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 6 settings that control PvP / PvE
| Setting | What it controls |
|---|---|
PVPEnabled | Master toggle for player-vs-player damage |
PVPBlitzServer | "Blitz mode" — faster everything for short-cycle PvP |
CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures | Whether players can damage other players' buildings |
PVPRestrictedTime | If true, PvP is only enabled during the scheduled window |
PVPRestrictedHourStart | Hour-of-day PvP turns ON (0-23) |
PVPRestrictedHourEnd | Hour-of-day PvP turns OFF |
Recipe: Pure PvE server
PVPEnabled=False CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures=False PVPRestrictedTime=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 PVPRestrictedTime=True PVPRestrictedHourStart=18 PVPRestrictedHourEnd=23
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 PVPRestrictedTime=False RaidTimeEnabled=True RaidTimeStart=18 RaidTimeEnd=23
Combat is always-on but you can only raid (damage other players' bases) during the 6-11 PM window. Standard for competitive PvP servers — keeps the kill-anywhere energy without letting raiders hit while everyone is asleep.
Recipe: Pure hardcore PvP (wipes monthly)
PVPEnabled=True CanDamagePlayerOwnedStructures=True PVPRestrictedTime=False RaidTimeEnabled=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 RaidTimeEnabled differs from PVPRestrictedTime
Two distinct timers do similar-sounding things:
PVPRestrictedTimeturns player combat on/off by hour. Outside the window, you cannot damage other players at all.RaidTimeEnabled + RaidTimeStart/Endturns building damage on/off by hour. Outside the raid window, players can still kill each other but cannot damage structures.
Most competitive servers use only RaidTimeEnabled (PvP always on, raids restricted). Most casual-leaning communities use PVPRestrictedTime (PvP itself is restricted).
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?
No — ServerSettings.ini changes require a server restart. Plan switches around announced restart windows.
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.