How to Make a V Rising Server

A beginner-friendly walkthrough for running your own V Rising dedicated server — install it with SteamCMD, set the host and game settings, open the two ports, add admins and invite your clan.

A dedicated V Rising server keeps Vardoran running on real time, so castle decay and raid windows work the way the game expects instead of only while someone is hosting. You can self-host the free dedicated server, or rent a managed server that stays online without your PC.

V Rising's settings are split into two JSON files — one for the server itself and one for the game rules. This guide shows both. Prefer to skip the setup? V Rising server hosting is ready in minutes.

What you'll need

• A Windows machine or server with 6–8 GB of RAM and a fast CPU core — V Rising's combat and castle logic is CPU-bound.
• SteamCMD to download the dedicated server (no game ownership needed on the server).
• Access to your router or firewall to open UDP 9876 and 9877.
• Each player's SteamID64 if you want to give them admin.

Set up a V Rising dedicated server, step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Install the server with SteamCMD

   The dedicated server is Steam app 1829350 and installs anonymously.

   steamcmd +force_install_dir C:\vrising +login anonymous +app_update 1829350 validate +quit

2. 2

   Step 2: Copy the start script and run it once

   The install folder includes an example start script. Copy it, set a save name and a data folder in it, and run it once so the server creates its Settings folder.

3. 3

   Step 3: Set up ServerHostSettings.json

   This file is the server itself: name, description, ports, player limit, password and save name. The default player limit is 40.

   {
     "Name": "My V Rising Server",
     "Port": 9876,
     "QueryPort": 9877,
     "MaxConnectedUsers": 40,
     "Password": "",
     "SaveName": "world1",
     "ListOnSteam": true,
     "ListOnEOS": true
   }

4. 4

   Step 4: Choose the rules in ServerGameSettings.json

   PvP or PvE, clan size, castle damage and raid times, crafting and resource rates, blood drain and decay all live here. Edit it with the server stopped.

5. 5

   Step 5: Open the ports

   Forward UDP 9876 (game) and UDP 9877 (Steam query) and allow them in the firewall. On a hosted server they are already open.

6. 6

   Step 6: Add admins

   Put each admin's SteamID64 on its own line in adminlist.txt in the Settings folder and restart. In game, the admin opens the console and types adminauth.

7. 7

   Step 7: Invite your clan

   Players find the server in the in-game list by name, or use Direct Connect with ip:9876.

Run a fair, smooth V Rising server

• 01

  Set raid windows

  Time-restricted castle damage stops offline raiding and is the most-asked-for rule on PvP servers.

• 02

  CPU first

  Big fights run on one core. A high-clock CPU matters more than extra RAM until you add mods.

• 03

  Keep autosaves

  Keep several autosaves (AutoSaveCount) and copy the save folder before game updates.

• 04

  Mods need a match

  BepInEx mods usually need the matching client mods — tell players exactly which versions to install.

Common problems & fixes

V Rising is a trademark of Stunlock Studios. ESAGAMES is an independent hosting provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Stunlock Studios. Players must own a legitimate copy of the game.