How to Make a Project Zomboid PvP Server (Safety, Safehouses, Factions)

Q: How do I turn on PvP in Project Zomboid multiplayer?

PvP is on by default with PVP=true in the server ini. If players still cannot hurt each other, they have PvP safety on, so set SafetySystem=false to force PvP for everyone.

Q: Can I stop offline raiding on a Project Zomboid server?

Yes. Set PlayerSafehouse=true and DisableSafehouseWhenPlayerConnected=true, so safehouses are protected while all their members are offline.

To make a Project Zomboid PvP server, stop the server and edit its ini (Zomboid/Server/servertest.ini by default): keep PVP=true, set SafetySystem=false if you want PvP forced on everyone, raise PVPMeleeDamageModifier (default 30) and PVPFirearmDamageModifier (default 50), then set the safehouse lines (PlayerSafehouse, SafehouseAllowTrepass, SafehouseAllowLoot, DisableSafehouseWhenPlayerConnected) and Faction=true. All of these apply to an existing world on the next start.

What you can change on an existing world vs what needs a new one

Setting	Existing world?	Where
PVP on or off, safety system, PvP damage	Yes, next start	Server ini
Safehouse and faction rules	Yes, next start	Server ini
Death announcements, name tags	Yes, next start	Server ini
Zombie population, loot, XP, utilities shutoff	Not by editing the file alone, they are stored in the save	`_SandboxVars.lua`
Switching between Build 41 and Build 42	No, saves do not move between builds	Server type

Project Zomboid town street with a horde of zombies burning at an intersection

The PvP settings, key by key

Key	Default	What it does	PvP server value
`PVP`	true	Players can damage each other	true
`SafetySystem`	true	Each player can toggle a PvP safety that makes them unhittable	false for full PvP, true for opt in PvP
`ShowSafety`	true	Shows a skull over players who have PvP on	true
`SafetyToggleTimer`	2	Seconds to switch safety on or off	10 or more, so nobody escapes mid fight
`SafetyCooldownTimer`	3	Seconds before safety can be toggled again	60 or more
`PVPMeleeDamageModifier`	30.0	Melee damage between players, as a percentage	50 to 100
`PVPFirearmDamageModifier`	50.0	Gun damage between players, as a percentage	75 to 100
`PVPMeleeWhileHitReaction`	false	Lets players swing back while staggered by a hit	true for faster fights
`AnnounceDeath`	false	Announces player deaths to everyone	true
`DisplayUserName`	true	Shows names above players	true, or false for hardcore
`MouseOverToSeeDisplayName`	true	Names only show when you hover	true
`HidePlayersBehindYou`	true	Players outside your view cone are hidden	true

The gotcha: PVP=true is already the default

New server owners set PVP=true, join with a friend, and find they cannot hurt each other. PvP was never off. Two other defaults are in the way:

SafetySystem=true. Every player has a safety toggle, and with safety on they cannot be hurt by other players. Many players never notice the toggle exists. Set SafetySystem=false and PvP is always on for everyone, or keep it and raise the timers so it cannot be flicked on in the middle of a fight.
The damage modifiers. Player melee damage is cut to 30% and gun damage to 50% by default. A shotgun blast that would kill a zombie leaves a player standing. Raise them if fights feel like pillow fights.

Step 1: Find the server ini

The ini is named after the server, in the Server folder of the server's Zomboid folder:

Setup	File
Self hosted, default name	`Zomboid/Server/servertest.ini`
Started with `-servername myserver`	`Zomboid/Server/myserver.ini`
GamezServers	`.cache/Server/GamezServers.ini` (named after the Save name setting)

Step 2: Back up and stop the server

Take a backup of the world and the ini. Then stop the server with quit. The server rewrites its ini on start and shutdown, so an edit made while it runs can be thrown away.

Step 3: Set the PvP lines

PVP=true
SafetySystem=false
ShowSafety=true
PVPMeleeDamageModifier=60.0
PVPFirearmDamageModifier=80.0
PVPMeleeWhileHitReaction=true
AnnounceDeath=true

For an opt in server, where players choose when to fight, keep SafetySystem=true and set SafetyToggleTimer=10 and SafetyCooldownTimer=60 instead.

Step 4: Set safehouse raid rules

Safehouses are the base claims of a PvP server. Players claim a house, and the rules decide whether outsiders can walk in, take things or burn it.

PlayerSafehouse=true
AdminSafehouse=false
SafehouseAllowTrepass=false
SafehouseAllowLoot=false
SafehouseAllowFire=false
SafehouseAllowRespawn=false
SafehouseDaySurvivedToClaim=3
SafeHouseRemovalTime=144
DisableSafehouseWhenPlayerConnected=true

Key	What it does
`PlayerSafehouse`	Players can claim a safehouse
`SafehouseAllowTrepass`	Non members can walk in
`SafehouseAllowLoot`	Non members can take items
`SafehouseAllowFire`	Fire can damage the safehouse
`SafehouseDaySurvivedToClaim`	Days a character must survive before claiming, stops fresh spawns claiming everything
`SafeHouseRemovalTime`	Hours of owner inactivity before the claim is removed, 144 by default
`DisableSafehouseWhenPlayerConnected`	When true, the safehouse is a normal, raidable house while any member is online, and protected while all are offline

DisableSafehouseWhenPlayerConnected=true is the classic PvP compromise: bases can be raided, but only while their owners are on to defend them. With it false, safehouses are protected all the time, which suits PvP servers about fighting in the open rather than raiding.

Step 5: Turn on factions

Faction=true
FactionDaySurvivedToCreate=0
FactionPlayersRequiredForTag=1

Factions let groups show a tag and colour above their names, which makes friend or foe obvious at a distance. Raise FactionDaySurvivedToCreate to stop new characters making a faction on day one.

Step 6: Start and test

Start the server, join with a second player, and hit each other with something light. With ShowSafety=true, a skull above a player means they can be hurt. Check the console for errors if the ini did not load.

Common problems

Players cannot hurt each other with PVP=true: one of them has PvP safety on. Set SafetySystem=false, or tell players about the toggle.
Fights take forever: the damage modifiers are still 30 and 50. Raise them.
Settings went back after restart: you edited the ini while the server ran, or edited a file with a different name from the one the server loads.
Safehouses raided while everyone was offline: DisableSafehouseWhenPlayerConnected is false and trespass or loot is allowed. Set the safehouse lines above.
Zombie and loot changes did nothing: those are sandbox settings stored in the save, not ini settings. See how to change Project Zomboid sandbox settings on an existing world.

Running a PvP server on GamezServers

On a Project Zomboid server from GamezServers, edit .cache/Server/GamezServers.ini in the file manager with the server stopped, after a one click Backup. Our panel sets the ports, player limit, password, public listing, name, mods and map in that ini on every start, so change those in the panel. The PvP, safehouse and faction lines are yours to edit and stay as you leave them. For every other key, see best Project Zomboid server settings, and for moderation, Project Zomboid admin commands.

FAQ

How do I turn on PvP in Project Zomboid multiplayer?

PvP is on by default with PVP=true in the server ini. If players still cannot hurt each other, they have PvP safety on, so set SafetySystem=false to force PvP for everyone.

What does the skull icon mean in Project Zomboid?

It shows a player has their PvP safety off and can be attacked. It appears when ShowSafety=true.

Can I stop offline raiding on a Project Zomboid server?

Yes. Set PlayerSafehouse=true and DisableSafehouseWhenPlayerConnected=true, so safehouses are protected while all their members are offline.

Do PvP settings need a new world?

No. PvP, safehouse and faction settings are in the server ini and apply to the existing world on the next start.