How to change difficulty on an Ark server?

Want Ark to hit harder or go easier? Tweaking difficulty changes wild levels, damage, and the whole vibe. Here’s the exact file to edit and how to apply it cleanly.

Prerequisites

• Access to your Oxygenserv panel (login and password)
• Ark server you can stop/restart
• Server console or RCON access (for admin commands)
• A target max wild level in mind (e.g., 150, 180, 300)

Detailed steps

1. Stop the server
   Log in to the Oxygenserv panel and open the Console tab. Click “Stop” and wait until logs show something like “Server has shut down.” If it hangs over 60 seconds, refresh and stop again. Only proceed once it’s fully stopped.
2. Open the config file
   Go to “Files” → “Configuration Editor” and select “ARK User Settings.” Prefer the file manager? Edit ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini (or ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini). Find the [ServerSettings] section. If it’s missing, add it exactly.
3. Set the correct difficulty values
   Under [ServerSettings], set exactly: DifficultyOffset=1.0 and OverrideOfficialDifficulty=.... Compute OverrideOfficialDifficulty as your desired max level divided by 30 (formula: maxLevel/30). Examples: 150 → 5.0, 180 → 6.0, 300 → 10.0. Remove duplicates if another OverrideOfficialDifficulty line exists elsewhere. Save the file.
4. Save and restart cleanly
   Click “Save” (green button in the editor). Go back to the Console and click “Restart.” Watch for startup logs and “Listening” to confirm it’s up. If you see syntax errors, check for extra spaces around = and ensure there’s only one [ServerSettings] block.
5. Refresh wild spawns (mandatory)
   New levels apply only to new spawns. Option A (server console): run DestroyWildDinos. Option B (in‑game admin): open the console (Tab), run enablecheats YourAdminPassword, then cheat DestroyWildDinos. Expect a 30–90s freeze while the server repopulates wildlife—this is normal.
6. Verify in game
   Join the server and check a wild creature’s level (spyglass or crosshair). With OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5.0, you should see up to 150. If you cap at 120, it’s usually a missed DestroyWildDinos or a duplicate config line. Re‑check DifficultyOffset=1.0 and ensure there’s only one OverrideOfficialDifficulty entry.

Tips & optimization

Quick picks: Casual PvE: 3.0 (max 90), Standard: 5.0 (150), Hard: 6.0 (180), Extreme: 10.0 (300). Stay within 1.0–10.0 for stable spawns. Difficulty doesn’t change tame speed or post‑tame stats—tune those in Game.ini if needed. After any big difficulty change, always run DestroyWildDinos to prevent mixed old/new levels. Some creature mods use custom rules—check their docs if levels don’t match the 30 × OverrideOfficialDifficulty formula.

FAQ

Wilds still spawn low level. What now?

Run DestroyWildDinos after restarting. Open GameUserSettings.ini and ensure there’s only one [ServerSettings] block with a single OverrideOfficialDifficulty line. Confirm DifficultyOffset=1.0. Save, restart, run DestroyWildDinos again, then re‑check in game.

Where is the file exactly?

Typically: ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini or ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini. In Oxygenserv, use “Files” → “Configuration Editor” → “ARK User Settings” for one‑click access.

Does this affect my already tamed dinos?

Not directly. It increases wild levels, letting you tame higher‑level creatures going forward. Existing tames stay the same.

Ark Survival Ascended vs Evolved—same method?

Yes. Edit [ServerSettings] inside GameUserSettings.ini. Only the OS subfolder differs (LinuxServer vs WindowsServer). Values are the same.

You’ve got this. A few edits and your Ark server matches your playstyle. Tweak in small steps—try 5.0, then 6.0—and lock in what feels right.

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