Enshrouded Multiplayer Tips
Enshrouded supports up to 16 players on a single server. That is a lot of Flameborn exploring Embervale at once, and it requires some coordination to get the most out of the experience. This guide covers practical multiplayer tips, useful server settings, and co-op strategies that our community has found effective.
Choose the Right Hosting Mode
Enshrouded offers two ways to play with others.
Peer-to-peer co-op: The host launches a session from their own game client. Other players join through the host. When the host logs off, everyone gets disconnected and the world is inaccessible.
Dedicated server: A standalone server process runs independently. Players connect and disconnect freely, and the world persists around the clock.
For groups larger than four or groups in different time zones, a dedicated server is the clear choice. It also provides access to administrative tools like the ban system and the Visitor role introduced in recent updates.
Essential Server Settings for Multiplayer
When configuring your enshrouded_server.json, these settings have the biggest impact on the multiplayer experience.
Player slots
Set slotCount to match your actual group size rather than maxing it at 16. Each active player increases CPU and memory load. If you have a group of six, setting slots to eight gives a small buffer without wasting server resources.
Difficulty scaling
Enshrouded does not scale enemy health or damage based on player count automatically in the same way some games do. A group of eight will find early-game enemies trivial. Consider raising enemy difficulty or health multipliers if your group tends to roam together. If your group splits up and explores solo, default settings may still provide a challenge.
Shroud timer
The Shroud timer controls how long players can survive inside Shroud zones before dying. For newer groups, extending this timer gives players more room to learn without constant deaths. Experienced groups can shorten it for added tension.
Day/night cycle
Longer days give groups more daylight to coordinate exploration. Shorter cycles increase urgency and make resource planning more important. A middle ground works well for most groups.
Visitor role
Added in the Wake of the Water update, the Visitor role prevents players from terraforming terrain outside of designated base areas. This is useful on community servers where you want to allow strangers to join without risking landscape destruction.
Co-Op Strategies That Work
Assign roles early
Enshrouded has a flexible skill system, but multiplayer groups benefit from some loose specialization. Consider having dedicated:
- Builders focused on base construction, resource processing, and infrastructure like water wheels and crafting factories
- Explorers who push into new biomes and Shroud zones to unlock fast travel points and gather rare materials
- Combat specialists who invest in weapon-specific skill trees and lead the group through boss encounters
You do not need to be rigid about this. The skill reset system (which now allows individual skill resets as of the Pact of the Flame update) means anyone can pivot their build.
Establish a central base early
Pick a location near the center of the map for your main base. Embervale is large, and spreading out too far too early leads to logistical problems with resource transport and crafting station access. NPC villagers stationed at your central base provide quests and services that benefit the whole group.
Use the buddy system in the Shroud
Shroud zones are dangerous, and the timer is unforgiving. Going in pairs means one player can cover for another if they get into trouble. Shared loot discovery also goes faster with two sets of eyes.
Coordinate crafting NPC placement
Each crafting NPC (blacksmith, alchemist, farmer, etc.) unlocks specific recipes and stations. In multiplayer, you can place crafting assistants at secondary bases to decentralize production. Plan which NPCs go where so the group does not constantly backtrack to a single base for everything.
Communicate through in-game tools
The Pact of the Flame update added in-game text chat with proximity and server-wide voice options, plus emotes. Use these actively. Calling out resource deposits, enemy patrols, or discovered points of interest keeps the group coordinated without relying on external voice apps.
Performance Tips for Multiplayer Servers
Schedule automatic restarts
Server performance degrades over long sessions, especially on worlds with extensive player-built structures. Restarting the server every 8 to 12 hours clears accumulated memory bloat and is the single most impactful optimization for most servers.
Encourage proximity play
Players spread across the map force the server to simulate more terrain chunks simultaneously. When your group clusters together, the server load drops significantly. This does not mean everyone has to stand in the same room, but exploring the same region at the same time helps.
Monitor RAM usage
The server idles at 4-5 GB of RAM and climbs from there. If you notice lag or rubber-banding, check whether your server is hitting memory limits. Reducing the slot count or restarting the server usually resolves the issue.
Keep the server updated
After every Enshrouded patch, update your server files. Version mismatches prevent players from connecting, and newer patches often include server-side performance fixes.
Handling Griefing and Moderation
The ban system added in the Wake of the Water update lets server administrators remove disruptive players. Combined with the Visitor role, you have two layers of protection:
- Set unknown players to Visitor so they cannot destroy terrain
- Ban anyone who abuses other mechanics
For private group servers, a simple password on the server is usually sufficient to keep unwanted visitors out.
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