Palworld: Player Damage and Defense

Introduction

Palworld allows you to adjust how much damage a player deals and how much damage a player receives through server configuration values. In this guide, you will learn how to edit the correct configuration file in your ZAP-Hosting game server, change the player damage and defense multipliers, and apply the changes properly.

Preparation

Before you begin, make sure that your Palworld server is already installed and that you can access its web administration.

You need:

• an active Palworld game server at ZAP-Hosting
• access to the game server web interface
• permission to edit files under Configs

Manual Configuration Required

This setup is performed manually by editing the Palworld configuration file. There is no additional in-game command required for these specific settings.

Open the correct configuration file

To change player damage and defense, you need to edit the file PalWorldSettings.ini.

In the ZAP-Hosting game server administration:

1. Open your Palworld server
2. Go to Configs
3. Open PalWorldSettings.ini

This file contains the main gameplay multipliers used by the dedicated server, including the values for player attack damage and player defense damage taken.

Configuration Location

The task context confirms that the relevant file is available through the game server administration under Configs. If your interface layout differs slightly, look for the configuration file list for your server and open PalWorldSettings.ini.

Edit the player damage and defense values

Inside PalWorldSettings.ini, you need to locate the following configuration entries.

Config key	Function	Default value
PlayerDamageRateAttack	Controls how much damage a player deals	1.000000
PlayerDamageRateDefense	Controls how much damage a player receives	1.000000

These values are typically stored inside the main option block in the file.

Example configuration

Use the following example as a reference:

PlayerDamageRateAttack=1.000000
PlayerDamageRateDefense=1.000000

If these values already exist, change only the numbers. If your file uses a single long option line, make sure you edit the existing entries carefully without removing commas, brackets, or neighboring values.

How the values work

Value	Effect
Higher PlayerDamageRateAttack	Players deal more damage
Lower PlayerDamageRateAttack	Players deal less damage
Higher PlayerDamageRateDefense	Players receive less effective survivability balance only if intended by the game logic, but this setting is generally used as the damage taken multiplier
Lower PlayerDamageRateDefense	Players receive more damage

Understand the Defense Multiplier

PlayerDamageRateDefense affects the damage taken multiplier for the player. A lower value means the player receives more damage, while a higher value reduces the relative danger less aggressively depending on the server's balancing behavior. Always test your settings after changing them.

Choose suitable multiplier values

You can customize the settings depending on the difficulty you want for your server.

Balanced example

If you want a mostly default experience, keep both values at 1.000000:

PlayerDamageRateAttack=1.000000
PlayerDamageRateDefense=1.000000

Easier combat example

If you want players to deal more damage and survive more easily, you can increase attack and carefully test defense-related balance:

PlayerDamageRateAttack=1.500000
PlayerDamageRateDefense=1.500000

Harder combat example

If you want players to deal less damage and take more punishment, you can reduce the values:

PlayerDamageRateAttack=0.800000
PlayerDamageRateDefense=0.800000

Adjust Gradually

Change multipliers in small steps such as 0.1 or 0.25 at a time. This makes it easier to find a good balance without making combat feel too easy or too punishing.

Save the file and restart the server

After editing PalWorldSettings.ini, save the file in the ZAP-Hosting Configs section.

Once the file has been saved, restart your Palworld server so the new damage settings are loaded.

Required action after editing

Action	Required
Save PalWorldSettings.ini	Yes
Restart the server	Yes
Run an in-game command	No
Run a console command manually	No

Restart Required

Changes to PlayerDamageRateAttack and PlayerDamageRateDefense are not applied reliably until the server has been restarted.

Verify the new settings

After the restart, join your server and test combat directly.

You should check:

• whether the player deals the expected amount of damage
• whether incoming enemy attacks feel stronger or weaker
• whether the overall balance still fits your intended gameplay

If the result is not what you want, return to PalWorldSettings.ini, adjust the multipliers again, save the file, and restart the server once more.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have successfully changed player damage and defense settings on your Palworld server. For further questions or assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our support team, which is available daily to assist you!