DayZ cfggameplay.json Explained (Stamina, Building, Map, 2026)

Q: Why are my cfggameplay.json changes not working?

Most often enableCfgGameplayFile is still 0 in serverDZ.cfg, or the JSON has a syntax error. Also check you edited the mission folder your server actually loads.

Q: How do I make bases indestructible in DayZ?

Set disableBaseDamage to true in GeneralData, and disableContainerDamage too if you want tents and barrels protected.

Q: Can players see themselves on the map?

Yes, set displayPlayerPosition to true in MapData. Add ignoreMapOwnership if you want the map available without the item.

DayZ's cfggameplay.json is the mission file that controls gameplay rules a server owner can change: stamina, base building placement checks, the in game map, night lighting, temperatures and boat decay. It sits in your mission folder, and the server only reads it when enableCfgGameplayFile = 1; is set in serverDZ.cfg. Edit it, restart, and the new rules apply.

Where is cfggameplay.json?

It lives inside the mission folder of the map you run:

Map	Path
Chernarus	`mpmissions/dayzOffline.chernarusplus/cfggameplay.json`
Livonia	`mpmissions/dayzOffline.enoch/cfggameplay.json`
Sakhal	`mpmissions/dayzOffline.sakhal/cfggameplay.json`

If your mission folder does not have one, copy the vanilla file from Bohemia's official DayZ Central Economy repository for your map. Nasdara from the Badlands expansion will get its own mission folder when it releases.

How do I enable cfggameplay.json?

Add or change this line in serverDZ.cfg, then restart:

enableCfgGameplayFile = 1;

With 0 (the default), the server ignores the JSON file and uses built in values. A few settings, such as disableBaseDamage, disablePersonalLight and lightingConfig, appear in both files. Once the JSON is enabled, change them there and keep the serverDZ.cfg values matching to avoid confusion. Every other serverDZ.cfg option is covered in DayZ serverDZ.cfg explained.

What is in cfggameplay.json?

The file has a version number and seven sections. Here is what each one controls, with defaults from the current official Chernarus file.

Section	What it controls
`GeneralData`	Base and container damage, respawn dialog
`PlayerData`	Personal light, stamina, shock, movement, drowning, weapon obstruction
`WorldsData`	Night lighting, object spawners, monthly temperatures, wetness weight
`BaseBuildingData`	Placement checks for holograms and construction
`UIData`	3D map and hit direction indicators
`MapData`	Map and GPS ownership, player position on the map
`VehicleData`	Boat decay

Leave the version value as it is in the file Bohemia ships. Change values, not structure: a missing comma or bracket stops the file loading.

Which GeneralData settings matter?

Key	Default	What it does
`disableBaseDamage`	`false`	`true` makes fences, gates and watchtowers immune to damage. Popular on PvE servers
`disableContainerDamage`	`false`	`true` protects tents, barrels and other containers
`disableRespawnDialog`	`false`	`true` skips the choice between fresh spawn and custom character
`disableRespawnInUnconsciousness`	`false`	`true` stops players respawning while unconscious

How do I change stamina in DayZ?

Stamina lives in PlayerData under StaminaData. The most changed values:

Key	Default	What it does
`staminaMax`	`100.0`	Total stamina pool. Raise it for longer sprints
`staminaWeightLimitThreshold`	`6000.0`	Weight in grams carried before stamina penalties start. Raise it so heavy loadouts hurt less
`staminaKgToStaminaPercentPenalty`	`1.75`	Penalty per kilogram above the threshold. Lower it to soften weight penalties
`staminaMinCap`	`5.0`	The lowest the stamina cap can drop to
`sprintStaminaModifierErc`	`1.0`	Stamina drain while sprinting upright. Lower means slower drain
`sprintStaminaModifierCro`	`1.0`	Same for crouch sprinting
`meleeStaminaModifier`	`1.0`	Stamina cost of melee
`holdBreathStaminaModifier`	`1.0`	Stamina cost of holding breath while aiming

A common "casual" setup sets staminaMax to 200.0 and sprintStaminaModifierErc to 0.5. For effectively unlimited sprinting, some servers set the sprint modifiers to 0.0, which feels very arcade.

The same section also has disablePersonalLight (default false), plus ShockHandlingData, MovementData (sprint and strafe timings), DrowningData and WeaponObstructionData. Leave movement and shock alone unless you know why you are changing them.

How do I let players build anywhere in DayZ?

Placement checks live in BaseBuildingData, HologramData. Each key turns one check off when set to true:

Key	Check it disables
`disableIsCollidingBBoxCheck`	Collision with other objects
`disableIsCollidingPlayerCheck`	Collision with players
`disableIsClippingRoofCheck`	Clipping into roofs
`disableIsBaseViableCheck`	Requirement for a viable base surface
`disableIsCollidingGPlotCheck`	Garden plot placement rules
`disableIsCollidingAngleCheck`	Slope angle limits
`disableIsPlacementPermittedCheck`	Areas where placement is not permitted
`disableHeightPlacementCheck`	Height limits
`disableIsUnderwaterCheck`	Placing underwater
`disableIsInTerrainCheck`	Sinking into terrain
`disableColdAreaBuildingCheck`	Building limits in cold areas

disallowedTypesInUnderground lists kits that cannot go underground. The default is ["FenceKit","TerritoryFlagKit","WatchtowerKit"].

ConstructionData has three more: disablePerformRoofCheck, disableIsCollidingCheck and disableDistanceCheck.

Turning off collision and placement checks lets players wall off buildings, block roads and glitch bases into rocks. Many servers disable only the angle, height and terrain checks so building on slopes works, and leave collision checks on.

How do I enable the 3D map and player position?

Key	Default	What it does
`use3DMap` (`UIData`)	`false`	`true` shows the map as a 3D item in hands instead of a 2D screen
`ignoreMapOwnership` (`MapData`)	`false`	`true` lets players open the map without a map item
`ignoreNavItemsOwnership`	`false`	`true` gives compass and GPS info without the items
`displayPlayerPosition`	`false`	`true` shows the player's own marker on the map
`displayNavInfo`	`true`	Shows navigation info on the map

For a beginner friendly server, set ignoreMapOwnership and displayPlayerPosition to true. Hardcore servers leave all four at their defaults.

UIData also holds HitIndicationData, which overrides how hit direction indicators look and behave when hitDirectionOverrideEnabled is true.

Which WorldsData settings can I change?

lightingConfig: picks between the two night lighting presets. Test both on your map at night before going live.
objectSpawnersArr: a list of extra JSON files that spawn custom objects, used to add buildings or props without a mod. Paths are relative to the mission folder.
environmentMinTemps and environmentMaxTemps: 12 values each, one per month, in degrees Celsius. Chernarus defaults run from -3 to 3 in January up to 18 to 26 in July. Lower them for a harsher winter server.
wetnessWeightModifiers: how much heavier clothing gets at each wetness level, from dry to soaked.

What is boatDecayMultiplier?

VehicleData has one key, boatDecayMultiplier, default 1. Higher numbers make boats decay faster, lower numbers slower. It helps keep boat counts under control on servers where players hoard them.

Common cfggameplay.json mistakes

Forgetting enableCfgGameplayFile = 1; The file is ignored and nothing you change matters.
Broken JSON. A trailing comma or missing quote can stop the file loading. Run it through a JSON validator before restarting.
Editing the wrong mission. Edit the folder named in your template line, not another map's.
Overwritten by an update. If you restore vanilla mission files after an update, your edits go with them. Back up your copy first.

Editing cfggameplay.json on GamezServers

Open the Files tab, go to mpmissions/<your mission>/cfggameplay.json and edit it in the browser. Press Backup first, make sure enableCfgGameplayFile = 1; is in serverDZ.cfg, then Restart. Loot is in a different file, covered in how to edit loot on a DayZ server. Plans and maps are on our DayZ hosting page.

FAQ

Why are my cfggameplay.json changes not working?

Most often enableCfgGameplayFile is still 0 in serverDZ.cfg, or the JSON has a syntax error. Also check you edited the mission folder your server actually loads.

Does cfggameplay.json need a restart?

Yes. The server reads it on start, so restart after every change.

How do I make bases indestructible in DayZ?

Set disableBaseDamage to true in GeneralData, and disableContainerDamage too if you want tents and barrels protected.

Can players see themselves on the map?

Yes, set displayPlayerPosition to true in MapData. Add ignoreMapOwnership if you want the map available without the item.

Does cfggameplay.json affect loot?

No. Loot and spawn rates live in types.xml and the other central economy files, not in cfggameplay.json.