How to use ARK server commands

ARK: Survival Evolved is a multiplayer survival game. ARK server commands are essential when configuring your ARK server. These set the game and server rules, determine in-game communication and change game settings. We’ll show you which server commands you should know and how to save your configurations.

What are server commands in ARK: Survival Evolved?

You determine the rules for the multiplayer game ARK: Survival Evolved when you have your own ARK Dedicated Server. As a server administrator, you can configure your ARK server to your liking and choose the settings for game worlds and players. For example, you can decide to allow or disallow ARK cheats, if players are whitelisted, and which game features are used. The ARK server commands are useful if you’re setting up a new server, or performing reconfiguration and server migration.

How to use and save ARK server commands

It can take a lot of time and effort to configure your own server for ARK: Survival Evolved. Ensure your settings aren’t lost when shutting down your PC. Simply apply the server commands, and store and automate them in the GameUserSettings.ini file.

The GameUserSettings.ini file stores the server commands and reads them when the server starts. The file executes the configurations after restarting. Open the path ShooterGame\Saved\Config\WindowsServer\GameUserSettings.ini with a text editor to access the file.

Look for ServerSettings. You can enter one or several commands. Each command must be on a separate line. Save the file to execute the command(s) automatically every time you start the server.

Important server commands for ARK: Survival Evolved

The following overview presents the most important ARK server commands and their functions.

Server Command Function
ServerPVE Enables PVE and disables PVP, prevents players from killing each other.
ServerHardcore Activates hardcore mode, players drop to level 1 after each death.
ServerCrosshair Activates the crosshair function for targeting creatures and players.
ServerForceNoHUD Player names are no longer displayed above characters.
AltSaveDirectoryName Saves the server files in another folder.
GlobalVoiceChat Enables the global voice chat, so all participating players can hear each other.
ProximityChat Makes text chat possible for game players who are in close proximity to each other only.
NoTributeDownloads Prevents external downloads of game characters or dinos.
AllowThirdPartyPlayer Activates the third person view for players.
AlwaysNotifyPlayerLeft Enables notification when player leaves the server.
DontAlwaysNotifyPlayerJoined Disables notification when player joins the server.
MapPlayerLocation Activates the position indicator for your character on the map.
DifficultyOffset=[value] Adjusts the server’s difficulty level to the ‘value’ entered, for example 0 for normal or 1 for a difficulty level three times more difficult.
bDisableStructureDecayPVE Disables the automatic destruction timer for structures in PVE mode.
bAllowFlyerCarryPVE Flying creatures can also carry loads in PVE mode.
MaxStructuresInRange=[value] Defines the default minimum distance to the opponents’ structures can be defined in ‘value’.
EnablePVPGamma Adjusts gamma settings in PVP mode.
DisablePvEGamma=[true/false] Allows or disallows gamma settings from being adjusted in PVE mode with the values ‘true’ and ‘false’.
DayCycleSpeedScale=[value] Configures the speed of change in day/night.
NightTimeSpeedScale=[value] Configures the length of the night.
DayTimeSpeedScale=[value] Configures the length of the day.
DinoDamageMultiplier=[value] Determines the amount of damage to dinosaurs.
PlayerDamageMultiplier=[value] Determines the amount of damage to players.
StructureDamageMultiplier=[value] Determines the amount of damage to structures.
PlayerResistanceMultiplier=[value] Configures the game characters’ level of resistance values.
DinoResistanceMultiplier=[value] Configures the dinos’ level of resistance values.
StructureResistanceMultiplier=[value] Configures the structures’ level of resistance values.
TamingSpeedMultiplier=[value] Determines the time it takes for players to tame creatures.
XPMultiplier=[value]] Configures the multiplier of characters’ experience points.
HarvestAmountMultiplier=[value] Defines the harvest’s yield in the game.
PlayerCharacterWaterDrainMultiplier=[value] Increases or decreases the characters’ water consumption.
PlayerCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=[value] Increases or decreases the characters’ food consumption.
DinoCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=[value] Increases or decreases the dinos’ food consumption.
PlayerCharacterStaminaDrainMultiplier=[value] Configures the characters’ stamina.
DinoCharacterStaminaDrainMultiplier=[value] Configures the dinos’ endurance.
PlayerCharacterHealthRecoveryMultiplier=[value] Defines the time characters need to regenerate their health.
DinoCharacterHealthRecoveryMultiplier=[value] Defines the time dinos need to regenerate their health.
DinoCountMultiplier=[value] Determines the number of dinosaurs in the game.
HarvestHealthMultiplier=[value] Defines the amount of yield from a specific harvest.
PvEStructureDecayDestructionPeriod=[value] Defines the period after which decay occurs in PVE mode.
ClampResourceHarvestDamager=[true/false] Determines whether a creature’s damage in close combat affects its yield as a percentage when collecting items and resources.
ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier=[value] Defines the respawn of resources’ duration.
ResourceNoReplenishRadiusPlayers=[value] Defines the radius of the respawn of resources around characters.
ResourceNoReplenishRadiusStructures=[value] Defines the radius of the respawn of resources around structures.
KickIdlePlayersPeriod=[value] Defines the players’ permitted inactivity time before they are automatically disconnected from the ARK server. The default value for inactivity is 2400.
AutoSavePeriodMinutes=[value] Defines how often the sever status is automatically saved. The default interval is 15.
PvPZoneStructureDamageMultiplier=[value] Sets the amount of damage inflicted on structures and buildings near caves or at heights.
ActiveMods=[Mod-IDs] Allows the use of multiple mods on one server using Mod-ID.
MapModID=[MapModID] Defines the map that the server should use for the game using MapMod-ID.
GameModIds=[GameMod-IDs] Determines which mods should be active on which server using GameMod-ID.
MaxTamedDinos=[value] Determines the maximum number of dinos that can be tamed on the server. The default value is 4000.
SpectatorPassword=[password] Sets the password for spectator mode in the game.
AllowCaveBuildingPvE=[true/false] Determines whether structures can be built in caves with ‘true’ or ‘false’.
RCONEnabled=[true/false] Enables or disables the remote console on the server.
RCONPort=[port number] Defines the specific port through which the remote console can be reached.
BanListURL=[URL] Provides the unofficial ban list for the server.
bPvEDisableFriendlyFire=[true/false] Enables or disables the friendly fire function as needed. You can add the command in the Game.ini file in /script/shootergame.shootergamemode.
PvPStructureDecay=[true/false] Determines when structures and buildings start to decay after not being used.
DisableDinoDecayPvE=[true/false] Enables or disables the decay of dinosaurs after a certain time.
PvEDinoDecayPeriodMultiplier=[value] Sets the rate at which dinos decay.
AdminLogging=[true/false] Determines whether admin commands are recorded in a log file.
PerPlatformMaxStructuresMultiplier=[value] Determines the maximum number of structures allowed for each dynamic platform.
MaxPlatformSaddleStructureLimit=[value] Determines the maximum number of saddle platforms.
bRawSockets Enables ‘direct UDP sockets mode’ on a private ARK server.
IncreasePvPRespawnInterval=[true/false] Determines whether the respawn cooldown keeps increasing after dying multiple times in PVP battles. The value ‘true’ activates the increasing respawn cooldown.
IncreasePvPRespawnIntervalCheckPeriod=[value] Defines the time and interval for respawn cooldowns. You can define the waiting time in seconds in ‘value’. The default setting is 300.
IncreasePvPRespawnIntervalMultiplier=[value] Sets how much the respawn cooldown increases when a character dies multiple times. You can enter the multiplier for the length of time until a character is resurrected in ‘value’. The default value is 2.
IncreasePvPRespawnIntervalBaseAmount=[value] Defines the duration for the start of the respawn cooldown in ‘value’. 60 is the default setting.
AutoPvETimer=[true/false] Activates and deactivates the PVE/PVP switching system.
AutoPvEStartTimeSeconds=[value] Enables and disables the system time of a PVE/PVP switch system instead of the server time.
AutoPvEStopTimeSeconds=[value] Defines the PVP period duration in a PVE/PVP change system. You can define the duration in seconds from 0 to 86400 in ‘value’.
Tip

If you’re an administrator on your own server in the Minecraft universe, check out our list of the most important Minecraft Server Commands as well as how to manage a Minecraft server. We also have an overview of other games with dedicated servers, which offer practically unlimited game worlds like ARK: Survival Evolved.

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