Keep Gear When You Die in V Rising: Server Settings

Updated 9 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To keep your equipment after death in V Rising, the server must use a death setting that preserves your gear. If you own the server, change its death inventory rule; if you play on someone else’s server, ask its administrator, because ordinary players cannot override server settings for themselves.

What You’ll Need

Access to the server’s settings, save files, or hosting control panel if you administer it.
The ability to stop and restart the server safely, or help from its administrator.
The correct save and configuration file for the world you want to change.

Step-by-Step

Identify who controls the server. On a private server you host, you can usually edit its settings. On a rented server, look in the provider’s control panel or contact its support. On a public server, you generally cannot change the rule; choose a server with suitable death settings or ask an admin.
Check the current death rule. In V Rising, death-related inventory behavior is controlled by the server’s game settings, not by a personal character option. The setting is commonly named DeathContainerPermission in server configuration. Its value determines who can access the container holding items dropped on death; it does not, by itself, make equipment stay on your character.
Choose the behavior you actually want. V Rising’s normal death system can place carried items in a lootable death container. If your goal is to avoid losing gear to other players, restrict who can access that container, typically to the owner. If you mean that worn equipment should remain equipped and never drop, check the settings available for your game version: not every server option provides that behavior. Do not assume that changing container permissions prevents the container from appearing.
Back up the world before editing. Stop the server first. Make a copy of the world save and the server configuration file, storing the copies somewhere outside the active save folder. This gives you a way to undo a typo or a setting that causes unexpected behavior.
Find the active configuration. Locate the server’s settings file, often called ServerGameSettings.json, in the configuration folder associated with the active world save. On a hosted server, use the file manager or configuration editor provided by the host. Paths vary by operating system, hosting setup, and whether the server was created through a game client.
Edit the death-container permission carefully. Search the file for DeathContainerPermission. Set it to the supported value that matches your intended access policy. For example, a setting for owner-only access limits who can loot a death container; it does not necessarily preserve the contents automatically. Use the value names or choices shown in the settings template for your installed game version rather than guessing or copying a value from an old guide.
Check for a separate death or inventory rule. If your server’s settings template includes a distinct option specifically for what happens to equipment or inventory on death, use that option to select the desired behavior. Read its description and allowed values. If no such option exists, the server may not support keeping worn gear through that configuration, and container permissions are the closest relevant control.
Save and restart the server. Ensure the file remains valid JSON: keep quotation marks, commas, braces, and capitalization intact. Save the file, then start the server again. Many server settings are read only at startup, so editing while the world is running may have no effect.
Test safely before relying on the change. Join with a spare character or test in a low-risk situation. Carry inexpensive items, note what is equipped and in your inventory, then arrange a controlled death. Check whether equipment stays with the character, appears in a container, or is accessible only to the permitted players. Avoid testing during a dangerous fight or with valuables at stake.
Tell players what the rule does. Update the server description or announce the behavior to your group. Explain whether gear is retained, dropped into a container, or protected from other players. These outcomes are different, and clear wording prevents players from expecting more than the setting provides.

Common Mistakes

Confusing protected loot with retained gear. Restricting access to a death container can stop other players from taking its contents, but the items may still leave your inventory and need to be recovered.
Editing the wrong world’s file. A server can have multiple saves or configuration copies. Confirm the active save name and make a small, reversible change rather than assuming the first file you find is in use.
Changing settings while the server is running. The server may overwrite your edit or ignore it until a restart. Stop it before editing and restart afterward.
Using an outdated setting value. Configuration names and accepted values can change between game versions or server setups. Check the current template and server logs.
Expecting client-side changes to affect everyone. A local setting does not override a dedicated server’s rules. The administrator must change the server configuration.

Tips

Keep a dated backup before every settings change, especially before updating the game or moving a save.
Use a test death with low-value items to confirm the real result. Do not infer behavior from the setting name alone.
If you want a less punishing experience, consider other server difficulty options as well, but check each setting separately; changing death-container access does not automatically adjust every death penalty.
When renting a server, use the host’s documented configuration editor where possible. If you cannot find the setting, ask support for the active configuration file and restart procedure.

Troubleshooting

The setting has no effect: Confirm you edited the configuration for the active world, saved valid JSON, and restarted the server. Check the startup log for configuration errors. If the host regenerates settings at startup, make the change through its control panel or ask support how to persist it.

Items still appear in a death container: The permission setting may only control who can access the container. Look for a separate, supported inventory-on-death option in the current settings template. If there is none, the server may not offer a way to keep worn items equipped through settings alone.

Other players can still loot the container: Verify the permission value and test with another player account. Make sure the change was applied to the server, not just a local client file. If the value is unclear, restore the backup and consult the server’s current configuration reference.

The server fails to start after editing: Stop it and restore the backup configuration. Then reapply only the intended change, checking commas, quotation marks, and braces. If the file is managed by a host, use its settings interface or contact support rather than repeatedly editing an unknown generated file.

You play on a public server: You cannot enforce a personal exception to the server’s rules. Ask an admin whether the rule can be changed, or move valuable gear to a safe location before taking risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my gear after death on any V Rising server?
No. The outcome depends on the server’s rules and supported settings. Players usually cannot change those rules themselves.

Does owner-only death-container access keep gear on my character?
No. It controls who can access the container, not necessarily whether items are dropped into one.

Can I change the setting while logged in?
You can inspect the server, but configuration edits generally need administrator access and a server restart to take effect.

Where is the server settings file?
It is commonly named ServerGameSettings.json and is associated with the active world save. Exact locations differ by host and installation.

Will this work on an official or public server?
Only if its administrator has configured the relevant rule. You cannot apply a private setting from your own game client.

What if my version has no keep-equipment option?
Use the available death-container permissions if they help, or ask the administrator about supported settings. Do not assume an older guide’s option is still available.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.