Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Your RuneScape: Dragonwilds Server
Learn how to host your own RuneScape: Dragonwilds server to keep your Ashenfall world persistent 24/7. Discover setup steps, hardware needs, and hosting tips.
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The world of Ashenfall has finally reached its 1.0 release, inviting players to band together and take on Queen Kuldra in a survival experience like no other. However, relying on local, friend-hosted sessions can lead to progress bottlenecks when your group isn't online simultaneously; this is exactly why setting up a dedicated RuneScape: Dragonwilds server is the game-changer your guild needs. By hosting a persistent instance, you ensure your world remains active 24/7, allowing your friends to gather resources, build, and level up whenever they have a moment to spare.
Whether you are a seasoned survival veteran or a newcomer to the RuneScape universe, understanding the infrastructure behind a RuneScape: Dragonwilds server is essential for a seamless multiplayer experience. In this guide, we break down the hosting options, the technical requirements, and the step-by-step configuration needed to get your own slice of Ashenfall running smoothly.
Choosing Your Hosting Method: What Fits Your Needs?
Before diving into configuration files, you must decide where your server will live. Hosting a persistent world requires balancing technical difficulty against ease of use. According to community experience, most small groups find that managed hosting services offer the best stability, while tech-savvy players prefer the granular control of home-hosting.
Comparison of Hosting Platforms
Feature
Shockbyte (Managed)
At-Home Hosting
Cloud (VPS/Dedicated)
Setup Difficulty
Very Easy
Hard
Expert
Maintenance
Automated
Manual
Manual
Cost
Fixed Monthly Fee
Electricity/Hardware
Usage-based
Best For
Casual Groups
Enthusiasts
Large Communities
Server requirements
The official dedicated-server guide specifies a 64-bit Windows or Linux host, 2 GB base RAM plus 1 GB per player: 4 GB for two players or 8 GB for six. This is a sizing guideline, not a guarantee of smooth performance. Leave headroom for the operating system and other processes; monitor actual CPU, memory and network use.
Ports and connectivity
The default game port is UDP 7777. The official guide uses 7778 for a second server instance, not as a compulsory secondary port for one server. Forward the port configured for your instance and allow it through the firewall. If inbound access is blocked by CGNAT, ask the ISP about available public-address options or consider suitable hosting; bridge mode alone is not a universal CGNAT solution.
Configuration and troubleshooting
Stop the server before editing DedicatedServer.ini; changes made while it is running may be overwritten. Use Saved/Config/WindowsServer on Windows or Saved/Config/Linux on Linux. Set OwnerID, ServerName, DefaultWorldName and the admin password as documented. Search for the exact, case-sensitive world name in the Public browser. If it is missing, compare server and client versions, inspect logs and confirm the configured network port. Update and restart the server after a patch; do not treat any one cause as certain without checking.
World migration and backups
Stop the server before editing configuration or replacing world files. Back up both the existing server saves and the local world you want to import.
In the local %LOCALAPPDATA%\RSDragonwilds\Saved\SaveGames folder, identify the intended world’s latest .sav. Keep a separate backup before following the official guide’s replacement procedure.
Copy the world save into the dedicated server’s RSDragonwilds/Saved/SaveGames location, matching the intended world name and configuration. Do not overwrite an unrelated world.
Restart and verify the correct world loads. This is world-file migration, not universal character cross-save between storefronts. Stop and restore the backup if the result is wrong.
Why a Dedicated Server Matters for Progression
The 1.0 update introduced a significantly expanded world, from the arid Umbral Sands to the treacherous Scorned Wilderness. If you play on a standard co-op world, your progress is gated by the host's presence. With your own RuneScape: Dragonwilds server, you remove these barriers.
Server Role Permissions
Role
Access Source
Capabilities
Owner
Matching Player ID
Full moderation, banning, and settings access.
Admin
Admin Password
Kick/Ban online players, server management.
Regular
World Access
Cannot ban or unban; standard gameplay only.
Current version
RuneScape: Dragonwilds left Early Access on September 15, 2026. The official Steam announcement confirms that update 1.0.1 is live as of October 14, 2026. Its changes include inventory space increasing from 32 to 40, separate ring and amulet slots, and save fixes. Some save problems remain under investigation; an update is not a guarantee that every damaged save can be recovered.
FAQ
How many players can join?
Crossplay connects PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. A standard hosted session supports four players in total, including the host; the official dedicated-server guide documents a separate maximum of six. Offline solo play is also available. For crossplay, enable it when loading the world and use the in-game world browser or invite code. A normal hosted world requires its host to stay online; a dedicated world remains accessible while its server is running.
Can I import a local world?
Stop the server before editing configuration or replacing world files. Back up both the existing server saves and the local world you want to import.
In the local %LOCALAPPDATA%\RSDragonwilds\Saved\SaveGames folder, identify the intended world’s latest .sav. Keep a separate backup before following the official guide’s replacement procedure.
Copy the world save into the dedicated server’s RSDragonwilds/Saved/SaveGames location, matching the intended world name and configuration. Do not overwrite an unrelated world.
Restart and verify the correct world loads. This is world-file migration, not universal character cross-save between storefronts. Stop and restore the backup if the result is wrong.
