Palworld Server Settings Guide: PalWorldSettings.ini Explained

MANAfuel Team

6 min readMay 27, 2026Updated May 2026

Palworld server settings configuration in MANAfuel File Manager

Configure your Palworld server with the complete PalWorldSettings.ini reference — XP rates, Pal capture rates, damage multipliers, and death penalties.

Open PalWorldSettings.ini
Navigate to your Palworld server in the MANAfuel dashboard and open the File Manager tab. Find PalWorldSettings.ini in the Pal/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/ directory. Click to edit inline. The file contains a single long OptionSettings line with all configurable parameters in a comma-separated format. Each parameter uses a Name=Value pattern.
Adjust XP and Progression Rates
Control progression speed with ExpRate (default 1.0 — set to 2.0 for double XP), PalCaptureRate (default 1.0 — higher values make catching Pals easier), and PalSpawnNumRate (default 1.0 — controls wild Pal density). For casual servers, set ExpRate to 2.0 and PalCaptureRate to 1.5. For competitive servers, keep defaults or reduce PalCaptureRate to 0.8 for a more challenging catch experience.
Configure Combat and Damage
Adjust difficulty with PlayerDamageRateAttack (damage players deal), PlayerDamageRateDefense (damage players receive — lower is tankier), PalDamageRateAttack and PalDamageRateDefense (same for Pals), and CollectionDropRate (resource gathering multiplier). For PvE with friends, increase PlayerDamageRateAttack to 1.5 and decrease PlayerDamageRateDefense to 0.8 for a power-fantasy feel.
Set Death and Loss Penalties
DeathPenalty controls what happens when a player dies: None, Item (drop inventory), ItemAndEquipment (drop everything), or All. For casual co-op, set DeathPenalty=None to remove frustration. For survival-focused servers, ItemAndEquipment creates meaningful stakes. Configure bDropItemInsteadOfDestruct=True to make dropped items recoverable rather than destroyed.
Configure Base Building
Control base limits with BaseCampMaxNum (max bases per player), BaseCampWorkerMaxNum (max Pals working at a base), and BuildObjectDeteriorationDamageRate (structure decay speed — set to 0 to disable decay). For creative builders, increase BaseCampMaxNum to 5 and BuildObjectDeteriorationDamageRate to 0. For survival realism, keep defaults with moderate decay.
Apply and Test
Save PalWorldSettings.ini in the File Manager and restart your server. All settings take effect on the next boot. Join and verify by checking XP gains, catching a Pal, and testing combat damage. Bob monitors your server for config parsing errors — if a parameter name is misspelled, the server may silently use the default value. Bob flags these silent resets in your notifications.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I change settings without wiping the world?

Yes. All PalWorldSettings.ini changes apply to the existing world on restart. Player progress, bases, and captured Pals are preserved. Difficulty changes take effect immediately for all players.

What are the most popular multiplayer server settings?

Most casual PvE servers use ExpRate 2.0, PalCaptureRate 1.5, CollectionDropRate 2.0, and DeathPenalty None. PvP servers typically use default rates with higher PalDamageRateAttack and the ItemAndEquipment death penalty for meaningful combat stakes.

Where do I find the full list of configurable settings?

The Palworld wiki maintains the complete PalWorldSettings.ini reference. Every parameter has a default value and valid range. The MANAfuel File Manager shows the current config — compare your values against the wiki defaults to understand what you have changed.

Troubleshooting