Palworld offers a PvP mode that allows players to fight each other and changes the base combat and guild behavior on your server. In this guide, you will learn how to manually enable PvP by editing the correct configuration file in the ZAP-Hosting game server admin and making the necessary settings.
Trial Feature Notice PvP in Palworld is considered a trial feature by the developer. Configuration options and gameplay behavior may change with future updates.
To enable PvP, the following three settings in PalWorldSettings.ini must be set to True.
| Setting | Required Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
bIsPvP | True | Enables PvP mode on the server |
bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage | True | Allows direct damage between players |
bEnableDefenseOtherGuildPlayer | True | Allows defensive interactions with players from other guilds |
Add these values to your OptionSettings=(...) line or modify existing values accordingly:
bIsPvP=True,
bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage=True,
bEnableDefenseOtherGuildPlayer=True
Avoid Duplicate Keys
If a setting already exists in PalWorldSettings.ini, change the existing value instead of adding the same key again. Duplicate entries can cause unexpected behavior or complicate troubleshooting.
Once PvP is enabled, you can adjust additional settings to create a more balanced PvP experience. The following values are commonly recommended for PvP-focused servers.
| Setting | Recommended Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
bAllowEnhanceStat_Health | False | Prevents assigning HP stat |
bAllowEnhanceStat_Attack | False | Prevents assigning attack stat |
bEnableFastTravel | True | Enables fast travel |
bEnableFastTravelOnlyBaseCamp | True | Restricts fast travel to base camps |
bExistPlayerAfterLogout | True | Players remain in the world after logout |
bEnableAimAssistPad | False | Disables controller aim assist |
DeathPenalty | All | Drops all items and pals on death |
bCanPickupOtherGuildDeathPenaltyDrop | True | Allows looting items from other players |
bInvisibleOtherGuildBaseCampAreaFX | False | Shows base camps of other guilds |
bBuildAreaLimit | True | Prevents building in restricted areas |
GuildPlayerMaxNum | 4 | Limits guild size |
BaseCampMaxNumInGuild | 2 | Limits number of bases per guild |
MaxBuildingLimitNum | 1000 | Limits structures per player |
GuildRejoinCooldownMinutes | 60 | Cooldown for rejoining guild |
BlockRespawnTime | 5.0 | Delay for base respawn |
RespawnPenaltyDurationThreshold | 1800.0 | Time until respawn penalty resets |
RespawnPenaltyTimeScale | 2.0 | Multiplier for respawn penalty on repeated death |
If you want to use the recommended PvP values, add the following entries to your OptionSettings=(...) section:
bAllowEnhanceStat_Health=False,
bAllowEnhanceStat_Attack=False,
bEnableFastTravel=True,
bEnableFastTravelOnlyBaseCamp=True,
bExistPlayerAfterLogout=True,
bEnableAimAssistPad=False,
DeathPenalty=All,
bCanPickupOtherGuildDeathPenaltyDrop=True,
bInvisibleOtherGuildBaseCampAreaFX=False,
bBuildAreaLimit=True,
GuildPlayerMaxNum=4,
BaseCampMaxNumInGuild=2,
MaxBuildingLimitNum=1000,
GuildRejoinCooldownMinutes=60,
BlockRespawnTime=5.0,
RespawnPenaltyDurationThreshold=1800.0,
RespawnPenaltyTimeScale=2.0
Depending on how competitive your PvP server should be, you can also configure technology restrictions and PvP rewards.
You can restrict certain movement-related technologies using DenyTechnologyList.
| Setting | Example Value |
|---|---|
DenyTechnologyList | SkillUnlock_JetDragon,SkillUnlock_IceHorse,SkillUnlock_IceHorse_Dark,SkillUnlock_SaintCentaur,SkillUnlock_BlackCentaur,SkillUnlock_DarkMechaDragon,SkillUnlock_PoseidonOrca,GrapplingGun,GrapplingGun2,GrapplingGun3,GrapplingGun4,GrapplingGun5 |
Example entry:
DenyTechnologyList="SkillUnlock_JetDragon,SkillUnlock_IceHorse,SkillUnlock_IceHorse_Dark,SkillUnlock_SaintCentaur,SkillUnlock_BlackCentaur,SkillUnlock_DarkMechaDragon,SkillUnlock_PoseidonOrca,GrapplingGun,GrapplingGun2,GrapplingGun3,GrapplingGun4,GrapplingGun5"
Check Syntax
The format of the Palworld configuration may vary depending on the server version and the structure of the existing OptionSettings=(...) line. Before saving, ensure your entry matches the syntax style already in use.
Palworld also offers PvP-related reward options for player kills.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
bAdditionalDropItemWhenPlayerKillingInPvPMode | Enables additional item drops on PvP kills |
AdditionalDropItemWhenPlayerKillingInPvPMode | Defines the item ID for the drop |
AdditionalDropItemNumWhenPlayerKillingInPvPMode | Sets the drop quantity |
bDisplayPvPItemNumOnWorldMap_BaseCamp | Shows PvP item count on world map for bases |
bDisplayPvPItemNumOnWorldMap_Player | Shows PvP item count on world map for players |
Example configuration:
bAdditionalDropItemWhenPlayerKillingInPvPMode=True,
AdditionalDropItemWhenPlayerKillingInPvPMode=PlayerDropItem,
AdditionalDropItemNumWhenPlayerKillingInPvPMode=1,
bDisplayPvPItemNumOnWorldMap_BaseCamp=True,
bDisplayPvPItemNumOnWorldMap_Player=True
Item ID Compatibility
If you use a custom value for AdditionalDropItemWhenPlayerKillingInPvPMode, make sure the item ID is valid for your Palworld version. Invalid item IDs may cause the setting to fail or be ignored.
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