diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 65fd529..cfbee71 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 name: Build Plugin
 
+permissions:
+  contents: write
+
 on:
   push:
     branches: [ main, develop ]
+    tags: [ 'v*' ]
   pull_request:
     branches: [ main ]
 
@@ -11,62 +15,62 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v4
-    
-    - name: Setup Java 25
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v4
-      with:
-        java-version: '25'
-        distribution: 'temurin'
-    
-    - name: Cache Gradle Dependencies
-      uses: actions/cache@v4
-      with:
-        path: ~/.gradle
-        key: ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-${{ hashFiles('**/*.gradle*', '**/gradle-wrapper.properties') }}
-        restore-keys: |
-          ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-
-    
-    - name: Grant Execute Permission for Gradlew
-      run: chmod +x gradlew
-    
-    - name: Build with Gradle
-      run: ./gradlew shadowJar
-    
-    - name: Run Tests
-      run: ./gradlew test
-    
-    - name: Upload Artifact
-      uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-      with:
-        name: plugin-jar
-        path: build/libs/*.jar
-        
+      - name: Checkout Repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Setup Java 25
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+        with:
+          java-version: '25'
+          distribution: 'temurin'
+
+      - name: Cache Gradle Dependencies
+        uses: actions/cache@v4
+        with:
+          path: ~/.gradle
+          key: ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-${{ hashFiles('**/*.gradle*', '**/gradle-wrapper.properties') }}
+          restore-keys: |
+            ${{ runner.os }}-gradle-
+
+      - name: Grant Execute Permission for Gradlew
+        run: chmod +x gradlew
+
+      - name: Build with Gradle
+        run: ./gradlew shadowJar
+
+      - name: Run Tests
+        run: ./gradlew test
+
+      - name: Upload Artifact
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+        with:
+          name: plugin-jar
+          path: build/libs/*.jar
+
   release:
     needs: build
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
     
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v4
-    
-    - name: Setup Java 25
-      uses: actions/setup-java@v4
-      with:
-        java-version: '25'
-        distribution: 'temurin'
-    
-    - name: Grant Execute Permission for Gradlew
-      run: chmod +x gradlew
-    
-    - name: Build with Gradle
-      run: ./gradlew shadowJar
-    
-    - name: Create Release
-      uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
-      with:
-        files: build/libs/*.jar
-      env:
-        GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+      - name: Checkout Repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Setup Java 25
+        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
+        with:
+          java-version: '25'
+          distribution: 'temurin'
+
+      - name: Grant Execute Permission for Gradlew
+        run: chmod +x gradlew
+
+      - name: Build with Gradle
+        run: ./gradlew shadowJar
+
+      - name: Create Release
+        uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v1
+        with:
+          files: build/libs/*.jar
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 8df6db3..1356cdf 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 plugins {
     id 'java'
     id 'org.jetbrains.gradle.plugin.idea-ext' version '1.3'
+    id 'com.gradleup.shadow' version '9.3.1'
 }
 
 import org.gradle.internal.os.OperatingSystem
@@ -26,11 +27,10 @@ ext {
     }
 }
 
-if (!project.hasProperty('hytaleHome')) {
-    throw new GradleException('Your Hytale install could not be detected automatically. If you are on an unsupported platform or using a custom install location, please define the install location using the hytale_home property.');
-}
-else if (!file(project.findProperty('hytaleHome')).exists()) {
-    throw new GradleException("Failed to find Hytale at the expected location. Please make sure you have installed the game. The expected location can be changed using the hytale_home property. Currently looking in ${project.findProperty('hytaleHome')}")
+def hytaleHomePath = project.findProperty('hytaleHome')
+def hasHytaleHome = hytaleHomePath && file(hytaleHomePath).exists()
+if (!hasHytaleHome) {
+    logger.lifecycle("Hytale install not detected; run configs that launch the server will be skipped. Set -Phytale_home=/path/to/Hytale to enable them.")
 }
 
 java {
@@ -45,16 +45,27 @@ javadoc {
 }
 
 // Adds the Hytale server as a build dependency, allowing you to reference and
-// compile against their code. This requires you to have Hytale installed using
-// the official launcher for now.
+// compile against their code without bundling it. When a local install is
+// present, we still use its jar for launching the server in IDE run configs.
 dependencies {
-    implementation(files("$hytaleHome/install/$patchline/package/game/latest/Server/HytaleServer.jar"))
+    compileOnly("com.hypixel.hytale:Server:$hytale_build")
+    if (hasHytaleHome) {
+        runtimeOnly(files("$hytaleHome/install/$patchline/package/game/latest/Server/HytaleServer.jar"))
+    }
+
+    // Your dependencies here
 }
 
-// Create the working directory to run the server if it does not already exist.
-def serverRunDir = file("$projectDir/run")
-if (!serverRunDir.exists()) {
-    serverRunDir.mkdirs()
+repositories {
+    mavenCentral()
+    maven {
+        name = "hytale-release"
+        url = uri("https://maven.hytale.com/release")
+    }
+    maven {
+        name = "hytale-pre-release"
+        url = uri("https://maven.hytale.com/pre-release")
+    }
 }
 
 // Updates the manifest.json file with the latest properties defined in the
@@ -78,54 +89,78 @@ tasks.named('processResources') {
     dependsOn 'updatePluginManifest'
 }
 
-def createServerRunArguments(String srcDir) {
-    def programParameters = '--allow-op --disable-sentry --assets="' + "${hytaleHome}/install/$patchline/package/game/latest/Assets.zip" + '"'
-    def modPaths = []
-    if (includes_pack.toBoolean()) {
-        modPaths << srcDir
-    }
-    if (load_user_mods.toBoolean()) {
-        modPaths << "${hytaleHome}/UserData/Mods"
-    }
-    if (!modPaths.isEmpty()) {
-        programParameters += ' --mods="' + modPaths.join(',') + '"'
-    }
-    return programParameters
+tasks.named('shadowJar') {
+    archiveClassifier.set('')
+    mergeServiceFiles()
 }
 
-// Creates a run configuration in IDEA that will run the Hytale server with
-// your plugin and the default assets.
-idea.project.settings.runConfigurations {
-    'HytaleServer'(org.jetbrains.gradle.ext.Application) {
-        mainClass = 'com.hypixel.hytale.Main'
-        moduleName = project.idea.module.name + '.main'
-        programParameters = createServerRunArguments(sourceSets.main.java.srcDirs.first().parentFile.absolutePath)
-        workingDirectory = serverRunDir.absolutePath
-    }
+// Ensure the shaded jar is produced during a normal build.
+tasks.named('build') {
+    dependsOn 'shadowJar'
 }
 
-// Creates a launch.json file for VSCode with the same configuration
-tasks.register('generateVSCodeLaunch') {
-    def vscodeDir = file("$projectDir/.vscode")
-    def launchFile = file("$vscodeDir/launch.json")
-    doLast {
-        if (!vscodeDir.exists()) {
-            vscodeDir.mkdirs()
+if (hasHytaleHome) {
+    // Create the working directory to run the server if it does not already exist.
+    def serverRunDir = file("$projectDir/run")
+    if (!serverRunDir.exists()) {
+        serverRunDir.mkdirs()
+    }
+
+    def createServerRunArguments = { String srcDir ->
+        def programParameters = '--allow-op --disable-sentry --assets="' + "${hytaleHome}/install/$patchline/package/game/latest/Assets.zip" + '"'
+        def modPaths = []
+        if (includes_pack.toBoolean()) {
+            modPaths << srcDir
         }
-        def programParams = createServerRunArguments("\${workspaceFolder}")
-        def launchConfig = [
-            version: "0.2.0",
-            configurations: [
-                [
-                    type: "java",
-                    name: "HytaleServer",
-                    request: "launch",
-                    mainClass: "com.hypixel.hytale.Main",
-                    args: programParams,
-                    cwd: "\${workspaceFolder}/run"
-                ]
+        if (load_user_mods.toBoolean()) {
+            modPaths << "${hytaleHome}/UserData/Mods"
+        }
+        if (!modPaths.isEmpty()) {
+            programParameters += ' --mods="' + modPaths.join(',') + '"'
+        }
+        return programParameters
+    }
+
+    // Creates a run configuration in IDEA that will run the Hytale server with
+    // your plugin and the default assets.
+    idea.project.settings.runConfigurations {
+        'HytaleServer'(org.jetbrains.gradle.ext.Application) {
+            mainClass = 'com.hypixel.hytale.Main'
+            moduleName = project.idea.module.name + '.main'
+            programParameters = createServerRunArguments(sourceSets.main.java.srcDirs.first().parentFile.absolutePath)
+            workingDirectory = serverRunDir.absolutePath
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Creates a launch.json file for VSCode with the same configuration
+    tasks.register('generateVSCodeLaunch') {
+        def vscodeDir = file("$projectDir/.vscode")
+        def launchFile = file("$vscodeDir/launch.json")
+        doLast {
+            if (!vscodeDir.exists()) {
+                vscodeDir.mkdirs()
+            }
+            def programParams = createServerRunArguments("\${workspaceFolder}")
+            def launchConfig = [
+                    version: "0.2.0",
+                    configurations: [
+                            [
+                                    type: "java",
+                                    name: "HytaleServer",
+                                    request: "launch",
+                                    mainClass: "com.hypixel.hytale.Main",
+                                    args: programParams,
+                                    cwd: "\${workspaceFolder}/run"
+                            ]
+                    ]
             ]
-        ]
-        launchFile.text = groovy.json.JsonOutput.prettyPrint(groovy.json.JsonOutput.toJson(launchConfig))
+            launchFile.text = groovy.json.JsonOutput.prettyPrint(groovy.json.JsonOutput.toJson(launchConfig))
+        }
+    }
+} else {
+    tasks.register('generateVSCodeLaunch') {
+        doLast {
+            logger.lifecycle("Skipped VSCode launch configuration because hytale_home is not set or the install path is missing.")
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index e0e99eb..ba33300 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ includes_pack=true
 # official launcher.
 patchline=release
 
+# The exact Hytale build to compile against. Use the build string from the
+# launcher (format YYYY.MM.DD-<hash>) so Gradle pulls the matching server jar
+# for your selected patchline.
+hytale_build=2026.01.27-734d39026
+
 # Determines if the development server should also load mods from the user's
 # standard mods folder. This lets you test mods by installing them where a
 # normal player would, instead of adding them as dependencies or adding them
@@ -29,4 +34,4 @@ load_user_mods=false
 # manually. You may also want to use a custom path if you are building in
 # a non-standard environment like a build server. The home path should
 # the folder that contains the install and UserData folder.
-# hytale_home=./test-file
\ No newline at end of file
+# hytale_home=./test-file