Game rules (/gamerule) on a Minecraft server

In short: /gamerule <rule> <value> changes a rule, and without a value it shows the current one. Since 1.21.11 rule names use underscores: keepInventory became keep_inventory, doInsomnia became spawn_phantoms. On Paper each world has its own rules, so set the Nether and the End separately.

The /gamerule command#

The command needs operator level 2: run it from the server console or in chat as an operator. On Paper its permission is minecraft.command.gamerule, so you can give it to a moderator through a permissions plugin instead of OP — see LuckPerms. Arguments are case-sensitive in Java Edition.

gamerule keep_inventory          # show the value
gamerule keep_inventory true     # turn it on
gamerule players_sleeping_percentage 50

A rule is either a boolean (true or false) or a number. Changes apply at once, no restart needed. On Paper the command changes the rule of the world it runs in; from the console that's the main world. For other worlds use execute in:

execute in minecraft:the_nether run gamerule keep_inventory true
execute in minecraft:the_end run gamerule keep_inventory true

Since 1.21.11 the rules have new names#

In 1.21.11 Mojang moved game rules into a registry, and they all switched from camel case to lowercase names with underscores. Many were also renamed after their labels in the world creation menu, and a few had their value flipped: disableRaids became raids, so "raids on" is now true.

Game rules worth knowing on a server#

The rules servers change most are players_sleeping_percentage (so the night can be skipped without everyone online), spawn_phantoms, mob_griefing and command_block_output. Lobbies and minigames also freeze time and weather: advance_time false, advance_weather false. On a big world spectators_generate_chunks false helps: spectators stop generating new chunks — more on that load in pregenerating the world.

The vanilla server's movement checks#

Two rules are the server's built-in speed checks: player_movement_check (player speed) and elytra_movement_check (speed on elytra). Both are on by default. The Minecraft Wiki notes that turning the elytra check off often helps with jittering from lag, which is why owners sometimes disable them.

Know the consequence: without them the server no longer stops too-fast movement by itself, and stopping speed cheats is entirely the anticheat's job. Before you turn them off, make sure your anticheat catches these cheats:

Game rules and the anticheat#

Game rules set the conditions, not fair play. keep_inventory changes the stakes: when death costs nothing, fights happen more often. fall_damage false makes NoFall pointless, but no rule turns off KillAura or Reach — the fight still goes to whoever runs the cheat. DGuard — the best anticheat for a modern Minecraft server — catches cheats in combat, movement, packets, inventory, building and the world under any rules, gathers evidence without rushing to a verdict, and you set how strict the punishments are.

Game rules aren't the same as server rules for players: what's forbidden and how it's punished is your call, and it's worth writing down. The free rules generator helps.

FAQ#