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Securing Your Survival Creations

A primary challenge for any public survival community is safeguarding player architecture and resources from malicious griefers. GriefPrevention is the industry-standard solution for land protection, offering an intuitive, visual claiming system that requires no complex coordinate input. By using the iconic “Golden Shovel” mechanic, players can define their own territory, manage trust levels for friends, and ensure their progress is preserved in a secure environment.

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

6 Minutes

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The Golden Shovel Mechanic

GriefPrevention uses physical interactions to define territorial boundaries, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.
1

Initialize the Tool

Acquire a Golden Shovel. By default, the plugin can be configured to provide this to new players automatically upon their first join.
2

Set Anchor Point A

Right-click the ground at the first corner of your intended claim. A diamond block (visual only) will appear to mark the anchor.
3

Set Anchor Point B

Right-click the ground at the opposite diagonal corner.
4

Verification

If you possess sufficient Claim Blocks, the area will be enclosed by gold and glowstone markers, indicating that your territory is now protected.

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Earning Territorial Expansion

To prevent a single player from instantly dominating the map, GriefPrevention uses a time-based economy for land ownership.
  • Accumulation: Players earn “Claim Blocks” simply by remaining active on the server (the standard default is 100 blocks per hour).
  • Bonus Blocks: As a server administrator, you can reward dedicated community members or donors with one-time block grants using the /adjustbonusclaimblocks command.

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Collaborative Permissions (Trust)

Survivors can grant granular access levels to their friends or faction members within their claimed zone using these standardized commands.
CommandPermission LevelTechnical Access
/trustFull AccessBuilding, breaking, and container interaction.
/containerTrustUtility AccessOpening chests, furnaces, and use craft benches.
/accessTrustButton AccessOpening doors, using levers, and interacting with buttons.
/untrustRevokeRemoves all previously granted permissions instantly.

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Administrative Oversight

Server staff possess overriding authority to manage and audit all world claims.
Use /ignoreclaims to enter a technical “Overdrive” mode. This allows staff members to edit, build, or investigate any claim on the server regardless of trust levels.
use /adminclaims before using your shovel. This creates special “Admin Claims” that do not consume personal block totals and are ideal for protecting community hubs, shops, and spawn zones.

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Trapped Players

If a player inadvertently becomes trapped within a high-walled claim they do not have access to, they can execute the /unstuck command. The plugin will calculate the nearest safe wilderness coordinate and teleport them there automatically.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: January 2026 | Minecraft: Secure survival.