Death rules depend on the world difficulty. Before a dangerous trip, check that setting and plan how you will recover a gravestone. A lost backpack does not automatically mean permanent loss.
On Standard/Normal, dropped inventory is recoverable from a gravestone without the ordinary expiry timer claimed in older versions of this guide, and skill XP is retained. Hard allows only one gravestone: another death destroys the previous grave and its contents, and costs progress toward the next skill level, not earned levels. Custom worlds depend on their current death settings; check the world’s interface before carrying valuables. This does not mean every item is dropped or every item is retained: equipment and special-item exceptions are not a complete, officially verified list here.
| Mode |
Gravestone |
Skill XP |
| Standard / Normal |
Dropped inventory recoverable at any time |
Retained |
| Hard |
Only one grave; another death destroys the previous one |
Progress toward next level lost; earned levels retained |
| Custom |
Check current world settings |
Check current world settings |
Can I keep everything?
Check the death options exposed by your Custom world. This guide does not require a mod or save-file edit and does not invent an unverified menu path. Do not assume a multiplayer world uses your preferred rules: confirm them with the host. The 1.0.1 fix for Maple Sap incorrectly surviving death also shows why a blanket list of supposedly protected items can become outdated.
Prepare a recovery run
- Store surplus materials before combat; keep a spare weapon, food and water at camp.
- Claim a bed and inspect the return route before entering a dangerous area. A Lodestone is a travel tool, not proof of a new respawn point.
- Recover cautiously. On Hard, avoid taking a second valuable loadout into a risky attempt that could erase the first grave.
- Improve your gear when enemies outmatch you, and preserve stamina for dodging instead of spending it all on attacks.
Home Teleport, added in 1.0, returns to the claimed bed for 15 Law Runes with a 900-second cooldown. Plan its cost in advance; do not confuse it with the emergency Unstick function.
FAQ
Is there a timer on my Standard gravestone?
The official Normal rules allow recovery at any time. Hard instead introduces the risk of losing the previous grave on another death.
Will I lose all equipped gear?
Do not assume either universal loss or universal protection. This guide does not have a current first-party item-by-item exception list. Store irreplaceable loot and inspect your world settings.
Does Custom require save editing?
Do not start with save editing. Review the options currently offered by the game and confirm the host’s rules. Exact option names and availability can differ by version.
