Enshrouded configures the dedicated server through a single JSON file: enshrouded_server.json. It gets generated the first time the server starts, and you can edit it while the server is off. This guide covers every setting in that file and what it actually does to gameplay.
The Config File
On a default install, the file lives in the server's root directory. Its structure looks like this after first launch:
{
"name": "My Enshrouded Server",
"password": "",
"saveDirectory": "./savegame",
"logDirectory": "./logs",
"ip": "0.0.0.0",
"gamePort": 15636,
"queryPort": 15637,
"slotCount": 16,
"gameSettingsPreset": "Default",
"gameSettings": {}
}
Most of the interesting stuff goes inside gameSettings.
Server Identity Settings
name: the server name as it appears in the browser. Keep it descriptive. Players filter by name, so something like "EU Relaxed PvE 16 slots" is more useful than "Dave's server".
password: leave empty for a public server. Set a string to make it private. Players need the password to connect.
slotCount: maximum players, up to 16. This is a hard engine limit. Setting it above 16 does nothing.
ip: bind address. On most setups, leave this as 0.0.0.0 to listen on all interfaces.
Ports
gamePort (default 15636): the main game traffic port. UDP.
queryPort (default 15637): used by the server browser to display your server. UDP.
If you run multiple Enshrouded instances on one machine, offset both ports per instance.
Directories
saveDirectory: where world saves are stored. Default is ./savegame relative to the server binary. Point this to a persistent location and back it up.
logDirectory: server logs. Useful for debugging crashes or checking who connected when.
Game Settings Presets
The gameSettingsPreset field selects a difficulty template. Keen Games ships several:
- Default: the baseline experience as designed.
- Relaxed: reduced enemy damage and aggression, longer Shroud timer, more forgiving stamina costs.
- Hard: enemies deal more damage, resources are scarcer, the Shroud is more punishing.
- Survival: the strictest preset. Dying has heavier consequences and resources are tight.
- Custom: if you set any individual values inside
gameSettings, the preset changes to Custom automatically.
The preset is a starting point. Any value you override inside gameSettings takes priority over the preset's default for that value.
Game Settings Reference
These go inside the gameSettings object. All are optional. If you leave one out, it uses the preset's value for that setting.
Combat
playerHealthFactor (float, default 1.0): multiplier on player max health. Setting this to 1.5 gives players 50% more health. Affects all players equally.
playerDamageFactor (float, default 1.0): multiplier on damage players deal to enemies. Higher values make players stronger.
enemyDamageFactor (float, default 1.0): multiplier on damage enemies deal to players. Lower values make enemies weaker. On Relaxed this is below 1.0.
enemyHealthFactor (float, default 1.0): multiplier on enemy max health. Raising this makes fights longer.
enemyPerceptionRangeFactor (float, default 1.0): how far enemies detect players. Lowering it lets you get closer before triggering aggro.
Shroud
shroudTimeFactor (float, default 1.0): multiplier on how long players can stay inside the Shroud before the timer runs out. A value of 2.0 doubles the safe time. Useful for groups that want to explore Shroud areas without the pressure.
tombstoneMode (string): controls what happens to your items when you die. Options vary by preset, but the common ones are:
"AddBackpackMaterials": you keep equipped gear but drop materials in a backpack at the death location."KeepAll": you keep everything (Relaxed preset default).
Stamina and Movement
staminaCostFactor (float, default 1.0): multiplier on stamina costs for actions like attacking, dodging, gliding. Lower values let players act more before exhaustion.
Resources and Crafting
miningDamageFactor (float, default 1.0): how much damage tools deal to resource nodes. Higher values mean faster resource gathering. Setting this to 2.0 halves the hits needed to break a rock or tree.
plantGrowthSpeedFactor (float, default 1.0): how quickly crops and planted items grow. A value of 2.0 halves growth time.
resourceDropStackAmountFactor (float, default 1.0): multiplier on how many items drop from resource nodes. Setting this to 2.0 doubles the yield per node.
Building
aggroPoolAmountFactor (float, default 1.0): affects how quickly enemies become aggressive toward player structures during raids. Lower values reduce the frequency or intensity of building attacks.
pacifyAllEnemies (boolean, default false): when set to true, all enemies in the world become passive. They will not attack players or structures. Useful for building-focused servers where combat is not the point.
Day/Night Cycle
dayTimeDuration (integer): length of daytime in minutes.
nightTimeDuration (integer): length of nighttime in minutes.
Adjusting these changes the pace of the day/night cycle. Shorter nights make the game more relaxed. Longer days give builders more working light.
Example: Relaxed Building Server
A config for a group that wants to focus on building with minimal combat pressure:
{
"name": "Builders Paradise EU",
"password": "letmein",
"saveDirectory": "./savegame",
"logDirectory": "./logs",
"ip": "0.0.0.0",
"gamePort": 15636,
"queryPort": 15637,
"slotCount": 16,
"gameSettingsPreset": "Custom",
"gameSettings": {
"playerHealthFactor": 1.5,
"enemyDamageFactor": 0.5,
"enemyPerceptionRangeFactor": 0.5,
"shroudTimeFactor": 2.0,
"miningDamageFactor": 2.0,
"resourceDropStackAmountFactor": 2.0,
"plantGrowthSpeedFactor": 2.0,
"staminaCostFactor": 0.5,
"tombstoneMode": "KeepAll"
}
}
This halves enemy threat, doubles resource gathering, and gives players a generous Shroud timer. Players keep all items on death.
Example: Hard Survival Server
For groups that want a challenge:
{
"gameSettingsPreset": "Custom",
"gameSettings": {
"playerHealthFactor": 0.75,
"enemyDamageFactor": 1.5,
"enemyHealthFactor": 1.5,
"shroudTimeFactor": 0.7,
"miningDamageFactor": 0.75,
"resourceDropStackAmountFactor": 0.75,
"staminaCostFactor": 1.25,
"tombstoneMode": "AddBackpackMaterials"
}
}
Applying Changes
Edit the file while the server is stopped. Save and start the server for changes to take effect. There is no live reload. Changing game settings mid-session requires a restart.
World-level settings (resource rates, enemy difficulty) apply immediately to the world after restart. Settings that affect players (health, stamina) apply on their next login.
FAQ
Do settings affect existing world progress?
Settings like enemy difficulty and resource rates apply globally and immediately. They do not revert or undo any world progress. A resource node you already mined does not come back because you changed miningDamageFactor.
Can I change settings without resetting the world? Yes. Settings and world data are separate. You can adjust difficulty, Shroud timer, or resource rates at any time without losing builds or progress.
What happens if I set slotCount above 16? Nothing useful. The engine caps at 16 concurrent players regardless of the config value.
Does the preset matter if I set everything manually?
The preset provides defaults for any setting you do not explicitly override. If you fill in every field inside gameSettings, the preset has no effect.
Related: Enshrouded dedicated server setup guide | Enshrouded hosting plans