Setting Up a Palworld Dedicated Server: Complete Guide

Palworld exploded onto the gaming scene as one of the fastest-selling games in Steam history. Often described as “Pokemon with guns,” it combines creature collection, base building, survival mechanics, and multiplayer cooperation into an addictive package. But if you’ve tried playing multiplayer through the built-in co-op mode, you’ve probably run into its limitations.

This guide explains why a dedicated server is worth it and walks you through setting one up.

Why a Dedicated Server Instead of Co-Op?

Palworld offers a built-in co-op mode where one player hosts and others join. It works, but it comes with significant limitations:

Co-Op Limitations

• Host must be online: When the host logs off, everyone gets disconnected. Your friends can only play when you’re playing.
• Player cap: Co-op mode supports a limited number of players, typically 4 in the same session.
• Performance tied to the host’s PC: The host is running both the game client and the server logic. With friends exploring different areas, this puts heavy strain on one machine.
• Distance tethering: In some co-op configurations, players are limited in how far apart they can be in the world.
• No persistent world: When the host isn’t playing, nothing happens. Bases don’t produce resources, Pals don’t work, and time doesn’t pass.

Dedicated Server Advantages

• Always online: The server runs 24/7 independently. Players join and leave whenever they want.
• Higher player count: Dedicated servers support up to 32 players (configurable).
• Better performance: Server resources are dedicated to running the game world, not split with a game client.
• No tethering: Players can explore freely across the entire map.
• Persistent world: Pals continue working at your base, resources accumulate, and the world ticks forward even when you’re offline.
• Full admin control: Configure every aspect of the game — experience rates, capture rates, damage modifiers, and more.

Server Requirements

Palworld’s dedicated server is moderately resource-intensive. Here’s what you need:

Players	RAM	CPU	Storage
1-4	4-6 GB	2+ cores	8 GB
4-8	6-8 GB	2+ cores	10 GB
8-16	8-12 GB	3+ cores	15 GB
16-32	12-16 GB	4+ cores	20 GB

Unlike Minecraft, Palworld actually benefits from multiple CPU cores. The server utilizes multithreading for physics, AI, and world simulation.

Storage grows over time as players explore and build. Start with at least 8GB and monitor usage.

Setting Up on a Hosting Provider

If you’re using a hosting provider like Witchly, the process is streamlined:

1. Create a new server: Select Palworld as the game type and choose a plan that matches your player count from the table above.

2. Initial startup: The server will download and install the Palworld dedicated server files automatically. First startup takes a few minutes while it generates the world.

3. Configure settings: Access the configuration through your hosting panel’s file manager or via SFTP. The main configuration file is PalWorldSettings.ini.

4. Share connection info: Give your friends the server IP and port. They’ll connect through Palworld’s multiplayer menu.

Key Configuration Settings

Palworld’s dedicated server is configured through PalWorldSettings.ini. Here are the most impactful settings and what they do:

Difficulty and Balance

Difficulty=None
DayTimeSpeedRate=1.000000
NightTimeSpeedRate=1.000000
ExpRate=1.000000
PalCaptureRate=1.000000
PalSpawnNumRate=1.000000
EnemyDropItemRate=1.000000

• ExpRate: Experience multiplier. Set to 2.0 for double XP if you want faster progression. For a small group of friends, 1.5-2.0 keeps things fun without trivializing progression.
• PalCaptureRate: Multiplier for capture chance. 1.0 is default. Increase if your group finds capturing too RNG-dependent.
• PalSpawnNumRate: How many Pals spawn in the world. Higher means more encounters but more server load. Keep at 1.0 unless you have performance headroom.

Combat Settings

PlayerDamageRateAttack=1.000000
PlayerDamageRateDefense=1.000000
PalDamageRateAttack=1.000000
PalDamageRateDefense=1.000000
PlayerStomachDecreaseRate=1.000000
PalStomachDecreaseRate=1.000000

• PlayerDamageRateAttack/Defense: Controls how much damage players deal and receive. For PvE servers, you might want to increase attack slightly (1.2-1.5) so combat feels more impactful.
• StomachDecreaseRate: How fast hunger depletes. Lower values (0.5) make food management less tedious for casual groups.

Base and Building

BaseCampMaxNum=128
BaseCampMaxNumInGuild=4
BaseCampWorkerMaxNum=15
BuildObjectDamageRate=1.000000
BuildObjectDeteriorationDamageRate=1.000000

• BaseCampMaxNumInGuild: How many bases a guild (group) can have. Default is conservative. Increase to 5-6 for groups who want multiple outposts.
• BaseCampWorkerMaxNum: Max Pals working at a single base. 15 is default. Going above 20 can cause performance issues as Pal AI is CPU-intensive.

Death Penalties

DeathPenalty=All
bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage=False
bEnableFriendlyFire=False

• DeathPenalty: Options are None, Item, ItemAndEquipment, and All. For a friends-only PvE server, None or Item keeps frustration low. All (lose items and Pals) is for hardcore groups only.
• bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage: Set to False for PvE, True for PvP servers.

Server Identity

ServerName="Your Server Name"
ServerDescription="A description for your server"
AdminPassword="your_admin_password"
ServerPassword="your_server_password"
MaxPlayers=16
PublicPort=8211
PublicIP=""

• ServerPassword: Set this if you want a private server. Leave empty for public.
• AdminPassword: Required to use admin commands in-game. Use a strong, unique password.
• MaxPlayers: Set to your actual expected player count, not the maximum possible. A 32-slot server with 4 players looks empty in the server browser.

Optimization for Friend Groups

If you’re running a server for a small group of friends (4-8 players), here are specific recommendations:

Recommended Settings for Casual Friend Groups

ExpRate=1.500000
PalCaptureRate=1.500000
PalSpawnNumRate=1.000000
DeathPenalty=Item
PlayerStomachDecreaseRate=0.500000
PalStomachDecreaseRate=0.500000
BaseCampMaxNumInGuild=5
BaseCampWorkerMaxNum=15
bEnablePlayerToPlayerDamage=False
bEnableFriendlyFire=False

This configuration:

• Speeds up progression slightly so part-time players don’t feel left behind
• Makes capturing more forgiving
• Reduces food management tedium
• Removes harsh death penalties
• Allows multiple bases per group
• Prevents friendly fire accidents

Recommended Settings for Hardcore Groups

ExpRate=1.000000
PalCaptureRate=0.800000
PalSpawnNumRate=1.200000
DeathPenalty=ItemAndEquipment
PlayerStomachDecreaseRate=1.000000
PalDamageRateAttack=1.200000
BaseCampMaxNumInGuild=3

This configuration:

• Keeps default progression speed
• Makes capturing harder (more strategy needed)
• Increases Pal encounters
• Punishing death penalties for stakes
• Pals hit harder, making combat more threatening

Admin Commands

Once connected to your server, open the chat and enter your admin password:

/AdminPassword your_admin_password

Useful admin commands:

/Shutdown {Seconds} {MessageText}  # Graceful shutdown with warning
/Save                               # Force save
/TeleportToPlayer {SteamID}         # Teleport to a player
/KickPlayer {SteamID}               # Kick a player
/BanPlayer {SteamID}                # Ban a player
/Broadcast {MessageText}            # Server-wide message

Keeping Your Server Updated

Palworld receives regular updates that often require server updates too. When an update drops:

1. Save and shut down your server gracefully
2. Update the server files (most hosting panels have an “Update” button)
3. Back up your save data before starting with new files
4. Restart and test

Major updates occasionally change the save format or configuration structure. Always back up before updating, and check the Palworld community forums or patch notes for any migration steps.

Backup Strategy

Your world save is the most important thing on the server. Protect it:

• Automated daily backups: Configure your host to back up save data daily. On Witchly, automated backups are included.
• Pre-update manual backups: Always create a manual backup before applying game updates.
• Off-server copies: Periodically download a backup to your local machine via SFTP. If something catastrophic happens to the server, you still have your world.

Save data is located in the Pal/Saved/ directory. The key folders are SaveGames/ (world data) and the configuration files.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Players Can’t Connect

• Verify the server is running and fully started (check logs for “started” message)
• Confirm the correct IP and port
• Check that the server password is entered correctly
• Ensure the game version matches between client and server

Server Lag or Low FPS

• Reduce PalSpawnNumRate if too many Pals are causing lag
• Lower BaseCampWorkerMaxNum — Pal AI at bases is CPU-intensive
• Check your resource usage dashboard. If RAM is maxed, upgrade your plan
• Restart the server if it’s been running for several days without a restart

Frequent Crashes

• Check server logs for error messages
• Ensure you’re running the latest server version
• Verify your server has enough RAM (crashes during autosave often indicate insufficient memory)
• Report persistent crashes with logs to Palworld’s community bug tracker

Getting Started

If you’re ready to set up a Palworld dedicated server, Witchly offers Palworld hosting with dedicated resources, automated backups, and a management panel that handles installation and updates. Sign up at Dashboard and deploy a free server instantly — no payment needed. Upgrade to Elite when you want dedicated hardware.

The dedicated server setup takes about 10 minutes, and the difference over co-op mode — especially for groups that play at different times — is transformative. A persistent world where your Pals are always working, your base is always accessible, and your friends can jump in anytime is what makes Palworld’s multiplayer shine.