Change the world modifiers of your Valheim server

World modifiers allow you to adapt your Valheim world to your group: more resources, harder combat, less restrictive portals, calmer raids or a lighter death penalty.

In this guide, we explain how to modify them directly in-game from the console, without restarting your server or touching files.

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Quick answer

World modifiers allow you to change the rules of your Valheim world: combat difficulty, resource rates, portals, death penalty, raid frequency, etc.

To change them directly in-game:

1. make sure your SteamID64 is present in adminlist.txt;
2. join your Valheim server;
3. press F5 to open the console;
4. type devcommands;
5. apply the desired setting with setworldmodifier parameter value

For example, to double resources: setworldmodifier resources muchmore

Before you start

To modify world modifiers from the game, you must be a server administrator.

Your SteamID64 must therefore be present in the adminlist.txt file.

If you want to do it via the nitroserv Manager, just click on the Configuration tab and paste it there:

If you don't know your SteamID64, the easiest way is to go to https://steamid.io/ and type your username: the site will give you all the related information 🙌

Once added, restart the server to make sure it's been taken into account.

Without it, you'll be able to open the console, but useful commands may not work: talking to a console that ignores you is rarely the best moment of a Valheim evening.

Enable the Valheim console

Once connected to your server:

1. press F5;
2. the console should open in-game;
3. type the following command: devcommands

Valheim then displays a message indicating that developer commands are enabled.

If the F5 key doesn't open the console, check that the console is enabled on the game side.

Right-clicking on Valheim in your Steam list will allow you to select Properties, and at the bottom of the General tab add the following launch option in Valheim's properties: -console

Modify a world modifier

The main command is:

setworldmodifier parameter value

You must replace:

• parameter with the type of setting to modify;
• value with the desired level.

For example, the command setworldmodifier resources muchmore greatly increases the resource rate.

Warning: impossible to reset a single modifier to "normal"

From the F5 console, you cannot reset a single modifier to normal mode with a command like setworldmodifier portals normal: this command simply doesn't work.

The only known way to return to normal values is to reset ALL world modifiers with setworldpreset default.

Warning: this command resets all modifiers set with setworldmodifier.

So if you only want to cancel one setting, for example portals, you must note the other modifiers you want to keep, then run a setworldpreset default, and then reapply the other settings manually.

It's to say the least counter-intuitive, but at least now you know before spending fifteen minutes trying normal, default, reset, then insulting an innocent portal.

Summary table of Valheim world modifiers

Desired effect	Command	Possible values / key	Example
Modify combat difficulty	setworldmodifier combat value	veryeasy, easy, hard, veryhard	setworldmodifier combat hard
Modify death penalty	setworldmodifier deathpenalty value	casual, veryeasy, easy, hard, hardcore	setworldmodifier deathpenalty casual
Modify resource rate	setworldmodifier resources value	muchless, less, more, muchmore, most	setworldmodifier resources muchmore
Modify raid frequency	setworldmodifier raids value	none, muchless, less, more, muchmore	setworldmodifier raids none
Modify portal rules	setworldmodifier portals value	casual, hard, veryhard	setworldmodifier portals casual
Build without material cost	setkey nobuildcost	enabled / disabled with removekey nobuildcost	setkey nobuildcost
Raids based on each player's progression	setkey playerevents	enabled / disabled with removekey playerevents	setkey playerevents
Make enemies passive	setkey passivemobs	enabled / disabled with removekey passivemobs	setkey passivemobs
Disable map and minimap	setkey nomap	enabled / disabled with removekey nomap	setkey nomap
Enable fire risks outside Ashlands	setkey fire	enabled / disabled with removekey fire	setkey fire

Details of different world modifiers

• Modify combat difficulty (combat)

To make combat easier: setworldmodifier combat veryeasy or setworldmodifier combat easy

To make combat harder: setworldmodifier combat hard or setworldmodifier combat veryhard

In practice:

Value	Player damage	Enemy damage	Enemy speed / size	Enemy evolution
veryeasy	125%	50%	90%	100%
easy	110%	75%	90%	100%
normal	100%	100%	100%	100%
hard	85%	150%	110%	120%
veryhard	70%	200%	120%	140%

In hard and veryhard, enemies also have a higher chance of appearing at high level: the Greydwarf that already disrespects you will do so with more conviction.

• Modify death penalty (deathpenalty)

To make death less punitive: setworldmodifier deathpenalty casual or setworldmodifier deathpenalty easy

To make death more severe: setworldmodifier deathpenalty hard or setworldmodifier deathpenalty hardcore

In practice:

Value	Equipped gear	Inventory	Skill loss
casual	kept	dropped	1%
veryeasy	dropped	dropped	1%
easy	dropped	dropped	2.5%
normal	dropped	dropped	5%
hard	dropped	destroyed	7.5%
hardcore	destroyed	destroyed	100%

The most comfortable setting for a server between friends is often setworldmodifier deathpenalty casual: it allows you to keep equipped gear on death, while maintaining a minimum punishment. Conversely, hardcore should be reserved for groups that like to suffer methodically.

• Increase or reduce resource rate (resources)

To increase resources obtained: setworldmodifier resources more

To increase them even more: setworldmodifier resources muchmore

To go to maximum: setworldmodifier resources most

In practice:

Value	Effect
muchless	about x0.5
less	about x0.75
normal	x1
more	about x1.5
muchmore	x2
most	x3

To know:

• Valheim often rounds up. A setting at x1.5 can therefore behave like x2 on quite a few drops.

• The resource rate doesn't apply to everything. It notably doesn't modify:

  • fish;
  • trophies;
  • boss drops.

So if you set resources most and a boss doesn't give you three times more loot, it's not a bug: it's Valheim being Valheim.

• Modify raid frequency (raids)

To disable classic raids: setworldmodifier raids none

To make them rarer: setworldmodifier raids less or setworldmodifier raids muchless

To make them more frequent: setworldmodifier raids more or setworldmodifier raids muchmore

In practice:

Value	Effect	Estimated interval	Raid chance
none	disables classic raids	-	-
muchless	much rarer raids	about 92 min	10%
less	rarer raids	about 69 min	13.33%
normal	normal frequency	about 46 min	20%
more	more frequent raids	about 28 min	33.33%
muchmore	much more frequent raids	about 14 min	66.67%

Warning: raids none greatly reduces classic events, but some night raids can still occur.

If your goal is to have a completely quiet server, keep this nuance in mind: raids none greatly calms the game, but doesn't necessarily transform Valheim into a 100% guaranteed cabin simulator without nasty surprises.

• Modify portal rules (portals)

To allow transport of metal and normally blocked items through portals: setworldmodifier portals casual

To make portals more restrictive: setworldmodifier portals hard

To completely disable portals: setworldmodifier portals veryhard

In practice:

Value	Effect
casual	almost everything can pass through portals, including ores and metals
normal	classic Valheim behavior
hard	portals don't work when a boss is active
veryhard	portals are disabled

The most requested setting is usually setworldmodifier portals casual, which avoids endless boat trips just to move iron, silver or copper.

Warning: even in casual, tamed animals don't pass through portals.

Understanding modifiers activated with setkey

Some settings don't go through setworldmodifier, but through setkey.

• To enable them: setkey keyname
• To disable them: removekey keyname

• Build without material cost (nobuildcost)

To enable free building: setkey nobuildcost

To disable it: removekey nobuildcost

In practice, building pieces no longer cost materials.

Warning: you still need to have discovered the recipes.

It's not a true complete creative mode, rather a "let's stop cutting 600 trees to make a proper roof" mode.

• Enable raids based on player progression (playerevents)

To enable raids by individual progression: setkey playerevents

To return to classic operation: removekey playerevents

In practice, raids are based on each player's progression, rather than only on bosses killed at the server level: rather useful on a server with players who don't all progress at the same pace.

Typical example: one player is just discovering the Dark Forest while another is already preparing their tax relocation to the Mistlands.

• Make enemies passive (passivemobs)

To make enemies passive: setkey passivemobs

To return to normal behavior: removekey passivemobs

In practice, enemies don't attack unless you provoke them.

It's useful for a chill server, construction or peaceful exploration.

• Disable the map (nomap)

To disable the map and minimap: setkey nomap

To re-enable them: removekey nomap

In practice, players no longer have access to the map or minimap.

It's a much harder setting than it seems: sure it's very nice for immersion but, unless you're playing as a couple after 20 years of marriage, it's much less so for finding the base after swearing that "don't worry, I know the way".

• Enable fire risks (fire)

To enable fire risks outside Ashlands: setkey fire

To disable them: removekey fire

In practice, wood can catch fire and spread it in the world, not just in the Ashlands.

Test it before enabling it on a large server, especially if your group built a wooden cathedral with zero home insurance.

Alternative: set modifiers at server launch

World modifiers can also be set at server launch with arguments like:

-preset
-modifier
-setkey

This method can be useful if you want to lock a configuration directly at server startup, without going through the in-game console. For a quick change between admins, the F5 console remains the simplest method.

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Need help?

If the console won't open, if your SteamID64 isn't being recognized or a modifier isn't applying correctly, we're available on our Discord or via our Twitter account!

You can also contact us directly via ticket from your manager.

Ok I understand everything, I'm getting my server right now