Valheim dedicated server world modifiers: A complete guide

Valheim’s world modifiers give you complete control over how the game plays, without any mods or complicated workarounds. Whether you want ultra-difficult permadeath rules or a zero-stress creative building experience, you can tweak it all with a few simple settings.

If you’re renting a dedicated game server from a hosting provider, adding and customizing these modifiers is straightforward. Here’s how they work and how to set them up for your world.

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What world modifiers do in Valheim

Valheim world modifiers adjust core game systems globally across your server. They don’t change terrain generation, but they do affect combat, crafting, death penalties, stamina recovery, building rules, and even the in-game UI.

These are official, built-in options—no mods required. You can combine multiple modifiers to fine-tune your experience, whether you’re playing casually with friends or running a hardcore survival gauntlet for your community.

Modifier categories and what they change

Valheim’s world modifiers fall into three broad categories. You can toggle any number of them together when starting your world or configuring your server.

1. Difficulty and survival

easy: Enemies are weaker and less aggressive
hard: Enemies are stronger and more tactical
hardcore: No respawning—death means character deletion

2. Progression and accessibility

casual: Reduced penalties on death, cheaper upgrades
nomap: Disables minimap and location sharing
hammermode: All buildings are free to place, no mats needed

3. Special game modes

creative: God mode enabled with unlimited build freedom
adventure: Focuses on exploration rather than survival
immersive: Disables UI elements for a more realistic experience

Modifiers are stackable. Want creative god mode without a map? Combine creative and nomap. Want to host a hellish permadeath challenge? Try hardcore, hard, and nomap together.

How to add modifiers on a rented dedicated server

You can set world modifiers using either launch parameters (command line flags) or a configuration file. Most Valheim dedicated hosting providers support both, but your control panel layout may vary.

Option 1: Use launch parameters in your host’s control panel

If your Valheim hosting provider exposes startup arguments:

Log in to your hosting control panel
Open the server settings or startup parameters section
Look for a field like Additional Parameters or Custom Launch Options
Add the modifier flag:
-worldmodifier=hardcore,nomap,hammermode
Save changes and restart the server

Make sure the modifier list is lowercase and comma-separated, with no spaces.

Option 2: Edit worldconfig.json in your server files

If you have file access via SFTP or a built-in file manager:

Navigate to the directory where your world save is stored (typically /.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local/)
Create or edit a file called worldconfig.json
Add the following:
{
“worldModifiers”: [“hardcore”, “nomap”, “hammermode”]
}
Save the file and restart your server

This method is more persistent and easier to manage if you’re editing server files directly.

Where modifiers are saved (and how to change them)

Once applied, world modifiers are saved to the world file and tied to that specific world name and seed. You can’t remove or change modifiers mid-session. Instead, you need to:

Shut down the server
Edit worldconfig.json or launch parameters
Restart the server

Alternatively, you can start a new world with the same seed but different modifiers if you want to preserve terrain but reset rules.

Example modifier setups for different server types

Here are a few practical combinations you might want to use depending on the kind of experience you’re offering:

Chill exploration server

-worldmodifier=casual,adventure

Minimal death penalties
Easier upgrades and progression
Less hostile environment

Hardcore survival challenge

-worldmodifier=hardcore,hard,nomap

Permanent death
Aggressive enemies
No map crutches

Creative community build server

-worldmodifier=creative,hammermode,casual

God mode and unlimited building
Safe environment for collaboration
Ideal for showcasing big builds

Important notes for server admins

Before you flip the switch, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Modifiers affect everyone: They apply to the entire world, not individual players
Some are permanent: hardcore deletes characters permanently—use with care.
Mods and plugins still work: You can combine these with BepInEx or other server mods.
Reusing a world seed is fine: Modifiers don’t change terrain or biome layout.

If you’re managing a public server or a paid community, it’s worth polling your players before locking in the rules. There’s no in-game way to switch modifiers without wiping the world.

Next steps for Valheim dedicated server world modifiers

World modifiers let you shape Valheim into whatever kind of server experience you want—from relaxing creative builds to full-blown hardcore survival.

Start by deciding on your server’s theme or player goals. Then, apply your modifiers through launch parameters or worldconfig.json, restart the server, and you’re ready to go.

If you need a dedicated gaming server, Liquid Web has just what you need. Our dedicated servers are highly customizable, come with DDOS protection for gaming, and provide a 100% power and network uptime guarantee. Get in touch with us today, and we will help you set it up.

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