diff --git a/src/pocketmine/network/mcpe/protocol/DataPacket.php b/src/pocketmine/network/mcpe/protocol/DataPacket.php
index 0eeb9abe8..344ed5a5f 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/network/mcpe/protocol/DataPacket.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/network/mcpe/protocol/DataPacket.php
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ abstract class DataPacket extends NetworkBinaryStream{
 	 * @throws \OutOfBoundsException
 	 * @throws \UnexpectedValueException
 	 */
-	public function decode() : void{
+	final public function decode() : void{
 		$this->rewind();
 		$this->decodeHeader();
 		$this->decodePayload();
@@ -83,16 +83,14 @@ abstract class DataPacket extends NetworkBinaryStream{
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Note for plugin developers: If you're adding your own packets, you should perform decoding in here.
+	 * Decodes the packet body, without the packet ID or other generic header fields.
 	 *
 	 * @throws \OutOfBoundsException
 	 * @throws \UnexpectedValueException
 	 */
-	protected function decodePayload() : void{
+	abstract protected function decodePayload() : void;
 
-	}
-
-	public function encode() : void{
+	final public function encode() : void{
 		$this->reset();
 		$this->encodeHeader();
 		$this->encodePayload();
@@ -104,11 +102,9 @@ abstract class DataPacket extends NetworkBinaryStream{
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Note for plugin developers: If you're adding your own packets, you should perform encoding in here.
+	 * Encodes the packet body, without the packet ID or other generic header fields.
 	 */
-	protected function encodePayload() : void{
-
-	}
+	abstract protected function encodePayload() : void;
 
 	/**
 	 * Performs handling for this packet. Usually you'll want an appropriately named method in the session handler for
diff --git a/src/pocketmine/network/mcpe/protocol/UnknownPacket.php b/src/pocketmine/network/mcpe/protocol/UnknownPacket.php
index 6daf12bfb..f2e5986eb 100644
--- a/src/pocketmine/network/mcpe/protocol/UnknownPacket.php
+++ b/src/pocketmine/network/mcpe/protocol/UnknownPacket.php
@@ -44,12 +44,19 @@ class UnknownPacket extends DataPacket{
 		return "unknown packet";
 	}
 
-	public function decode() : void{
+	protected function decodeHeader() : void{
+
+	}
+
+	protected function decodePayload() : void{
 		$this->payload = $this->getRemaining();
 	}
 
-	public function encode() : void{
-		//Do not reset the buffer, this class does not have a valid NETWORK_ID constant.
+	protected function encodeHeader() : void{
+
+	}
+
+	protected function encodePayload() : void{
 		$this->put($this->payload);
 	}