# How to Change Difficulty on Your Valheim Server (/docs/valheim/difficulty-presets)



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

Valheim has a built-in difficulty system with preset modes and granular per-category modifiers. Both are set via startup parameters.

Difficulty Presets [#difficulty-presets]

A preset is a single startup parameter that sets multiple modifiers at once.

```
-preset hardcore
```

| Preset      | What It Does                                                                                            |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `casual`    | Easy combat, no death penalty, abundant resources, all items through portals. **Best for first-timers** |
| `easy`      | Reduced combat damage, lighter death penalty                                                            |
| `default`   | Standard Valheim experience                                                                             |
| `hard`      | Tougher enemies, larger death penalty, fewer resources                                                  |
| `hardcore`  | **Permadeath** — character is deleted on death                                                          |
| `hammer`    | Casual + raids enabled. **Best for building servers**                                                   |
| `immersive` | Hard combat, restricted portals (no metals through portals)                                             |

Apply a Preset [#apply-a-preset]

<Steps>
  <Step>
    Open Startup [#open-startup]

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

    {/* Screenshot needed: Startup tab with Preset variable */}
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Set the preset [#set-the-preset]

    Find the **Preset** variable (maps to `-preset`) and enter your chosen preset name.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    Restart the server [#restart-the-server]

    Go to **Console** and restart.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Granular World Modifiers [#granular-world-modifiers]

Instead of (or alongside) a preset, you can set individual modifiers with `-modifier <type> <value>`:

| Modifier       | Values                                           | What It Affects                                    |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| `combat`       | `veryeasy`, `easy`, `hard`, `veryhard`           | Enemy damage and HP                                |
| `deathpenalty` | `casual`, `veryeasy`, `easy`, `hard`, `hardcore` | Skill loss / item drops on death                   |
| `portals`      | `casual`, `hard`, `veryhard`                     | Portal restrictions (which items can pass through) |
| `resources`    | `muchless`, `less`, `more`, `muchmore`, `most`   | Loot from gathering and chests                     |
| `raids`        | `none`, `muchless`, `less`, `more`, `muchmore`   | Frequency of base raids                            |

Combining Modifiers [#combining-modifiers]

You can stack multiple modifier flags in your startup. For example:

```
-modifier combat hard -modifier resources more -modifier raids less
```

This gives hard combat, more resources, and fewer raids — without using a full preset.

Mid-World Modifier Changes [#mid-world-modifier-changes]

You can change modifiers on an existing world by editing startup and restarting the server. Modifiers are applied each time the world loads — they're not baked into the world data.

> **Tip:** Combine `-preset hammer` with `-modifier combat veryeasy` for a building-focused server with relaxed combat but raids enabled to keep things interesting.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [World Modifiers](/docs/valheim/world-modifiers) — full reference for every modifier
* [Server Launch Parameters](/docs/valheim/server-launch-parameters)
* [Server Events and Raids](/docs/valheim/server-events-and-raids)