Minecraft Gamerules List: Names, Defaults and Examples

Gamerules change how a Minecraft world behaves, for example whether players keep their inventory or the day/night cycle runs. Set one with gamerule <name> <value> in the console, such as gamerule keep_inventory true. Since Minecraft 1.21.11, gamerules use snake_case names (keep_inventory, advance_time), while 1.21.10 and older use the old camelCase names (keepInventory, doDaylightCycle).

Works on	Where to type	Saved in
Every Minecraft Java server type	Console (no `/`) or in game (with `/`, operator level 2)	The world, so each world has its own gamerules

How to change a gamerule

Check your version

Open Version Changer. The status line shows your version, for example Currently installed: Paper 26.1.1 (#29). Use the new names for 1.21.11 and newer.

Run the command

In the Console, type the gamerule and value, for example:

gamerule keep_inventory true

Check the value

Type the gamerule without a value to see its current setting: gamerule keep_inventory.

Gamerules apply straight away. You don’t need to restart.

Most-used gamerules

New name (1.21.11+)	Old name (1.21.10 and older)	Default	What it does
`keep_inventory`	`keepInventory`	`false`	Players keep items and XP when they die.
`advance_time`	`doDaylightCycle`	`true`	The day/night cycle runs. `false` freezes the time.
`advance_weather`	`doWeatherCycle`	`true`	The weather changes.
`mob_griefing`	`mobGriefing`	`true`	Creepers, endermen and other mobs can change blocks.
`spawn_mobs`	`doMobSpawning`	`true`	Mobs spawn naturally.
`spawn_phantoms`	`doInsomnia`	`true`	Phantoms spawn for players who haven’t slept.
`players_sleeping_percentage`	`playersSleepingPercentage`	`100`	Percentage of players who must sleep to skip the night. `1` means one player is enough on most servers.
`show_death_messages`	`showDeathMessages`	`true`	Death messages show in chat.
`show_advancement_messages`	`announceAdvancements`	`true`	Advancements show in chat.
`command_block_output`	`commandBlockOutput`	`true`	Command blocks post their output in chat and the console.
`send_command_feedback`	`sendCommandFeedback`	`true`	Players see replies to their commands.
`immediate_respawn`	`doImmediateRespawn`	`false`	Skips the death screen.
`natural_health_regeneration`	`naturalRegeneration`	`true`	Players heal when their hunger bar is full enough.
`random_tick_speed`	`randomTickSpeed`	`3`	How fast crops grow and leaves decay. Higher values use more CPU.
`respawn_radius`	`spawnRadius`	`10`	How far from the spawn point new players appear.
`fall_damage`	`fallDamage`	`true`	Players take fall damage.
`fire_damage`	`fireDamage`	`true`	Players take fire damage.
`drowning_damage`	`drowningDamage`	`true`	Players take drowning damage.
`max_entity_cramming`	`maxEntityCramming`	`24`	Mobs crammed in one space beyond this number take damage.
`spawn_patrols`	`doPatrolSpawning`	`true`	Pillager patrols spawn.
`spawn_wandering_traders`	`doTraderSpawning`	`true`	Wandering traders spawn.
`raids`	`disableRaids` (inverted)	`true`	Raids can happen. The old rule was `disableRaids false`.
`block_drops`	`doTileDrops`	`true`	Broken blocks drop items.
`mob_drops`	`doMobLoot`	`true`	Mobs drop loot.

Example commands:

gamerule players_sleeping_percentage 1
gamerule mob_griefing false
gamerule spawn_phantoms false

Which gamerules changed in 1.21.11?

In Minecraft 1.21.11 every gamerule was renamed from camelCase to a namespaced snake_case ID, for example keepInventory became minecraft:keep_inventory. You can type the name without minecraft:. Some rules got new names, not just new spelling:

Old name	New name
`doDaylightCycle`	`advance_time`
`doWeatherCycle`	`advance_weather`
`doMobSpawning`	`spawn_mobs`
`doInsomnia`	`spawn_phantoms`
`doMobLoot`	`mob_drops`
`doTileDrops`	`block_drops`
`doEntityDrops`	`entity_drops`
`doImmediateRespawn`	`immediate_respawn`
`naturalRegeneration`	`natural_health_regeneration`
`spawnRadius`	`respawn_radius`
`announceAdvancements`	`show_advancement_messages`
`doFireTick`	replaced by `fire_spread_radius_around_player`

Which server settings became gamerules?

From Minecraft 1.21.9, some settings moved from server.properties to gamerules:

Old `server.properties` key	Gamerule
`pvp`	`pvp`
`allow-nether`	`allow_entering_nether_using_portals`
`enable-command-block`	`command_blocks_work`
`spawn-monsters`	`spawn_monsters`

Example: gamerule pvp false turns off player-versus-player combat. See server.properties explained.

Popular gamerule setups

Server type	Gamerules
Friendly survival	`keep_inventory true`, `players_sleeping_percentage 1`, `spawn_phantoms false`
Build server	`advance_time false`, `advance_weather false`, `spawn_mobs false`, `mob_griefing false`
Hardcore-style challenge	`natural_health_regeneration false`, `keep_inventory false`
Quiet chat	`show_advancement_messages false`, `command_block_output false`

Set each with gamerule <name> <value> in the console.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn on keep inventory on my server?

On 1.21.11 and newer, run gamerule keep_inventory true in the console. On older versions, run gamerule keepInventory true.

How do I make one player skip the night?

Run gamerule players_sleeping_percentage 1 (or playersSleepingPercentage on older versions). With 1%, one sleeping player is enough unless more than 100 players are online.

Why does my gamerule say “Incorrect argument”?

You used the old name on a new version, or the other way round. Check your version in Version Changer and use the matching name from the table.

Do gamerules reset after a restart?

No. Gamerules are saved in the world. They do reset if you create a new world, for example after changing the seed.

Do gamerules apply to the Nether and End?

Yes. Gamerules apply to the whole world save, including its dimensions.

Minecraft server guide

Every Minecraft guide in one place.

Server commands

Admin commands for the console.

server.properties explained

Settings that live in the file.

Enable command blocks

Turn command blocks on.

Checked against the official Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.11 release notes on 29 October 2026, and the console steps tested on our Game Panel (Minecraft 26.1, Paper and Fabric). Gamerules may change in future Minecraft versions.

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Minecraft Gamerules List: Names, Defaults and Examples

How to change a gamerule

Most-used gamerules

Which gamerules changed in 1.21.11?

Which server settings became gamerules?

Popular gamerule setups

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn on keep inventory on my server?

How do I make one player skip the night?

Why does my gamerule say “Incorrect argument”?

Do gamerules reset after a restart?

Do gamerules apply to the Nether and End?

Minecraft server guide

Server commands

server.properties explained

Enable command blocks

Need Extra Help?

Save on Your Hosting

​How to change a gamerule

​Most-used gamerules

​Which gamerules changed in 1.21.11?

​Which server settings became gamerules?

​Popular gamerule setups

​Frequently asked questions

​How do I turn on keep inventory on my server?

​How do I make one player skip the night?

​Why does my gamerule say “Incorrect argument”?

​Do gamerules reset after a restart?

​Do gamerules apply to the Nether and End?

​Related guides

Minecraft server guide

Server commands

server.properties explained

Enable command blocks

​Need Extra Help?

​Save on Your Hosting

How to change a gamerule

Most-used gamerules

Which gamerules changed in 1.21.11?

Which server settings became gamerules?

Popular gamerule setups

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn on keep inventory on my server?

How do I make one player skip the night?

Why does my gamerule say “Incorrect argument”?

Do gamerules reset after a restart?

Do gamerules apply to the Nether and End?

Related guides

Need Extra Help?

Save on Your Hosting