Terraria is a 2D sandbox game with boss fights, exploration and crafting. A dedicated server keeps your world available 24/7, even when you are offline. TShock is the most popular server software, adding permissions, anti-grief protection and admin commands.
Installing TShock
- Download the latest TShock version compatible with your Terraria version.
- Extract the files into your server directory.
- Start the server. On first launch, TShock creates configuration files and a database automatically.
- Connect in-game and enter the setup code shown in the console to become admin.
World configuration
In serverconfig.txt you set:
- worldname: the name of your world.
- maxplayers: maximum number of players (8-16 is common).
- difficulty: 0 (Normal), 1 (Expert), 2 (Master), 3 (Journey).
- worldsize: 1 (small), 2 (medium), 3 (large).
Permissions and groups
TShock lets you create player groups with different permissions. Unregistered players can be limited to building in certain zones, while moderators have access to admin commands. Use /group addperm to manage permissions.
Performance
A Terraria server is lightweight: 1-2 GB RAM is enough for 16 players. Storage requirements are minimal. At HostValues we offer game hosting optimized for Terraria with TShock pre-installed.
Can I use mods on a TShock server?
TShock supports server-side plugins that modify gameplay. For client mods (tModLoader), you need a separate tModLoader dedicated server instead of TShock. The two are not compatible with each other.
How do I import an existing world?
Copy your .wld file to the Terraria/Worlds folder on the server via SFTP. Update the worldname in serverconfig.txt to match the filename (without extension). Restart the server to load the world.