Allowing an entity with custom model to hold an item

Definitely the version/modloader difference, iirc minecraft's rendering system as a whole was nearly completely rewritten in 1.21

The solution I posted does not work anymore for 1.21.4. :/

Currently I am trying to get it working again

Here`s a solution for MCreator 2025.2, 1.21.4: 

• Your custom model must extend ArmedEntityRenderState and implement ArmedModel. You should put this in your model`s code directly BEFORE importing it in MCreator, or else it will rewrite your changes. Here`s the example from my Java model code: 

public class Kefir extends EntityModel<ArmedEntityRenderState> implements ArmedModel

• As mentioned earlier, your model code also must have getArm and translateToHand functions.
• In your custom entity renderer code, you need to replace EVERY LivingEntityRenderState with ArmedEntityRenderState: 

import net.minecraft.client.renderer.entity.state.ArmedEntityRenderState;
public class KefirRenderer extends MobRenderer<KefirEntity, ArmedEntityRenderState, ModelKefir>

• As mentioned earlier, you need to add ItemInHandLayer(don`t forget about imports): 

    import net.minecraft.client.renderer.entity.layers.ItemInHandLayer;
    .
    .
    .
    public KefirRenderer(EntityRendererProvider.Context context) {
        super(context, new AnimatedModel(context.bakeLayer(ModelKefir.LAYER_LOCATION)), 0.5f);
               this.addLayer(new ItemInHandLayer<>(this));
    }

• And for the final step, you will need to add extractArmedEntityRenderState to the extractRenderState method, as in this example:

    @Override
    public void extractRenderState(KefirEntity entity, ArmedEntityRenderState state, float partialTicks) {
        super.extractRenderState(entity, state, partialTicks);
        ArmedEntityRenderState.extractArmedEntityRenderState(entity, state, this.itemModelResolver); //important
        this.entity = entity;
        if (this.model instanceof AnimatedModel) {
            ((AnimatedModel) this.model).setEntity(entity);
        }
    }

• IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are using keyframe-based Java animations, you also better change setupAnim part at the end of your entity renderer code, or else your animations won`t work at all. Here`s what I did: 

        @Override
        public void setupAnim(ArmedEntityRenderState state) {
            //this.root().getAllParts().forEach(ModelPart::resetPose); -I believe this line breaks all animations, so I commented it
            super.setupAnim(state);
            this.animate(entity.animationState0, KefirAnimation.idle, state.ageInTicks, 0.35f);
            this.animateWalk(KefirAnimation.walk, state.walkAnimationPos, state.walkAnimationSpeed, 2f, 2.5f);
            this.animate(entity.animationState2, KefirAnimation.attack, state.ageInTicks, 1f);
        }

Hope this helps!

@Timson what do you mean "model code"? What is that and how do you edit it?

I think it refers to the model's file that you export from blockbench. Using various tools such as notepad, you can open and edit it.

@ktosiowy ktos It`s a .java model file. @Catnip is absolutely right. You can edit it with any text editor. Just make sure you do it BEFORE importing this model file in MCreator

@Timson can you make a proper guide for mcreator 2024.x i cant understand the guild on page 1

@idkwhattoput what can`t you understand exactly?

@Timson Honestly, I don't understand anything either. The Java model code doesn't throw an error, let alone render the mob. Is this method compatible with version 1.20.1? Could you make a video tutorial?

@RtCd I already specified that my solution is for 1.21.4. For older versions please refer to older solutions in this thread, provided by @a_random_someone and @BlueAwesomeDinosaur.

I'm afraid that you (Timson) did not explain this tutorial thoroughly. You seem to have just thrown random lines of code, without telling me specifically where to place them, as well as what lines of code to replace. I'm afraid I'm going to need a better explanation for this (preferably through a video tutorial).