How to Change the Difficulty on Your Killing Floor 2 Server
Learn how to change the difficulty level on your Killing Floor 2 server, from Normal to Hell on Earth, and adjust wave length.
Killing Floor 2 has four difficulty levels that dramatically change the gameplay experience. Higher difficulties increase Zed health, damage, spawn rates, and introduce new attack patterns. You can set the difficulty via config file, startup parameters, or admin commands.
Difficulty Levels
| Level | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | 0 | Standard difficulty. Zeds have base health and damage. Recommended for new players and casual play. |
| Hard | 1 | Increased Zed health and damage. Zeds move faster and are more aggressive. Good for experienced players. |
| Suicidal | 2 | Significantly harder. Zeds have enhanced attacks, faster movement, and some gain new abilities. Teamwork is essential. |
| Hell on Earth | 3 | The hardest difficulty. Zeds deal massive damage, have the most health, and use all available attack patterns. Only for highly coordinated teams. |
Changing Difficulty via Config
Open the XGamingServer panel
Log in to the XGamingServer panel and stop your Killing Floor 2 server.
Navigate to the config file
In the sidebar, go to Files and navigate to KFGame > Config. Open PCServer-KFGame.ini.
Set the difficulty
Find the [KFGame.KFGameInfo] section and change the GameDifficulty value:
[KFGame.KFGameInfo]
GameDifficulty=2Save and restart
Click Save and start your server.
Changing Difficulty via Startup Parameters
You can also set the difficulty using startup parameters in the Startup tab on the XGamingServer panel:
KF-BurningParis?Difficulty=2?GameLength=2📝 Note: Startup parameters override config file values. If you set
?Difficulty=2in the startup line, it will take priority over theGameDifficultyvalue inPCServer-KFGame.ini.
Wave Length Settings
In addition to difficulty, you can control how many waves players must survive:
| Length | Value | Waves |
|---|---|---|
| Short | 0 | 4 waves + boss |
| Medium | 1 | 7 waves + boss |
| Long | 2 | 10 waves + boss |
Set the wave length in PCServer-KFGame.ini:
[KFGame.KFGameInfo]
GameLength=2Or via startup parameters:
KF-BurningParis?GameLength=2💡 Tip: For public servers, Medium length on Hard difficulty is the most popular combination. It provides a good challenge without being too long or too punishing. Short games on Suicidal or Hell on Earth are great for quick, intense sessions.
Difficulty and Zed Behavior
Here's a breakdown of how difficulty affects Zed behavior:
| Mechanic | Normal | Hard | Suicidal | Hell on Earth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zed Health | Base | +25% | +50% | +75% |
| Zed Damage | Base | +30% | +75% | +112.5% |
| Zed Speed | Slow | Moderate | Fast | Very Fast |
| Sprint Chance | Low | Medium | High | Very High |
| Special Attacks | Basic | Some | Most | All |
| Boss Health | Base | +20% | +50% | +65% |
📝 Note: These values are approximate and may vary between Killing Floor 2 updates. Tripwire regularly adjusts difficulty balancing.
Changing Difficulty In-Game
If you have admin access, you can change the difficulty through WebAdmin while the server is running. The change will take effect on the next map or wave start.
Recommended Difficulty Settings
| Audience | Difficulty | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New players | Normal (0) | Short (0) | Learn the basics without frustration |
| Casual groups | Hard (1) | Medium (1) | Good challenge, manageable length |
| Experienced teams | Suicidal (2) | Long (2) | Tests teamwork and perk knowledge |
| Hardcore players | Hell on Earth (3) | Long (2) | Maximum challenge, full commitment |
If you get stuck at any time, you can join our Discord.
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