Minecraft skins come in two body models: wide arms (Steve, 4 pixels wide) and slim arms (Alex, 3 pixels wide). An arm item made for one type floats next to the arm or sinks into it on the other. Variants fix this: you upload one model per skin type, and LeiCraftClient picks the right one for each player automatically.
What a variant is
Every cosmetic has at least one and up to 8 variants. In the item editor, a variant has these fields:
| Field | What it is |
|---|---|
| Name | Shown to players when they pick a variant (up to 32 characters) |
| Fits | Any skin, Wide arms (Steve) or Slim arms (Alex) |
| Order | Lower numbers come first |
| Model | The exported Blockbench model (.cfg) |
| Texture | The PNG texture for this model |
Each variant has its own model and texture. Variants can share the same texture file if only the model differs.
Which variant a player sees
The website and the mod use the same rule:
- The variant the player picked in their wardrobe, if they picked one.
- Otherwise, the first variant made for the player's skin model (Wide arms (Steve) or Slim arms (Alex)).
- Otherwise, the first Any skin variant.
- Otherwise, the first variant.
"First" means the lowest Order. Players can override the automatic choice: on the website in the wardrobe or on the item's shop page (Automatic or a variant), and in-game with the Variant: … button in the wardrobe. See Wardrobe.
Which setup do I need?
| Your cosmetic | Variants |
|---|---|
| Doesn't touch the arms (hat, backpack, wings, boots) | One variant, Fits: Any skin |
| Sits on the arms (bracelets, gloves, shoulder pads) | Two variants: Wide arms (Steve) and Slim arms (Alex) |
| Different looks, for example colors | Several Any skin variants with clear names. The lowest Order is the default. |
When you add variants, the Creator Studio makes suggestions. The first variant is called Default and fits Any skin. The next one suggests a wide or slim variant. You can change all of them.
Make a slim version
Finish the wide version
Build the item for wide (Steve) arms first, then export the model and save the texture.
Make a copy
Save a copy of your Blockbench project, so you can change it without breaking the wide version.
Adjust the arm parts
On slim skins, the arm is 3 pixels wide instead of 4. The missing pixel is on the outer side of the arm. Move parts on the outside of the arm 1 pixel toward the body, and make parts that go around the arm (bracelets, sleeves) 1 pixel narrower.
Export and upload
Export the slim model and add it as a second variant with Fits: Slim arms (Alex).
Preview your variants
The 3D preview in the item editor shows your variants on the skin of your first linked Minecraft account.
- Click Preview on a variant to show it. If the variant is made for one arm type, the mannequin switches to that arm type.
- Use the Wide arms / Slim arms button to switch the arm type yourself. Without a pinned variant, the preview then uses the same automatic rule as the game.
- The preview shows saved variants. Click Add variant or Save variant first.
Changing variants later
- Each variant saves on its own with Save variant.
- Delete removes a variant. Players who picked it go back to the automatic choice. You can't delete the last variant of a published item or an item in review. Unpublish or withdraw it first.
- On a community page, adding, changing or deleting a variant of a published item sends the item back to review. See How the review works.