Minecraft game rules: every rule, default and old name
A game rule is a setting you change in a running world with the /gamerule command, for example /gamerule keep_inventory true. Since Java Edition 1.21.11 the names are snake_case, so guides written for 1.21.10 or earlier that say keepInventory use the old name. Below are all 59 rules of Java 26.3 with the default we measured, a copy button for the command, an old-name lookup and our opinion on whether a friends server might want to change each one.
Unofficial reference, not affiliated with Mojang or Microsoft.
Java Edition 26.3. Rule ids MEASURED 4 October 2026, defaults MEASURED 7 October 2026 on the official 26.3 server (58 of 59 defaults); old names VERIFIED FROM PRIMARY SOURCE (Mojang release notes) or INFERRED; effect sentences are our own wording, INFERRED, not tested in a running game. Not Bedrock.
How to change a game rule
Type /gamerule followed by the rule name to see its current value, or add a value to change it, for example /gamerule pvp false. Type the line in the server console without the slash; in game chat, start with /.
Rule values are stored in the world save (MEASURED 7 October 2026: two values set in one run were read back unchanged after a full stop and restart of the server on the same world folder).
The command needs operator rights: in the measured command tree, gamerule is one of the commands for the “gamemasters” level. See how to give someone those rights in the whitelist, op and ban commands guide.
All 59 game rules
The default is the value the official server printed for each rule on a default server (flat world, local run). The type (true/false or whole number) follows from that value. We state no value ranges, because we did not measure any. The explanations are ours. The “Friends server” note and the often/sometimes/rarely flag are our opinion about a small private group, not a measurement and not a Mojang recommendation.
Showing 59 of 59 rules
advance_timeWhether the time of day moves forward on its own.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it on. Turning it off freezes the time of day, which can suit a build contest.
Show the value/gamerule advance_timeChange it/gamerule advance_time falseadvance_weatherWhether the weather changes on its own.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it on. Turning it off keeps whatever weather is current.
Show the value/gamerule advance_weatherChange it/gamerule advance_weather falseallow_entering_nether_using_portalsWhether players can travel to the Nether through portals.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing. Turning it off keeps the group in the Overworld, which is only useful for a deliberate challenge.
Show the value/gamerule allow_entering_nether_using_portalsChange it/gamerule allow_entering_nether_using_portals falseblock_dropsWhether broken blocks drop items.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it on. Turned off, mining yields nothing.
Show the value/gamerule block_dropsChange it/gamerule block_drops falseblock_explosion_drop_decayApplies the explosion drop decay to blocks destroyed by explosions that a block causes. We have not tested the exact effect.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing on a small server.
Show the value/gamerule block_explosion_drop_decayChange it/gamerule block_explosion_drop_decay falsecommand_block_outputWhether command blocks report what they do in chat.
Friends server (our opinion). Turn it off if your command blocks make the chat noisy; otherwise leave it.
Show the value/gamerule command_block_outputChange it/gamerule command_block_output falsecommand_blocks_workWhether command blocks run at all.
Friends server (our opinion). Only matters if someone uses command blocks. Turning it off stops them all, which is a quick way to rule them out on a shared world.
Show the value/gamerule command_blocks_workChange it/gamerule command_blocks_work falsedrowning_damageWhether drowning hurts players and mobs.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule drowning_damageChange it/gamerule drowning_damage falseelytra_movement_checkWhether the server checks how a player moves while gliding with an elytra. Mojang inverted this one when it renamed it.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it on. Turning it off removes a check, so it is only for a group you trust and for a reason you can name.
Show the value/gamerule elytra_movement_checkChange it/gamerule elytra_movement_check falseender_pearls_vanish_on_deathWhether ender pearls a player threw disappear when that player dies.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule ender_pearls_vanish_on_deathChange it/gamerule ender_pearls_vanish_on_death falseentity_dropsWhether things that are not mobs, such as vehicles, drop items when destroyed.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it on.
Show the value/gamerule entity_dropsChange it/gamerule entity_drops falsefall_damageWhether falling hurts players and mobs.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing. Turning it off removes a common cause of accidental deaths while building.
Show the value/gamerule fall_damageChange it/gamerule fall_damage falsefire_damageWhether fire and lava hurt players and mobs.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing. This does not stop fire from spreading; see fire_spread_radius_around_player for that.
Show the value/gamerule fire_damageChange it/gamerule fire_damage falsefire_spread_radius_around_playerThe maximum distance in blocks at which fire can spread around a player. 0 turns fire spreading off, and -1 lets fire spread even with no player nearby. It replaces two older rules, doFireTick and allowFireTicksAwayFromPlayer.
Friends server (our opinion). Some builders set it to 0 (our opinion) so a stray fire does not spread to a base. Keep in mind it also stops fire from spreading in places you might want it.
Show the value/gamerule fire_spread_radius_around_playerChange it/gamerule fire_spread_radius_around_player 128forgive_dead_playersWhether mobs that were angry at a player calm down when that player dies.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule forgive_dead_playersChange it/gamerule forgive_dead_players falsefreeze_damageWhether freezing, such as standing in powder snow, hurts players and mobs.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule freeze_damageChange it/gamerule freeze_damage falseglobal_sound_eventsWhether some world-wide sounds can be heard by every player instead of only those nearby.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule global_sound_eventsChange it/gamerule global_sound_events falseimmediate_respawnWhether players respawn at once, skipping the death screen.
Friends server (our opinion). Suits relaxed servers where dying is a small setback (our opinion). Off keeps the usual death screen.
Show the value/gamerule immediate_respawnChange it/gamerule immediate_respawn truekeep_inventoryWhether players keep their items when they die instead of dropping them.
Friends server (our opinion). A change friends groups often want (our opinion): nobody has to run back to a pile of lost items. Leave it off if you want death to cost something.
Show the value/gamerule keep_inventoryChange it/gamerule keep_inventory truelava_source_conversionWhether flowing lava can turn into source lava (the way water can).
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing. It is off by default.
Show the value/gamerule lava_source_conversionChange it/gamerule lava_source_conversion truelimited_craftingWhether players can only craft recipes they have already unlocked.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing. Only for a group that wants a progression challenge.
Show the value/gamerule limited_craftingChange it/gamerule limited_crafting truelocator_barWhether the locator bar, which shows where other players are, is turned on.
Friends server (our opinion). Some groups turn it off to keep the screen clean or to make finding each other part of the game. Leave it on if you like seeing where friends are.
Show the value/gamerule locator_barChange it/gamerule locator_bar falselog_admin_commandsWhether commands run by admins are written to the server log.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it on: the log tells you who ran what when something odd happens.
Show the value/gamerule log_admin_commandsChange it/gamerule log_admin_commands falsemax_block_modificationsThe most blocks a single command (such as a large fill) may change. Mojang renamed it from command_modification_block_limit.
Friends server (our opinion). Raise it only if a big fill or clone is refused for being too large.
Show the value/gamerule max_block_modificationsChange it/gamerule max_block_modifications 32768max_command_forksA limit on how many times a command can branch while it runs.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it unless you build elaborate command systems.
Show the value/gamerule max_command_forksChange it/gamerule max_command_forks 65536max_command_sequence_lengthA limit on how long a chain of commands can be.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it unless you build long command block chains.
Show the value/gamerule max_command_sequence_lengthChange it/gamerule max_command_sequence_length 65536max_entity_crammingHow many entities can crowd into one spot before they start taking damage.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it unless you build a mob farm and know why you need to change it.
Show the value/gamerule max_entity_crammingChange it/gamerule max_entity_cramming 24max_minecart_speedOn a default server the console answered “Incorrect argument for command” for this rule, so we could not read a value. It probably needs an experimental feature to be enabled (INFERRED, untested).
A cap on minecart speed, judging by its name. We could not read it on a default server (see the note on the default), so we do not describe it further.
Friends server (our opinion). Not covered here, because we could not read it on a default server.
Show the value/gamerule max_minecart_speedChange it/gamerule max_minecart_speed <value>max_snow_accumulation_heightHow many layers of snow can pile up on the ground during snowfall.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule max_snow_accumulation_heightChange it/gamerule max_snow_accumulation_height 1mob_dropsWhether mobs drop their loot when they die.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it on. Turned off, farms give nothing.
Show the value/gamerule mob_dropsChange it/gamerule mob_drops falsemob_explosion_drop_decayApplies the explosion drop decay to blocks destroyed by explosions that a mob causes. We have not tested the exact effect.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing on a small server.
Show the value/gamerule mob_explosion_drop_decayChange it/gamerule mob_explosion_drop_decay falsemob_griefingWhether mobs are allowed to alter blocks in the world, for example through explosions or by moving blocks around.
Friends server (our opinion). Some groups turn it off so a creeper cannot damage a base (our opinion). It can also change how some mobs behave, so test your farms after changing it.
Show the value/gamerule mob_griefingChange it/gamerule mob_griefing falsenatural_health_regenerationWhether players slowly heal on their own when well fed.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it on unless you want a harder game.
Show the value/gamerule natural_health_regenerationChange it/gamerule natural_health_regeneration falseplayer_movement_checkWhether the server checks how players move. Mojang inverted this one when it renamed it.
Friends server (our opinion). Leave it on. Turning it off removes a check, so it is only for a group you trust and for a reason you can name.
Show the value/gamerule player_movement_checkChange it/gamerule player_movement_check falseplayers_nether_portal_creative_delayHow long a player in Creative mode must stand in a Nether portal before it takes them through. The unit is not stated by the data we have; it is probably game ticks.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule players_nether_portal_creative_delayChange it/gamerule players_nether_portal_creative_delay 0players_nether_portal_default_delayHow long a player not in Creative mode must stand in a Nether portal before it takes them through. The unit is not stated by the data we have; it is probably game ticks.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule players_nether_portal_default_delayChange it/gamerule players_nether_portal_default_delay 80players_sleeping_percentageThe share of players, in percent, that must be sleeping for the night to be skipped.
Friends server (our opinion). A change worth considering (our opinion): at the default of 100 everyone must be in bed, so one player who is away holds up the night. 50 lets half the group skip it.
Show the value/gamerule players_sleeping_percentageChange it/gamerule players_sleeping_percentage 100projectiles_can_break_blocksWhether projectiles, such as arrows, can break blocks that they hit.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule projectiles_can_break_blocksChange it/gamerule projectiles_can_break_blocks falsepvpWhether players can hurt each other.
Friends server (our opinion). Some friend groups turn it off so a joke hit never starts an argument (our opinion). Leave it on if fights are part of the fun.
Show the value/gamerule pvpChange it/gamerule pvp falseraidsWhether village raids can happen. Mojang inverted this one when it renamed it from disableRaids.
Friends server (our opinion). Turn it off if a raid on a village you rely on would spoil the evening.
Show the value/gamerule raidsChange it/gamerule raids falserandom_tick_speedHow fast random block updates happen, which is what drives things like crop growth.
Friends server (our opinion). Some groups raise it to speed up farms. A higher value gives the server more work to do (INFERRED), so raise it a little at a time.
Show the value/gamerule random_tick_speedChange it/gamerule random_tick_speed 3reduced_debug_infoWhether the F3 debug screen shows less information.
Friends server (our opinion). Only for a group that wants to hide coordinates for a challenge.
Show the value/gamerule reduced_debug_infoChange it/gamerule reduced_debug_info truerespawn_radiusHow far from the world spawn point a player can be placed when respawning without a bed. Mojang renamed it from spawnRadius.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing. A smaller value keeps everyone close together after a death.
Show the value/gamerule respawn_radiusChange it/gamerule respawn_radius 10send_command_feedbackWhether a player sees the result of the commands they run.
Friends server (our opinion). Turn it off if a command block or script floods your chat with results.
Show the value/gamerule send_command_feedbackChange it/gamerule send_command_feedback falseshow_advancement_messagesWhether the chat announces when someone earns an advancement. Mojang renamed it from announceAdvancements.
Friends server (our opinion). Some groups turn it off to keep the chat quiet.
Show the value/gamerule show_advancement_messagesChange it/gamerule show_advancement_messages falseshow_death_messagesWhether the chat announces when someone dies.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing (our opinion). For some groups it is part of the fun.
Show the value/gamerule show_death_messagesChange it/gamerule show_death_messages falsespawn_mobsWhether mobs spawn naturally. Mojang renamed it from doMobSpawning.
Friends server (our opinion). Turning it off makes a calm creative world, but also removes animals and farms that depend on spawning.
Show the value/gamerule spawn_mobsChange it/gamerule spawn_mobs falsespawn_monstersWhether hostile monsters spawn naturally, judging by its name.
Friends server (our opinion). Useful for a build-only world with no hostile monsters.
Show the value/gamerule spawn_monstersChange it/gamerule spawn_monsters falsespawn_patrolsWhether pillager patrols spawn. Mojang renamed it from doPatrolSpawning.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule spawn_patrolsChange it/gamerule spawn_patrols falsespawn_phantomsWhether phantoms spawn. Mojang renamed it from doInsomnia.
Friends server (our opinion). A change worth considering (our opinion): phantoms show up for players who have not slept, which can annoy groups with different schedules. Turning this off removes them.
Show the value/gamerule spawn_phantomsChange it/gamerule spawn_phantoms falsespawn_wandering_tradersWhether wandering traders spawn. Mojang renamed it from doTraderSpawning.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule spawn_wandering_tradersChange it/gamerule spawn_wandering_traders falsespawn_wardensWhether wardens spawn. Mojang renamed it from doWardenSpawning.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule spawn_wardensChange it/gamerule spawn_wardens falsespawner_blocks_workWhether mob spawner blocks produce mobs. Mojang renamed it from spawnerBlocksEnabled.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule spawner_blocks_workChange it/gamerule spawner_blocks_work falsespectators_generate_chunksWhether players in Spectator mode cause new parts of the world to be generated as they fly.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing. Generating terrain is work for the server, so exploring far in spectator mode is not free (INFERRED).
Show the value/gamerule spectators_generate_chunksChange it/gamerule spectators_generate_chunks falsespread_vinesWhether vines spread. Mojang renamed it from doVinesSpread.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule spread_vinesChange it/gamerule spread_vines falsetnt_explodesWhether TNT can explode.
Friends server (our opinion). Turn it off if a stray spark near a friend’s build is a worry.
Show the value/gamerule tnt_explodesChange it/gamerule tnt_explodes falsetnt_explosion_drop_decayApplies the explosion drop decay to blocks destroyed by TNT. We have not tested the exact effect.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing on a small server.
Show the value/gamerule tnt_explosion_drop_decayChange it/gamerule tnt_explosion_drop_decay trueuniversal_angerWhether a mob that is angry at a player makes other neutral mobs of its kind angry at that player too, judging by its name.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing.
Show the value/gamerule universal_angerChange it/gamerule universal_anger truewater_source_conversionWhether flowing water can turn into source water, which is what makes an infinite water source possible.
Friends server (our opinion). Rarely worth changing. It is on by default.
Show the value/gamerule water_source_conversionChange it/gamerule water_source_conversion false
No rule matches. Clear the filters to see the whole list.
Old name lookup (1.21.10 and earlier)
In Java Edition 1.21.10 and earlier, game rules were written in camelCase, like keepInventory; 1.21.11 renamed them. Type an old name, in any letter case, to find the current one. You can also type a current id to check that it exists.
All old names
The full list, for reading without the lookup.
| Old name | Current id | Source |
|---|---|---|
allowEnteringNetherUsingPortals | allow_entering_nether_using_portals | INFERRED, same word |
allowFireTicksAwayFromPlayer | fire_spread_radius_around_player | Mojang release notes, replaced |
announceAdvancements | show_advancement_messages | Mojang release notes |
blockExplosionDropDecay | block_explosion_drop_decay | INFERRED, same word |
command_modification_block_limit | max_block_modifications | Mojang release notes |
commandBlockOutput | command_block_output | INFERRED, same word |
commandBlocksEnabled | command_blocks_work | Mojang release notes |
disableElytraMovementCheck | elytra_movement_check | Mojang release notes, value inverted |
disablePlayerMovementCheck | player_movement_check | Mojang release notes, value inverted |
disableRaids | raids | Mojang release notes, value inverted |
doDaylightCycle | advance_time | Mojang release notes |
doEntityDrops | entity_drops | Mojang release notes |
doFireTick | fire_spread_radius_around_player | Mojang release notes, replaced |
doImmediateRespawn | immediate_respawn | Mojang release notes |
doInsomnia | spawn_phantoms | Mojang release notes |
doLimitedCrafting | limited_crafting | Mojang release notes |
doMobLoot | mob_drops | Mojang release notes |
doMobSpawning | spawn_mobs | Mojang release notes |
doPatrolSpawning | spawn_patrols | Mojang release notes |
doTileDrops | block_drops | Mojang release notes |
doTraderSpawning | spawn_wandering_traders | Mojang release notes |
doVinesSpread | spread_vines | Mojang release notes |
doWardenSpawning | spawn_wardens | Mojang release notes |
doWeatherCycle | advance_weather | Mojang release notes |
drowningDamage | drowning_damage | INFERRED, same word |
enderPearlsVanishOnDeath | ender_pearls_vanish_on_death | INFERRED, same word |
fallDamage | fall_damage | INFERRED, same word |
fireDamage | fire_damage | INFERRED, same word |
forgiveDeadPlayers | forgive_dead_players | INFERRED, same word |
freezeDamage | freeze_damage | INFERRED, same word |
globalSoundEvents | global_sound_events | INFERRED, same word |
keepInventory | keep_inventory | INFERRED, same word |
lavaSourceConversion | lava_source_conversion | INFERRED, same word |
locatorBar | locator_bar | INFERRED, same word |
logAdminCommands | log_admin_commands | INFERRED, same word |
maxCommandChainLength | max_command_sequence_length | Mojang release notes |
maxCommandForkCount | max_command_forks | Mojang release notes |
maxEntityCramming | max_entity_cramming | INFERRED, same word |
mobExplosionDropDecay | mob_explosion_drop_decay | INFERRED, same word |
mobGriefing | mob_griefing | INFERRED, same word |
naturalRegeneration | natural_health_regeneration | Mojang release notes |
playersNetherPortalCreativeDelay | players_nether_portal_creative_delay | INFERRED, same word |
playersNetherPortalDefaultDelay | players_nether_portal_default_delay | INFERRED, same word |
playersSleepingPercentage | players_sleeping_percentage | INFERRED, same word |
projectilesCanBreakBlocks | projectiles_can_break_blocks | INFERRED, same word |
pvp | pvp | INFERRED, same word |
randomTickSpeed | random_tick_speed | INFERRED, same word |
reducedDebugInfo | reduced_debug_info | INFERRED, same word |
sendCommandFeedback | send_command_feedback | INFERRED, same word |
showDeathMessages | show_death_messages | INFERRED, same word |
snowAccumulationHeight | max_snow_accumulation_height | Mojang release notes |
spawnerBlocksEnabled | spawner_blocks_work | Mojang release notes |
spawnRadius | respawn_radius | Mojang release notes |
spectatorsGenerateChunks | spectators_generate_chunks | INFERRED, same word |
tntExplodes | tnt_explodes | INFERRED, same word |
tntExplosionDropDecay | tnt_explosion_drop_decay | INFERRED, same word |
universalAnger | universal_anger | INFERRED, same word |
waterSourceConversion | water_source_conversion | INFERRED, same word |
Three rules were inverted. For example, disableRaids true meant no raids, while raids true means raids happen. If you copy an old value across, flip it.
Not on the lookup
We found no primary source for an old name of these rules, so we do not list one: max_minecart_speed, spawn_monsters.
Presets for a friends server
These are our own suggestions, not Mojang’s: a starting point, with one line on each value. Type the lines one after another in the server console without the slash; in game chat, start each with /. A rule not listed stays at its default.
Relaxed co-op
For a group that plays at different times and does not want death or sleep to get in the way.
/gamerule keep_inventory true: Nobody loses their items by dying./gamerule spawn_phantoms false: No phantoms for players who stayed up late./gamerule players_sleeping_percentage 50: Half the players in bed is enough to skip the night./gamerule immediate_respawn true: Skip the death screen: you respawn at once.
Builders, no accidents
For a group that mostly builds and wants a base to survive a mistake.
/gamerule mob_griefing false: Mobs cannot alter blocks, so a creeper does not damage a build. Test your farms afterwards./gamerule fire_spread_radius_around_player 0: Fire does not spread (0 turns it off, per Mojang’s release notes)./gamerule pvp false: Players cannot hurt each other.
Related: the server.properties reference.
FAQ
What is the command to change a game rule?
Type /gamerule, the rule name and the new value, for example /gamerule keep_inventory true. With only the name it shows the current value. In the server console, leave out the slash; in game chat, start with /.
Why does /gamerule keepInventory no longer work?
Mojang renamed every game rule from camelCase to snake_case in Java Edition 1.21.11, so the current name is keep_inventory (primary source: Mojang’s 1.21.11 release notes, read 7 October 2026). Use the old-name lookup on this page for any other rule.
How do I turn on keep inventory for my friends?
Run /gamerule keep_inventory true as an operator. The measured default is false, so it is off until you change it. The value is stored in the world save (measured: it survived a restart).
What are the default values?
The defaults on this page are what the official 26.3 server printed for each rule on a default server (flat world, local run), 58 of 59. max_minecart_speed could not be read on a default server.
Do game rules work in Bedrock?
This page covers Java Edition only. Bedrock has its own list of game rules and we did not check it.
Sources
- Mojang release notes for Java Edition 1.21.11, game rules section (minecraft.net) (read 7 October 2026)
The rule ids are MEASURED (generated 4 October 2026) and the defaults are MEASURED (7 October 2026) from the official Java Edition 26.3 server, run on a development machine with its command tree and one query per rule; the server was then stopped. The renames come from Mojang’s release notes. The effect sentences are our own wording written from the rule names and general knowledge (INFERRED), and no rule was tested in a running game. We did not copy text from the community wiki.
Unofficial reference, not affiliated with, approved by or endorsed by Mojang or Microsoft. Minecraft is a trademark of Mojang. The presets and the friends-server notes are Arcadyo’s own opinions, not statements by Mojang.