Anticheat comparison
Polar vs Matrix: which anticheat is better
We checked 47 kinds of cheats against the source code and docs of Polar and Matrix. Only a full check counts — "partly" and "indirectly" don't, and the rules are the same for everyone. DGuard is the third column.
Matrix checks more: 25 of 47 kinds of cheats against 18 for Polar. But each covers something the other doesn't — see below.
Polar has it, Matrix doesn't
- Backtrack / FakeLag — hits past positions, holds packets back
- Blink — holds packets, then teleports
- GhostHand — uses and hits through wallsMatrix, partly: a generic interaction check; through walls isn't stated
Matrix has it, Polar doesn't
- AimAssist / Aimbot — aims for the playerPolar, partly: not named — only a generic cloud 'combat heuristics'
- HitBox — enlarged hitboxesPolar, partly: not named — only the hit-distance check
- Criticals — crits without a real jumpPolar, partly: not named — only the ground-spoof check
- SuperKnockback — extra knockback on the enemy
- AutoTotem — a totem in hand in 0 ticksPolar, partly: not named — only a generic inventory check
- ElytraFly — controlled elytra flightPolar, partly: not named — the simulation recreates 'most' movements
- BoatFly / EntitySpeed — flies and speeds up on vehicles
- Tower — pillars up faster than a humanPolar, partly: not named — only the Scaffold check
- FastPlace — places blocks too oftenPolar, partly: not named — only a right-click CPS limit
- FastBreak — breaks faster than possiblePolar, partly: not named — only a generic block-interaction check
Missed by both
19 of 47 kinds of cheats are checked by neither Polar nor Matrix. DGuard has a check for every one.
Weak spots, from their own sources
Movement and reach are never punished, there's no free tier, and it isn't sold in Russia or Belarus.
From $22, focused on 1.8.8 and 1.12.2. Its public checks list hasn't changed since 2022.
The full table: Polar, Matrix and DGuard
| Cheat | Polar18/47 | Matrix25/47 | DGuard47/47 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combat | |||
| KillAurahits targets by itself | |||
| Multi-auraseveral targets in one tick | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic cloud 'combat heuristics' | ||
| TriggerBothits the instant the crosshair lands | |||
| AimAssist / Aimbotaims for the player | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic cloud 'combat heuristics' | ||
| Reachhits beyond reach | |||
| HitBoxenlarged hitboxes | partly or indirectly: not named — only the hit-distance check | ||
| AutoClickerclicks for the player | |||
| Criticalscrits without a real jump | partly or indirectly: not named — only the ground-spoof check | ||
| Velocityignores knockback | |||
| KeepSprintsprint isn't reset after a hit | partly or indirectly: not named — only the generic movement simulation | ||
| SuperKnockbackextra knockback on the enemy | |||
| Backtrack / FakeLaghits past positions, holds packets back | |||
| CrystalAura / AutoCrystalplaces and pops crystals by itself | |||
| AutoTotema totem in hand in 0 ticks | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic inventory check | ||
| AutoPotion / AutoPearlthrows where the camera doesn't look | partly or indirectly: only how fast it throws, not where it looks | ||
| Movement | |||
| Speedfaster than the game allows | |||
| Flyflies without elytra or creative | |||
| NoFalltakes no fall damage | |||
| Jesuswalks on water | |||
| Stepsteps up full blocks | |||
| Spiderclimbs walls | |||
| Phasewalks through blocks | |||
| NoSlowno slowdown when eating or blocking | |||
| ElytraFlycontrolled elytra flight | partly or indirectly: not named — the simulation recreates 'most' movements | ||
| BoatFly / EntitySpeedflies and speeds up on vehicles | |||
| Timerspeeds the game up | |||
| Blinkholds packets, then teleports | |||
| OmniSprintsprints in any direction | partly or indirectly: not named — only the generic movement simulation | ||
| Building and world | |||
| Scaffoldbridges without looking | |||
| Towerpillars up faster than a human | partly or indirectly: not named — only the Scaffold check | ||
| FastPlaceplaces blocks too often | partly or indirectly: not named — only a right-click CPS limit | ||
| FastBreakbreaks faster than possible | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic block-interaction check | ||
| Nukerbreaks everything around at once | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic block-interaction check | partly or indirectly: not named — only the generic block-breaking checks | |
| PacketMinemines with packets | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic block-interaction check | partly or indirectly: only the digging-packet order, weighted 0 by default | |
| GhostHanduses and hits through walls | partly or indirectly: a generic interaction check; through walls isn't stated | ||
| CivBreakre-breaks a block instantly | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic block-interaction check | ||
| Inventory | |||
| InvMovemoves with the inventory open | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic inventory check | ||
| AutoArmorputs armor on by itself | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic inventory check | partly or indirectly: not named — only how fast inventory actions are | |
| XCarrycarries items in crafting slots | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic inventory check | ||
| FastXPthrows XP bottles in bursts | partly or indirectly: not named — only a right-click CPS limit | partly or indirectly: not named — only how fast it throws | |
| Packets and automation | |||
| Packet order in a tickthe cheat reorders actions | partly or indirectly: not described — only a generic protocol check | partly or indirectly: a combat-protocol check; order inside a tick isn't described | |
| BadPacketsimpossible packets | |||
| NoRotateignores server rotation | partly or indirectly: not named — only a generic protocol check | ||
| BookBotwrites books with a bot | |||
| AutoFishfishes by itself | |||
| AutoEateats by itself | |||
| AntiAFKfakes a player at the keyboard | |||
— a check in the source code or docs, — not in public sources, — partly or only indirectly, not counted (hover the icon for the reason).
FAQ
Which is better, Polar or Matrix?
By their public sources Matrix checks more: 25 of 47 kinds of cheats against 18 for Polar. The cheats of your game mode decide — compare them in the table above.
Is there an anticheat that catches more than Polar and Matrix?
Yes. DGuard — the best anticheat for a modern Minecraft server — has a check for all 47 kinds of cheats in this table, including the ones both of them miss. It's free up to 30 players online.
How did you compare?
We checked every kind of cheat against each anticheat's source code and documentation; the links are in the sources. Only a full check counts: a partial, experimental or off-by-default one doesn't.
Sources for Polar and Matrix
Why choose between them?
DGuard checks all 47 kinds of cheats in the table — including what both of them miss. Free up to 30 players online, with the same protection as paid plans.