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There is no single best Palworld dedicated-server configuration. The right values depend on whether your group wants slow survival, faster building, difficult combat, relaxed co-op, or a PvP-focused world. What is universal is the editing method: create PalWorldSettings.ini from the shipped template, keep every option in one OptionSettings=(...) line, save it in the server’s configuration directory, and restart the server. This guide shows exactly how to do that and how to choose settings without relying on unverified “default” claims.
What “best” means for a Palworld dedicated server
A dedicated server does not have one objectively correct preset. A group that plays for an hour each evening may want higher experience and capture rates, while a long-running survival community may prefer values close to the shipped configuration. PvP groups also need a different death and damage model from a cooperative building server.
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Treat settings as a set of independent controls rather than a magic preset. Decide how quickly players should progress, how punishing death should be, whether players can damage one another, how many bases and workers the server can support, and which administration interfaces must be exposed. Change one group at a time and test it with the actual players who will use the world.
- Progression: experience, capture, Pal spawning, collection drops, hunger and stamina.
- Combat: damage dealt to and received by players and Pals.
- Death and PvP: the death penalty, player-to-player damage and friendly fire.
- Base capacity: the number of camps and workers allowed.
- Administration and networking: name, passwords, player slots, port, RCON and REST API options.
The values cited in community guides are starting points, not confirmed Pocketpair defaults. Current official defaults and valid ranges should be checked against the default file shipped with your server build before you make a production change.
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Find the correct configuration file
The file you edit is named PalWorldSettings.ini. On a Linux dedicated server it is normally under Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer. On Windows it is normally under Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer. Some guides or control panels label the directory “Configs”; use the folder that actually exists in your installation rather than creating a second, similarly named directory.
| Server platform | Usual directory | File |
|---|---|---|
| Linux | Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer |
PalWorldSettings.ini |
| Windows | Pal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer |
PalWorldSettings.ini |
If the file is missing, do not start with an empty file. The server package includes DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini. Copy that file in the same configuration directory and rename the copy to PalWorldSettings.ini. The default file is a template; edit the renamed copy. Keeping the template untouched gives you a clean reference when you need to restore an option.
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Create and edit PalWorldSettings.ini
- Stop the server. Editing while the process is writing saves can leave you with a partial or overwritten configuration.
- Open the platform directory. Go to
Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServerorPal/Saved/Config/WindowsServer, depending on the operating system. - Copy the template. Duplicate
DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini. - Rename the copy. Use the exact filename
PalWorldSettings.ini. Check that your editor has not added a second extension such as.txt. - Preserve the header. The file begins with a
[/Script/Pal.PalGameWorldSettings]header. - Edit the option line. All settings belong in the single
OptionSettings=(...)line that follows the header. - Save as plain text. Do not convert the file to a rich-text format or add quotation marks around the entire line.
- Start the server again. Settings are read during startup, so a restart is required after every edit.
Do not split OptionSettings=(...) over multiple lines. A wrapped display in an editor is fine if it is only visual; inserting an actual line break can prevent the parser from reading the options. Preserve commas, equals signs, parentheses and the exact spelling of every key.
Understand the OptionSettings syntax
The configuration is not a collection of separate INI entries. It is one Unreal-style option list. A simplified shape looks like this:
[/Script/Pal.PalGameWorldSettings]
OptionSettings=(ExpRate=1.000000,PalCaptureRate=1.000000,...)The ellipsis above is explanatory only; keep the complete option list from your server’s template. Change the number after an existing key instead of inventing a new key. Numeric rates commonly use decimal notation, and Boolean options use the format already present in the template. The shipped file is the best authority for key names supported by your installed build.
Two hunger and stamina keys retain the misspelling Decreace. That spelling is part of the key name. Correcting it to “Decrease” creates an unknown option and leaves the intended value unchanged. Copy these names exactly from the template.
Choose progression and survival rates
Experience: ExpRate
ExpRate controls how quickly players gain experience. A higher value shortens the time needed to level, unlock technology and reach later content; a lower value extends the survival curve. Decide whether your group wants the journey itself to be the main activity or whether it wants to reach construction and breeding systems quickly.
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Capture: PalCaptureRate
PalCaptureRate affects the chance of successfully catching a Pal. Raising it reduces repeated attempts and resource consumption. Lowering it makes each encounter more consequential, but can become frustrating if the server also has slow progression or limited spawn rates.
Spawning: PalSpawnNumRate
PalSpawnNumRate changes the number of Pals appearing in the world. More spawns provide more capture opportunities and drops, but increase simulation and network work. If you raise this value, watch CPU, memory and player reports in busy areas rather than assuming the server can absorb the change.
Collection drops: CollectionDropRate
CollectionDropRate affects the quantity of materials obtained from collection activities. Increasing it makes construction and crafting less dependent on repeated gathering trips. It also shortens the economic loop, so pair it with your intended progression speed rather than changing it in isolation.
Hunger and stamina
Hunger and stamina rates determine how often players and Pals need food or recovery. Their key names include the legacy “Decreace” spelling, so never retype them from memory. Make a small change, restart, and observe a complete play session before making another adjustment; these systems can feel very different after several hours rather than several minutes.
A documented guide example, not a universal preset
One community “best settings” example uses ExpRate=1.200000, PalCaptureRate=1.500000 and CollectionDropRate=1.500000, with most other rates left at 1.0. These are reported values from one guide, not verified defaults or a guaranteed recommendation. Use them only as a test profile and ask the group whether the resulting pace is appropriate.
| Goal | Controls to adjust first | Trade-off to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Long survival campaign | Keep experience, capture and drops near the shipped values | Players spend more time gathering and repeating encounters |
| Short evening sessions | Test moderately higher ExpRate, PalCaptureRate and CollectionDropRate |
Unlocks and materials arrive sooner, reducing the early-game challenge |
| Capture-focused server | Raise PalCaptureRate before changing every other rate |
Higher capture success can make rare encounters less meaningful |
| Busy shared world | Be cautious with PalSpawnNumRate and worker counts |
More entities and workers can increase server load |
Set combat difficulty deliberately
Damage options deserve separate consideration from progression. Community guides identify PalDamageRateDefense and PlayerDamageRateDefense as key controls. Lower defense-rate values make the affected Pals or players tankier, increasing the time required to defeat them. Higher values generally make combat shorter and more lethal for the side whose defense is reduced.
Change only one damage family at a time. If players report that every fight is trivial, first determine whether the issue is player damage, Pal damage, enemy durability or progression speed. Raising all damage and lowering all defenses simultaneously can produce deaths that feel arbitrary and makes it difficult to identify which setting caused the change.
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- For cooperative learning, start with the template values and adjust after players understand the combat loop.
- For a challenge server, alter defense or incoming damage in small increments and test both normal encounters and boss-level fights.
- For mixed-skill groups, avoid tuning around the strongest player; a setting that is merely inconvenient for an expert can be unplayable for a newcomer.
Configure death penalties and PvP
DeathPenalty
DeathPenalty determines what a player loses on death. Community documentation reports that older 1.0-era behavior used an “All” penalty and that later defaults were reported as softened to “Item.” Those reports are version-sensitive and should not be treated as the current default. Check the value in the template supplied with your exact server build, then tell players what the server uses before the first expedition.
bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage
Set bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage according to whether direct player damage is part of the server’s design. Disabling it is usually appropriate for cooperative worlds where accidental attacks should not become a recurring problem. Enabling it requires clear rules, moderation and a plan for disputes.
bEnableFriendlyFire
bEnableFriendlyFire is a separate decision from general player damage. A PvP server may still want to protect members of the same team, while a free-for-all server may intentionally allow damage between allies. Test the interaction with your chosen guild and team structure instead of assuming one Boolean controls every case.
Balance bases, workers and server load
BaseCampMaxNum
BaseCampMaxNum is the server-wide cap for base camps. Guides sometimes quote 128 as a default, but that figure is not confirmed against an official source and may vary by version. Use the value in your shipped template as the baseline. Raising the cap can support a large building community, but it also increases the amount of persistent world state the server must maintain.
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BaseCampWorkerMaxNum controls how many workers can operate in a base. Increasing it gives players more automation and production capacity while increasing simulation work. If you raise the limit, monitor performance during periods when multiple bases are active; do not assume a change that works on an empty test world will behave the same way at peak concurrency.
Base limits should reflect the number of active players, not the theoretical maximum player count. A small private group gains little from a very high cap, whereas a public community may need a policy for abandoned bases in addition to a numerical limit.
Set the server identity, access and network options
Administration options identified in dedicated-server guides include ServerName, ServerPassword, AdminPassword, ServerPlayerMaxNum, PublicPort, and RCON and REST API settings.
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| Option group | Purpose | Operational advice |
|---|---|---|
ServerName |
The name players see when finding the server | Use a stable name that identifies the community and rules |
ServerPassword |
Restricts entry to players with the password | Use a different secret from the administrator credential |
AdminPassword |
Authenticates administrator commands | Choose a long, unique value and share it only with trusted operators |
ServerPlayerMaxNum |
Sets the configured player capacity | Keep it consistent with the resources and moderation you can provide |
PublicPort |
Defines the server’s public network port | Open and forward the same port in the host firewall and router when required |
| RCON and REST API options | Provide remote administration or integrations | Enable only what you use and restrict exposure to trusted networks |
Passwords and API credentials belong in the server configuration, not in screenshots, public issue reports or chat messages. If an administrative endpoint is unnecessary, leaving it disabled reduces the number of services that need protection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why settings sometimes do not apply
The server was not restarted
Palworld reads world options at startup. Stop and start the dedicated server after every edit. Reconnecting to an already running process is not enough.
The wrong file or folder was edited
Confirm that the active installation is using LinuxServer or WindowsServer as appropriate, and verify the exact filename. Control panels can expose a “Configs” view that is not the directory used by the process. Check the server’s actual installation path and file timestamps.
The template was edited instead of the active copy
DefaultPalWorldSettings.ini is the template. The active file is PalWorldSettings.ini. Compare both names before saving.
The OptionSettings line was broken
Restore the one-line structure, remove accidental line breaks and check every comma and parenthesis. Keep the header on its own line and the complete option list on the following line.
The key was misspelled
Use the spelling in the shipped file, including “Decreace” in hunger and stamina keys. Unknown keys are ignored rather than interpreted as your intended option.
The existing world is retaining saved options
Some guides report that an existing world can also store settings in WorldOption.sav. If a correctly formatted file still appears to be ignored after a full restart, stop the server, back up the world, and inspect whether this save file is preserving earlier options. Do not delete world data without a verified backup; test any change on a copy first.
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A version changed the behavior
Defaults and valid ranges can change between patches. The reported shift from a 72-hour early-access hatching time to one hour, and the reported change in the death penalty from “All” to “Item,” are examples of why a guide from one release cannot establish the current default. Re-check the template after updates and record the server build alongside your configuration backup.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesA safe testing workflow
- Back up the world and configuration. Keep the original
PalWorldSettings.ini, the template and a dated copy of the world save. - Write down the current values. A simple change log should include the date, server build, option changed and reason.
- Change one related group. For example, adjust progression rates together, but do not also alter combat, death and base limits in the same test.
- Restart completely. Stop the process, wait for it to exit, then start it again.
- Run representative tests. Check a capture attempt, an experience gain, a collection activity, a combat encounter and a base with workers, depending on what you changed.
- Ask players for specific feedback. “Too easy” is less useful than “capture success feels excessive after ten attempts” or “three active bases cause stuttering.”
- Revert quickly if necessary. Restore the previous file, restart and verify that the old behavior returns before trying another value.
This workflow prevents a difficult-to-diagnose configuration from becoming embedded in a long-running world. It also gives administrators a record when a patch changes a default or introduces a new supported key.
Practical starting profiles
Measured co-op
Leave most options at the values supplied in the current template. If the group has limited play time, test the documented example of ExpRate=1.200000, PalCaptureRate=1.500000 and CollectionDropRate=1.500000, while leaving other rates unchanged. Keep PvP disabled unless the group explicitly wants it, and avoid raising worker and base caps until the world demonstrates a need.
Long-form survival
Use the shipped progression, capture and collection values as the starting point. Explain the death penalty before players begin, keep damage changes conservative, and use base limits that match the actual number of builders. This preserves scarcity without requiring unsupported claims about what the defaults “must” be.
Build-and-explore community
Test modestly faster experience and material collection, then evaluate whether capture and spawning still feel meaningful. A higher worker limit may be useful for large projects, but raise it only after measuring active-base performance. Set a clear password and administrator policy if the server is public.
PvP ruleset
Define DeathPenalty, bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage and bEnableFriendlyFire as a coherent ruleset. Publish the rules before enabling access, test team and guild interactions, and keep administrator credentials separate from the player password. Progression rates should support the intended match length rather than compensate for unclear combat rules.
Configuration checklist
- Server stopped before editing.
- Correct platform directory selected.
DefaultPalWorldSettings.inicopied toPalWorldSettings.ini.[/Script/Pal.PalGameWorldSettings]header preserved.- One unbroken
OptionSettings=(...)line retained. - Key names copied exactly, including “Decreace.”
- World and configuration backups made.
- Server restarted after saving.
- Existing-world behavior checked if options appear ignored.
- Server build and every change recorded for future rollback.
What you can and cannot assume about defaults
Community guides consistently agree on the file location, template-copy workflow, one-line syntax and restart requirement. They do not establish a single authoritative set of current defaults or universal limits. In particular, treat claims about a 128-base default, a hard experience cap of 20, memory growth figures, or recommended values for disabling invader enemies as unverified unless your installed build or official documentation confirms them.
The safest policy is therefore version-specific: read the values shipped with your server, change only what your group needs, and validate the result in a backup world before applying it to a long-running community save.
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