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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Configure PvP friendly fire with the PlayerKillingMode property in your server’s serverconfig.xml. Stop the server, set the property to the mode you want, save the file, and restart. Managed hosts may expose the same control as a PvP or friendly-fire toggle in their control panel. The current host guides reviewed for this article describe four usable values (0–3); the game’s behavior on every current build and every host is not independently documented, so verify the result in-game after restarting.
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What controls player damage
PlayerKillingMode is the setting used by current hosting guides to decide whether one player can damage another. It is stored in the server’s serverconfig.xml, normally in the multiplayer portion of the configuration. The setting affects player-versus-player damage; it does not turn zombie damage, environmental damage, or other combat systems on or off.
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Use the value that matches the social rules you want for the server. Do not assume that the number shown when you first rent or install a server is the intended policy: one unattributed search result called 3 the default, but that claim is not verified. Read the actual value in your file or panel and test it with two players.
Choose a mode before editing
The following meanings are the ones described by current host documentation. “Allies” refers to players recognized by the game’s in-game alliance system. The sources reviewed do not explain every alliance rule, so confirm who is allied on your particular build before relying on an allies-only policy.
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| Value | Who can damage whom | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
0 |
No player-versus-player damage; players cannot damage one another. | A cooperative PvE server where accidental or deliberate player attacks should be impossible. |
1 |
Allies only; damage occurs only when both players have added each other to their allies list. | A group that wants combat between consenting allied players. |
2 |
Strangers only; players can damage non-allies but cannot damage their allies. | A server where rival or unaffiliated players may fight while established groups are protected from friendly fire. |
3 |
Everyone, including allies, can be damaged. | Unrestricted PvP, where alliance status does not prevent attacks. |
Cybrancee describes a wider numeric range in one guide but lists only 0 through 3, and a community-quoted configuration comment also uses 0 through 3. Treat 0–3 as the supported choices described by the available documentation; do not invent values above 3 unless the configuration comments for your exact game build explicitly document them.
Method 1: Edit serverconfig.xml
1. Stop the server cleanly
Use the stop button in your host panel or stop the dedicated-server process before editing. Changing a live file can be overwritten when the process saves its configuration, and players may remain connected to the old rule until the next restart.
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2. Make a backup
Download or copy serverconfig.xml before changing it. Keep the untouched copy under a date-based name so you can restore the previous settings if the server fails to start or your community wants to return to the former policy. A backup is especially important when you edit several properties in the same session.
3. Open the configuration file
In a hosting panel, look for a file manager, configuration editor, or FTP/SFTP access and open serverconfig.xml in the server’s configuration directory. On a self-hosted installation, open the copy used by the dedicated server rather than a similarly named template or client-side file. The exact directory and editor vary by host and operating system.
4. Find the property
Use the editor’s search function for PlayerKillingMode. A normal entry looks like this:
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<property name="PlayerKillingMode" value="3"/>Change only the digits inside the value attribute to the mode selected in the table. Keep the quotation marks, property name, slash, and angle brackets unchanged. XML is case-sensitive in practice for these property names, so copy the spelling exactly.
5. Save without changing the XML structure
Save the file as plain text. Do not add smart quotes, remove the closing />, or place the property inside another tag. If your editor offers an encoding choice, retain the file’s existing encoding. Close the editor only after confirming that the saved file still contains one correctly formed PlayerKillingMode line.
6. Restart the server
Start the server again from the panel or launch command. A restart is required for the dedicated server to load the new value. Wait until the server reports that it is ready, then reconnect; clients already connected before the restart cannot be used as proof that the new rule loaded.
7. Test with two accounts
Have two players perform a controlled hit in a safe, agreed location. Test both an allied pair and a non-allied pair when the chosen mode distinguishes those groups. Use low-risk equipment, avoid testing near a base or storage, and stop immediately if the result is not what your community agreed to. Record the observed result and the exact value in the file so future administrators know which policy is active.
If PlayerKillingMode is missing
One Steam discussion reported that the property belongs in the multiplayer section and that adding it manually resolved the setting. Another player reported that pasting it had no effect. Those conflicting reports mean that manual insertion is version-dependent, not a guaranteed repair.
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First confirm that your server build and host documentation support PlayerKillingMode. Check whether the host regenerates serverconfig.xml from a panel template at startup; a generated file can discard a hand-added line. If the property is supported, place a single line alongside the other multiplayer properties, using the exact XML form shown above, then save and restart. Keep your backup so you can remove the line if the server refuses to load.
If the server starts but player damage does not change, compare the running file with the file you edited. You may have changed a template, a local copy, or a different instance’s configuration. Check the server console or panel log for configuration errors and verify the value after shutdown, before starting again.
Method 2: Use a managed-host control panel
Some providers present the same setting as a graphical control. Wabbanode, for example, documents PvP and friendly-fire toggles in its control-panel settings tab. The label can differ between hosts, so look under Server settings, Gameplay, Multiplayer, or a similarly named section.
- Stop the server from the panel if the host requires it.
- Open the settings tab and locate the PvP, player-killing, or friendly-fire control.
- Select the option corresponding to the rule you want. If the panel shows a numeric mode, use the meanings in the table above.
- Apply or save the settings. Some panels write the XML immediately; others stage a change until the next restart.
- Restart the server, reconnect, and perform the two-player test.
If a panel toggle and the file show different values, treat the panel as the authoritative interface for that host. Change the setting in one place, restart, and then inspect the resulting file if the panel permits it. Do not repeatedly alternate between manual edits and panel changes without a backup; the panel may overwrite your manual value.
Why the older FriendlyFire property causes confusion
Older player discussions refer to a property named FriendlyFire, often set to false for a PvE-style setup. A forum archive describes it as a simple on/off switch and reports behavior tied to players being on each other’s friends list. Current host guides instead use PlayerKillingMode, which provides four modes and distinguishes allies from strangers.
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For a current server, treat FriendlyFire as a legacy name unless the documentation for your exact build explicitly says otherwise. Do not configure both properties and assume they will combine predictably. If an old file contains FriendlyFire, make a backup, set the supported PlayerKillingMode, restart, and test. If your build recognizes only the older property, follow that build’s documentation rather than assuming the modern four-value behavior.
Troubleshooting when the rule does not work
The setting reverted after restart
- Check that the server was stopped before editing and that the file was saved to the active instance.
- Look for a host-panel setting that regenerates the file. Change the value through that panel or disable automatic regeneration if the host documents such an option.
- Confirm that only one
PlayerKillingModeline exists. Duplicate properties can produce unpredictable results. - Compare the file’s timestamp and contents after shutdown and again after startup to identify when the overwrite occurs.
The server will not start
- Restore the backup immediately if the panel reports an XML or configuration parse error.
- Check for missing quotation marks, a removed
/>, accidental smart quotes, or a property inserted inside another element. - Remove a manually added line if your build does not recognize it, then consult the host’s version-specific configuration guidance.
Players can still attack allies
Verify that the value loaded at startup is the allies-protected mode rather than the unrestricted mode. Confirm that both players are actually recognized as allies by the in-game alliance system; the available documentation does not define whether one-sided invitations, party membership, or other relationships count. Test with a clearly non-allied pair as a control.
No one can damage anyone
Check whether the server is running the no-PvP value, whether a panel has an overriding PvE toggle, and whether you tested after a complete restart. A gameplay mod or a build-specific rule may also affect damage, so reproduce the test on an unmodified configuration when possible.
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Use the file method if the host gives you access to serverconfig.xml. If it does not provide file access, ask the host whether it supports PlayerKillingMode for your game version; do not assume that a toggle available on one provider exists on another.
Operational practices for a fair PvP server
Announce the rule and its effective time
Tell players which policy is active and when it will take effect. A restart disconnects everyone, so announce the maintenance window and allow players to secure characters, vehicles, and storage first. Record the selected mode in your server rules and administrator notes.
Use a staged test before opening the server
After every change, test with administrator-controlled accounts before inviting the whole community. For an allies-sensitive mode, run both directions of the test: allied players attempt a hit, then non-allied players do the same. This catches alliance-state misunderstandings that a single test cannot.
Keep configuration history
Store dated backups of the XML and note who changed the property. If a later update changes behavior, you can identify whether the cause was a game build, a host-panel regeneration, or an administrator edit. Because no official, current behavior reference was located for this setting, retaining your own verified configuration history is especially useful.
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Version and documentation limits
The available guidance is primarily from hosting providers and community discussions rather than an official 7 Days to Die configuration manual. No 2026-dated guide in the material confirms behavior on every current game build. Host panels may expose different labels, and alliance mechanics are not explained consistently. Use the documented 0–3 values as a practical starting point, then verify the result on your own server after each update.
If a future update changes the property name, accepted range, or alliance behavior, the correct source will be the configuration comments generated by that build or version-specific host documentation. Avoid copying an old FriendlyFire example into a new installation without checking which property the running server recognizes.
Quick change checklist
- Choose the intended player-damage policy from the four documented modes.
- Stop the server and back up
serverconfig.xml. - Edit the active file, or use the provider’s PvP/friendly-fire control.
- Save valid XML and ensure there is only one active player-killing setting.
- Restart the server completely.
- Test allied and non-allied players where the selected policy distinguishes them.
- Record the verified value, date, game build, and host-panel state for future administrators.
Final recommendation
For a predictable setup, prefer the current PlayerKillingMode property, make the change while the server is stopped, and verify it with two players after restarting. Use the legacy FriendlyFire name only when documentation for the exact server build requires it, and treat any untested default or undocumented numeric value as unreliable.
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