How to Switch from Excellent Crates to Phoenix Crates (Migration Guide 2026)

1. Folder mapping and dependency cleanup

Excellent Crates usually keeps crate files in /plugins/ExcellentCrates/crates/. Phoenix Crates can manage this through its own config plus the in-game editor, so you do not need to rebuild everything by hand.

Area	Excellent Crates	Phoenix Crates
Crate definitions	Usually multiple files under `/plugins/ExcellentCrates/crates/`	Managed via Phoenix config plus in-game editor workflow
Reward storage	Per-crate YAML reward blocks	Reward entries are migrated and then refined in editor
Dependency model	Depends on Nightcore library	Standalone crate system without Nightcore dependency

Important: after the switch, remove Nightcore. Phoenix Crates is standalone, so keeping old Nightcore files can cause pointless startup errors.

Supported migration sources

Phoenix Crates supports migration flows from Excellent Crates, Crazy Crates, Custom Crate, Specialized Crate, AdvancedCrates, and AquaticCrates. In most cases, rewards are the easiest and most reliable part to migrate first.

2. What migrates and what does not

What migrates well

Rewards are the main part that migrates very well. Commands and items usually come over cleanly.

Some things still need manual touch-up, mostly animation style and small visual polish like lore or display formatting.

Virtual keys, important note

Virtual keys are not auto-converted by the normal crate migration because that is DB-side data. You can run your own script to convert balances, or contact us and we can help do it with the DB migration tool.

MySQL and YAML

We support DB migration too, but it is a separate tool/process. If you are interested, contact us and we will handle it with you.

Will my players lose their keys?

Short answer: no, if you follow the right order.

The migration tool handles crates, rewards, and setup data. Virtual key balances are DB-side data, so they are not auto-converted by the normal migration button.

Run the crate migration first in /pcrates editor -> Migrations.
Do virtual key conversion after that, with your own script or our DB migration help.
Only remove Excellent Crates after key balances are verified.

Safe flow: migrate crates first, migrate virtual keys second, uninstall old plugin last.

3. One-click migration process

Step 1. Backup first

Zip your /plugins/ExcellentCrates folder before touching configs or dependencies. Keep at least one off-server backup copy.

Step 2. Open the migration menu

Run /pcrates editor, open Migrations, choose your source plugin, and run the migration. That is the main flow, no weird manual export step needed.

Step 3. Check crates and polish visuals

Rewards should be there. Then use the Phoenix editor to adjust animations and visuals, because animation data is the part that may need manual setup.

Step 4. Clean uninstall old files

Stop server cleanly.
Remove Excellent Crates jar and old config folder.
Remove Nightcore jar after migration validation.
Start server and verify no class loading leftovers in console logs.

This is the step that prevents lingering java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError events from stale dependencies.

4. Phoenix advantage during migration

You can migrate through /pcrates editor and the Migrations menu.
It works on Lite too, so you can test with zero risk.
Migration support exists for six major crate ecosystems.
Nexo and ItemsAdder compatibility helps preserve custom texture workflows.

Honest note: no migration can promise 100 percent perfect transfer in every edge case. But rewards are reliable, setup is fast, and you can fully test on Lite before paying anything.

5. Troubleshooting the switch, what if?

What if my keys did not transfer?

This is expected for virtual keys unless you run DB-side conversion. You can script it yourself, or contact us and we can help migrate key balances with the DB tool.

What if my hologram is in the wrong place?

Open the Phoenix crate editor, select the crate display anchor, and re-center by adjusting XYZ position in small increments. Validate in player perspective, then save and reload crate visuals.

6. Risk-free test

Ready to switch?

Test first on Phoenix Crates Lite for free, then go Premium only if you like it.

Try Phoenix Crates Lite Read migration docs See Excellent Crates comparison

FAQ

Will my players lose their keys?: The migration tool handles crates and rewards. Virtual key balances are DB-side and are not auto-converted by the normal migration button. Use a script or contact us for DB migration help, then remove Excellent Crates only after key balances are verified.
Can I migrate from Excellent Crates without losing everything?: Yes. Rewards migrate very well through the in-game Migrations option. You might still tweak animations manually after import.
Can I test migration on the free version?: Yes. You can migrate on Phoenix Crates Lite. That means zero risk: test first, then move to Premium only if you want extra features.
Do I need Nightcore after migrating to Phoenix Crates?: No. Phoenix Crates is standalone. Remove Nightcore after your migration is validated to avoid dependency conflicts and reduce startup noise.
Can Phoenix Crates migrate from other crate plugins too?: Yes. Migration support includes Excellent Crates, Crazy Crates, Custom Crate, Specialized Crate, AdvancedCrates, and AquaticCrates.
What if my server uses MySQL key storage?: We support DB migration through a separate tool. Contact us and we can help run it safely.