# How to Enable Hardcore Mode on Your Minecraft Server (/docs/minecraft/hardcore-mode)



import { Tab, Tabs } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/tabs';
import { Step, Steps } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/steps';

Hardcore mode locks the difficulty to **Hard** and enables **permadeath** — when a player dies, they're switched to spectator mode permanently and cannot respawn.

What Hardcore Mode Does [#what-hardcore-mode-does]

| Behavior        | Effect                                                                            |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Difficulty**  | Locked to Hard (the `difficulty` setting is ignored)                              |
| **Death**       | Player switches to **Spectator mode** permanently                                 |
| **Respawn**     | Disabled — dead players watch the server but can't play                           |
| **Heart UI**    | Hardcore heart texture replaces normal hearts                                     |
| **Achievement** | Players can earn the "How Did We Get Here?" advancement under hardcore conditions |

Enable Hardcore Mode [#enable-hardcore-mode]

<Tabs items={['Via Startup (Recommended)', 'Via server.properties']}>
  <Tab value="Via Startup (Recommended)">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Open Startup [#open-startup]

        In the [XGamingServer Panel](https://panel.xgamingserver.com), click **Startup** in the sidebar.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Toggle Hardcore on [#toggle-hardcore-on]

        Find the **Hardcore** variable and set it to `true`.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Restart [#restart]

        Restart from **Console** to apply.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab value="Via server.properties">
    <Steps>
      <Step>
        Stop the server [#stop-the-server]
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Open server.properties [#open-serverproperties]

        Click **Files** and open `server.properties`.
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Set hardcore=true [#set-hardcoretrue]

        ```
        hardcore=true
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step>
        Save and start [#save-and-start]
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Allow Dead Players to Rejoin [#allow-dead-players-to-rejoin]

By default, dead players are stuck in spectator forever. To resurrect them as an admin:

```
gamemode survival PlayerName
```

This switches them back to survival mode. The hardcore "death" still happened — they just get a second chance.

For permanent resurrection (clean slate), delete their player data:

1. Stop the server
2. In **Files**, navigate to `world/playerdata/`
3. Delete the `.dat` file matching the player's UUID
4. Start the server — they spawn fresh next time they join

> **Warning:** Deleting player data wipes inventory, position, advancements, and stats. Use the `gamemode` command instead if you just want to revive them.

Hardcore Server Best Practices [#hardcore-server-best-practices]

| Practice                     | Why                                                                                      |
| ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Enable a whitelist**       | Hardcore is only fun with trusted players who take it seriously                          |
| **Use a permissions plugin** | Restrict who can revive others (otherwise OPs can trivially undo deaths)                 |
| **Backup regularly**         | Players will lobby hard to be restored after deaths — backups give you a way to "rewind" |
| **Set rules clearly**        | Decide upfront whether griefing/PvP counts as "real" deaths                              |
| **Consider Lifesteal**       | Add a Lifesteal plugin to make deaths transferable (kill someone = take their hearts)    |

Difficulty Override [#difficulty-override]

In Hardcore mode, the `difficulty` setting in `server.properties` is **ignored** and forced to `hard`. You can leave the value as-is or set it to `hard` for clarity.

Multiplayer Hardcore Variants [#multiplayer-hardcore-variants]

For more interesting hardcore gameplay, install one of these plugins:

| Plugin              | Mechanic                                                                    |
| ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Lifesteal SMP**   | Killing players gives you their hearts. Lose all hearts → banned for X days |
| **OneLife**         | Each player has one life. Death = banned permanently                        |
| **HardcoreManager** | Configurable death penalties (gamemode, ban, vanish)                        |

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Set Difficulty](/docs/minecraft/set-difficulty)
* [Server Properties](/docs/minecraft/server-properties)
* [OP Permissions](/docs/minecraft/op-permissions)
* [Reset Player Data](/docs/minecraft/reset-player-data)