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”. |
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.
Related articles
How to create a Skyrim Together server
The Skyrim Together Reborn mod introduces multiplayer capabilities to the captivating realm of Skyrim. By creating and hosting your own Skyrim Together server, you can relish in the online multiplayer game at your convenience, free from concerns about performance, availability, and more. Let’s explore how the setup process works and what hardware requirements are necessary for a server utilizing…
DayZ server: How to host your own DayZ server
Hardly any other survival game gives the player as much freedom in terms of decisions as the zombie-survival-title DayZ. Team player or lone wolf - the choice is entirely up to the user. If you want to play together with friends and have control over mods, world and play style, you should run your own DayZ server. We will teach you how to host a DayZ server - step by step.
How to host your own Space Engineers Server
The space simulation Space Engineers is one of the most popular representatives of the genre. If you want to let off steam in the versatile worlds together with friends and acquaintances, the best way to do this is on your own Space Engineers Server. We have summarized the most important information about Space Engineers server hosting, configuration, and deployment (including step-by-step…
How to use Valheim admin commands
The server commands for the survival game Valheim offer so many possibilities when configuring your server. They allow you to customize the game world exactly how you want it to be. The Valheim admin commands can make the game much easier by providing you with extra abilities and items. We’ll give you an overview of the most important admin and server commands in Valheim.
How to host a The Isle Evrima server in 10 simple steps
With The Isle Evrima, your only option is multiplayer mode. By hosting your own The Isle Evrima server, you’ll be able to tailor the game so you can play it exactly how you want. In this article, you’ll find out which server types are suitable for hosting the gaming server and how to set it up using the command line in Linux.
