How to Set Up a Conan Exiles Dedicated Server

Conan Exiles is a massive open-world survival game where clans build empires, tame thralls, and wage war in the Hyborian Age. A dedicated server gives you full control over rates, mods, PvP rules, and the Purge system. This guide walks you through every step from choosing a host to configuring your first raiding window.

What You'll Need

• Conan Exiles on Steam — Required to connect and test your server.
• A hosting plan or dedicated machine — Managed hosting (recommended) starts at $8-10/month. Self-hosting requires 8GB+ RAM and a quad-core CPU.
• A plan for your server — Decide on PvP or PvE, mod list, map (Exiled Lands or Isle of Siptah), and rate multipliers.

Step 1: Choose Your Hosting Approach

Managed Hosting (Recommended)

Conan Exiles servers are resource-intensive, especially with mods and large builds. Managed hosts like Sparked Host, Host Havoc, and Shockbyte handle hardware, updates, and DDoS protection. Look for:

• 4-8GB RAM — Essential for modded servers with active clans
• SSD storage — The game loads building and terrain data constantly
• FTP access — Required for INI configuration and mod management
• Automatic restarts — Conan Exiles benefits from scheduled daily restarts

Self-Hosted

Self-hosting requires the Conan Exiles Dedicated Server tool from Steam or SteamCMD (app_update 443030). You need at least 8GB free RAM, a modern quad-core CPU, and ports 7777-7778 (UDP) and 27015 (UDP) forwarded.

Step 2: Set Up on a Managed Host

1. Purchase a plan with at least 4GB RAM for vanilla, 6-8GB for modded.
2. Select Conan Exiles and choose your map: Exiled Lands (default) or Isle of Siptah (DLC).
3. Choose a server location near your player base.
4. Access your control panel — You'll see the console, file manager, and configuration.
5. Note your server IP and port — Players connect via the in-game server browser or direct connect.

Step 3: Configure ServerSettings.ini

The primary configuration file controls gameplay. Key settings to customize:

[ServerSettings]
# Server mode
PVPEnabled=True                    # True for PvP, False for PvE
AdminPassword=YourSecurePassword   # Admin access password

# Rate multipliers
PlayerXPRateMultiplier=2.0         # XP gain speed
HarvestingMultiplier=2.0           # Resource gathering rate
CraftingSpeedMultiplier=2.0        # Crafting speed
ThrallConversionMultiplier=0.5     # Faster thrall taming

# Building
BuildingDamageMultiplier=1.0       # Raid damage to buildings
ContainersIgnoreOwnership=False    # Locked containers

# Purge settings
EnablePurge=True
PurgeLevel=6                       # Purge difficulty (1-6)

Access this file via FTP at ConanSandbox/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/ServerSettings.ini or through your host's config editor.

Step 4: Configure PvP Raid Windows

For PvP servers, raid windows limit when structures can be damaged:

# Raid window (e.g., 5 PM - 11 PM)
PVPEnabled=True
RaidEnabled=True
RestrictPVPBuildingDamageTime=True
PVPBuildingDamageTimeStart=17      # Start hour (24h format)
PVPBuildingDamageTimeEnd=23        # End hour

Outside raid hours, buildings are indestructible. This prevents offline raiding and keeps PvP fair.

Step 5: Install Mods

Conan Exiles uses Steam Workshop for mods. To add mods:

1. Find mod IDs on the Steam Workshop (the number in the URL).
2. Add each ID to ConanSandbox/Mods/modlist.txt, one per line.
3. Restart the server. Mods download automatically.

Essential Mods

| Mod | Description | |---|---| | Pippi | Admin toolkit, chat commands, warps, kits | | Emberlight | Quality-of-life features, crafting improvements | | EEWA | Endgame content expansion with new dungeons | | Age of Calamitous | Total conversion with new races and classes | | Fashionist | Transmog system for armor appearances |

Important: Players must subscribe to the same mods in the same load order. Share your mod list with players.

Step 6: Set Up Admin Tools

Admin access is essential for server management:

1. Set your AdminPassword in ServerSettings.ini.
2. In-game, open the console and type MakeMeAdmin YourPassword.
3. Open the admin panel with the Admin Panel button in your inventory.

Key admin abilities:

• Spawn items, NPCs, and creatures
• Teleport players
• Adjust server settings in real-time
• Kick and ban players
• Toggle god mode for inspection

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Server not appearing in the server browser:

• It takes 5-15 minutes for new servers to index. Use direct connect initially.
• Verify ports 7777-7778 (UDP) and 27015 (UDP) are accessible.

Mods causing crashes:

• Disable all mods and re-enable one at a time to find the culprit.
• Check mod load order — some mods must load before others.
• After Conan Exiles updates, wait for mod authors to update before restarting.

Performance degradation over time:

• Schedule daily restarts to clear memory leaks.
• Enable building decay to clean up abandoned structures.
• Set a reasonable building piece limit per clan if using admin mods.

Next Steps

• Set up a Discord with server rules, mod lists, and a wipe schedule.
• Configure BattleMetrics for player tracking and server monitoring.
• Plan events — The Purge system creates natural server events, but admin-run events keep communities engaged.
• Back up regularly — Especially before updating mods or the game itself.

Managed hosts like Sparked Host and Host Havoc make Conan Exiles hosting straightforward, letting you focus on building your Hyborian empire.