Conan Exiles gives you hundreds of dials to tune your server’s feel — from a relaxed PvE build sanctuary to a hardcore PvP grind. This guide covers the settings that matter most, what each does, and how to change them.
Key settings & what they do
| Setting | Controls | Common change |
|---|---|---|
| Player XP Rate | Level speed | 2× for faster progression |
| Harvest Amount | Resources per gather | Raise for build servers |
| Thrall conversion speed | Wheel of Pain break time | Boost — vanilla is slow |
| Decay Time Multiplier | How long bases last unattended | 2.0 for casual servers |
| Day/Night cycle | Length of a full day | Tune to taste |
| Purge frequency & difficulty | NPC raid events | Down for relaxed, up for challenge |
| Server mode | PvE / PvP / PvE-Conflict | The core identity choice |
Progression & harvesting
- Player XP Rate Multiplier — how fast players level up.
- Harvest Amount Multiplier — resources per gather; raise it for a faster-building server.
- Item Spoil Rate & Crafting Time — how quickly food spoils and items craft.
- Thrall conversion & crafting speed — how fast the Wheel of Pain breaks thralls and how fast they craft.
Survival difficulty
- Stamina, Hunger & Thirst rates — how punishing survival is.
- Day/Night cycle speed — the length of a full day.
- Durability Multiplier — how fast gear and weapons wear out.
- Player & thrall damage multipliers — combat lethality.
Building decay
The building decay time multiplier controls how long unattended structures last before they can be demolished by anyone. Longer decay is friendlier for casual players; shorter decay keeps the map clear of abandoned bases. Pair it with the abandonment settings to manage server clutter — see our building & decay guide.
The Purge
The Purge is Conan’s NPC raid event — waves of enemies that attack player bases. Settings control how often it triggers, its difficulty, and the meter rate that builds toward a Purge. Tune it down for a relaxed server, or up for a genuine defensive challenge (and a chance to capture powerful named thralls).
Server mode: PvE, PvP or PvE-Conflict
One choice defines your community: PvE (no player damage), PvP (full combat any time), or PvE-Conflict (player and building damage only during set hours). Set building-damage windows so bases aren’t raided 24/7 on a PvP server.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between PvE, PvP and PvE-Conflict?
PvE has no player-vs-player damage; PvP allows full combat at all times; PvE-Conflict enables player and building damage only during set hours (e.g. evenings). PvE-Conflict is the popular middle ground — fights happen, but bases aren’t raidable 24/7.
What settings should I change first on a Conan server?
Harvest amount, XP rate and thrall conversion speed have the biggest day-one impact — vanilla gathering and thrall-breaking are slow. Then set your server mode (PvE/PvP/Conflict) and the decay multiplier to match how often your players log in.
How do I change Conan Exiles server settings?
In-game as admin, via SetServerSetting in the console, or by editing the server’s ini files. On a managed XGamingServer plan you change everything from the control panel — or generate a full config with our Conan Server Config tool.
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