Conan Exiles PvP, PvE, and PvP-Conflict Settings (2026)
Conan Exiles supports four common server modes out of the box: pure PvP, pure PvE, PvE-Conflict (PvP at scheduled times only), and PvP with raid windows. The mode is set by a handful of switches in ServerSettings.ini; this guide gives you the exact values for each mode.
Need the full ServerSettings.ini reference? See the Conan Exiles configuration guide.
The 4 server modes at a glance
| Mode | Player vs Player | Building Damage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure PvE | Disabled | Disabled | RP, casual, building showcase servers |
| PvE-Conflict | Scheduled windows only | Disabled or scheduled | Casual PvP curiosity, mostly cooperative communities |
| PvP with raid windows | Always on | Scheduled windows only | Most competitive servers; kill anytime, raid evenings only |
| Pure PvP | Always on | Always on | Hardcore wipe-friendly servers |
The settings that control PvP / PvE
| Setting | What it controls |
|---|---|
PVPEnabled | Master toggle for player-vs-player damage |
RestrictPVPTime | If True, PvP only happens inside each day's window |
PVPEnabledMonday to PVPEnabledSunday | Which days have a PvP window |
PVPTimeMondayStart / PVPTimeMondayEnd, one pair per day | That day's window, written as HHMM (1800 is 6 pm) |
CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures | Whether players can damage other players' buildings |
RestrictPVPBuildingDamageTime | If True, building damage only happens inside each day's raid window |
PVPBuildingDamageEnabledMonday and PVPBuildingDamageTimeMondayStart / End, one set per day | The raid windows, per day, as HHMM |
Known issues in Patch 3.0.0 (6 October 2026): Funcom list two that touch these rules. Golems set to guard take no damage on a PvP server when PvP building damage is off, and the Everybody Can Loot Corpse option is always on, so any player can loot a corpse whatever the server is set to. Both are game bugs that wait on a Funcom patch.
Recipe: Pure PvE server
PVPEnabled=False CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures=False RestrictPVPTime=False
Players cannot damage each other or each other's bases. Common for RP communities and family/friends servers. Combine with PvE-grind multipliers for the relaxed feel.
Recipe: PvE-Conflict (scheduled PvP)
PVPEnabled=True CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures=False RestrictPVPTime=True PVPEnabledMonday=True PVPTimeMondayStart=1800 PVPTimeMondayEnd=2300 ; repeat the three Monday lines for Tuesday to Sunday
Players can fight each other from 6 PM to 11 PM server local time. Buildings stay protected. Good middle ground: people who want PvP get an evening of it without bases being raided overnight.
Recipe: PvP with raid windows (most competitive servers)
PVPEnabled=True CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures=True RestrictPVPTime=False RestrictPVPBuildingDamageTime=True PVPBuildingDamageEnabledMonday=True PVPBuildingDamageTimeMondayStart=1800 PVPBuildingDamageTimeMondayEnd=2300 ; repeat the three Monday lines for Tuesday to Sunday
Combat is always-on but you can only raid (damage other players' bases) during the 6-11 PM window. Standard for competitive PvP servers: it keeps the kill-anywhere energy without letting raiders hit while everyone is asleep.
Recipe: Pure hardcore PvP (wipes monthly)
PVPEnabled=True CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures=True RestrictPVPTime=False RestrictPVPBuildingDamageTime=False StructureDamageMultiplier=2.0
No restrictions. Bases can be raided at any time. Higher building damage so wipes happen quickly. Match with regular server wipes to keep the meta fresh; see server wipe guide.
How RestrictPVPBuildingDamageTime differs from RestrictPVPTime
Two distinct schedules do similar-sounding things:
RestrictPVPTimewith thePVPTime<Day>windows turns player combat on and off by time of day. Outside the window, you cannot damage other players at all.RestrictPVPBuildingDamageTimewith thePVPBuildingDamageTime<Day>windows turns building damage on and off. Outside the raid window, players can still kill each other but cannot damage structures.
Most competitive servers use only the building damage schedule (PvP always on, raids restricted). Most casual-leaning communities restrict PvP itself.
Clan and offline-raid considerations
Even with raid windows, "offline raiding" is still common: raiders just wait for raid hour to start. To mitigate:
- Use a longer raid window (4-6 hours) so people can defend on different timezones.
- Set raid window during your community's peak online hours.
- Use clan warfare config to scale damage up or down based on online clan members (with mods like Pippi).
- Combine with high
StructureDamageMultiplieroutside raid hours to discourage griefing.
Common Questions
Can I change PvP mode mid-server without restarting?
Not by editing the file: ServerSettings.ini edits need a restart. Over RCON you can change a setting on the running server with SetServerSetting PVPEnabled False, then confirm it with GetServerSetting PVPEnabled, because SetServerSetting replies the same way whether or not the value was accepted. Announce the switch either way.
Do raid windows respect daylight saving time?
The server uses its own local time, not players' time. If your server is hosted in UTC, raid windows are UTC. Plan for the timezone your players actually live in.
Can I have different PvP rules per region of the map?
Not vanilla. The Pippi mod adds zone-based PvP toggles (PvE-only safe zones, PvP-arena zones, etc.).
What about purges: do raid windows affect them?
No. Purges (NPC raids triggered by progression milestones) happen regardless of raid window settings. See the purge guide for those settings.
Want raid windows + PvP mode as panel toggles? Rent a Conan Exiles server with Supercraft: all PvP/raid settings exposed in the panel.