Change PvP Settings on Your Terraria Server

By default every player on a TShock server decides for themselves whether to fight other players. If you want a PvP arena world, or a server where players can never hurt each other, one setting in the Server Settings tab does it.

This needs TShock, which is the default software. A tModLoader server has no PvP setting, so players there choose for themselves. Checked against TShock 6.2.1 (Terraria 1.4.5.8), October 2026.

Pick a PvP mode

1. Open the Server Settings tab and find the Gameplay section.
2. Set PvP to one of three choices:
   • Players choose: the default. Each player turns PvP on or off for themselves.
   • Always on: PvP is forced on for everyone.
   • Off: PvP is turned off for everyone.
3. Press Save changes in that section.
4. Restart the server from the Console tab. The tab reminds you that settings apply on the next start.

With Always on or Off, TShock refuses a player's attempt to flip their own PvP switch. With Players choose, TShock still ignores a second switch within 5 seconds of the first, which stops players flicking it back and forth in a fight.

A fourth mode for teams

TShock 6.2.1 also understands the value pvpwithnoteam. TShock describes it as "PvP is forced on, but only for players who are not on a team." The PvP dropdown only lists the three modes above, so set this one in the file:

1. Open the File Manager and go into the tshock folder.
2. Select config.json and press Edit.
3. Find the "PvPMode" line and change its value to "pvpwithnoteam". Keep the quotation marks and keep it lowercase.
4. Press Save and restart the server.

Back up first if you are unsure: the File Manager guide explains editing and saving, and creating and restoring backups covers the safety net.

Invisibility in PvP

TShock has one more PvP setting that isn't in the tab, DisableInvisPvP. TShock's documentation says it "disables the effect of invisibility potions while PvP is enabled by turning the player visible to the other clients". Change it in tshock/config.json the same way, from false to true, if invisible players are ruining your arena.

If PvP doesn't change

• Save changes only writes the file. TShock reads it when the server starts, so restart from the Console tab.
• The tab can't open until the server has started once, because TShock writes its settings file on the first start.
• A mode you typed into config.json by hand must be spelled exactly: normal, always, pvpwithnoteam or disabled.

For keeping order beyond PvP, the Players tab has Kick and Ban buttons, explained in Terraria TShock admin commands and groups.