don't want to pay for a client. Credit where it's due: that's a legitimate way to run a client, not a compromise.
Opal costs $8.99 and is closed source. What that buys is a maintained launcher product instead of a repo you compile yourself: log in, launch, play. You're paying for the finished build and the work behind it, not the ability to read the code.
A 1.8.9 mod vs a client built for the current version
Raven B++ runs on Forge for MC 1.8.9 only. An inactive 1.8.8 build path is even left commented out in its build.gradle, a small tell that the project has settled permanently into that one era. If you play on servers that still run 1.8.9-style combat, especially Hypixel-flavored ranked PvP, that version lock is the point of the client, not a weakness. But it means Raven B++ can't run on MC 26.2 or anything built for the current release.
Opal is built for MC 26.2 on Fabric. If your server runs current-version content, Raven B++ simply isn't an option there: this comparison only makes sense once you know which era you're playing in.
More raw modules vs modules built for a purpose
Raven B++ ships around 110 module classes across combat, movement, player, render, and Hypixel minigame-helper categories: a bedwars overlay, duels stats, sumo fences, and similar. That's more modules on paper than Opal's 70. More modules sounds like more value, until you ask what each one is actually doing.
Its own source notes answer that honestly: the client "makes no specific bypass claims," ships no obfuscation, and its Disabler module is present without any stated anticheat evasion behind it. That's not a knock, it's just what an open, unobfuscated 1.8.9 mod is. Opal's 70 modules are built primarily around server-side anticheats, with dedicated disabler and scaffold-evasion modes, backed by a closed, actively maintained build instead of an open jar anyone can inspect and counter.
Installing a mod yourself vs a launcher
Raven B++ requires you to build or download the Forge jar from GitHub, load it against Forge 1.8.9-11.15.1.2318, and also install the Essential mod at runtime. It's the standard open-source-mod path: get the jar, load the loader, go. If you've done it before, it's a five-minute chore. If you haven't, it's an evening.
Opal is distributed through its own launcher: you log in and it handles the rest. That's most of what the $8.99 buys over pulling a free repo off GitHub.
When Raven B++ is the better call
Be honest about which era you're playing in.
Pros
- You play on servers still running 1.8.9-style combat, especially Hypixel-flavored ranked PvP
- You want free and don't mind building or installing a Forge mod yourself alongside Essential
- You want to read or modify the source before you trust it, Raven ships full GPL-3.0 source on GitHub
- You're set on the 1.8.9 era and have no need for current-version content
Cons
- No dedicated anticheat evasion tooling, and no stated bypass claims per Raven's own source notes
- You build or download the Forge jar yourself, then add Essential on top
- Community-maintained on GitHub rather than a dedicated support channel
- Locked to MC 1.8.9, it won't run on MC 26.2 or later content
If you want a client built for the current Minecraft release, with a launcher, a maintained build, and combat tuned for BedWars/SkyWars-style minigame combat, that's Opal.
FAQ
Yes. It's GPL-3.0 and the full source is public on GitHub.
No. It's built for MC 1.8.9 on Forge, and it doesn't run on MC 26.2 or later content.
$8.99, one time, lifetime license.
No. Opal is closed source and distributed only through its own launcher.
Raven B++ ships around 110 module classes to Opal's 70, though Raven's own source notes make no anticheat bypass claims tied to that count.
Lifetime license, instant delivery, no subscription
Disclaimer
Independent comparison. Raven B++ is a trademark of its owners; its use here is nominative and implies no affiliation or endorsement. Competitor details are accurate to the best of our knowledge as of 2026 and may contain errors.
