MCA Selector vs Project Lodestone

MCA Selector is a free tool for selecting and modifying chunks and regions in Minecraft Java Edition world saves. It can export, delete, or edit selected areas using filters such as data version, last update time, and inhabited time; multiple conditions can be chained. Custom one-line Groovy scripts and a Script Editor extend filtering. The chunk editor exposes the full NBT structure, including points of interest and entity data, allowing tags to be changed, added, deleted, or moved. Users can import chunks from another world with offsets and overwrite options, and copy or paste selections through the system clipboard.

Customizable color-gradient overlays show per-chunk values. A command-line mode handles operations including selection creation, chunk import and export, deletion, region defragmentation, NBT changes, and image generation. Downloads include Windows, macOS, and Linux builds, plus a universal JAR. MCA Selector supports Anvil .mca region files. The project warns that snapshot-generated worlds may not work even when a version appears in its support table, and recommends backing up worlds because the tool can modify or delete chunks.

Project Lodestone is a free, open-source toolset for editing and converting Minecraft worlds across Java, Bedrock, console, and other editions. It is still in development, with desktop and web user interfaces described for the project. Documentation lists Java, Bedrock, Raspberry Pi, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, 3DS, Switch, and Classic Javascript Remake. Planned save editing covers player, region, chunk, and level data, while conversion aims to span editions and versions with options such as depth fixing and lighting recalculation. Listed formats include NBT, S-NBT, MCR/MCA, GRF, MCS, ARC, LOC, PCK, COL, FUI, CDB, and VDB. Other roadmap tools include biome, entity and block-entity, hex, LevelDB, datapack, and map-item editors. libLodestone provides file reading, writing, and conversion for many editions and versions, including Java, Legacy Console, New Nintendo 3DS, and classic.minecraft.net worlds. The app roadmap treats user-facing loading and exporting as planned work. Some converter versions are unavailable in the app, and many listed versions are expected rather than completed support. The project uses an LGPL-3.0 license and is not an official Microsoft, Minecraft, or Mojang Studios product.