The Minecraft SMP wiki

Everything Minecraft SMP actually runs on, written plainly: the mechanics, the progression, the economy, the protection rules and the jargon you will meet in chat. From the same people who put together the top 10 Minecraft SMP servers.

The basics

• What is a Minecraft SMP? SMP means survival multiplayer. In practice the label now covers four very different genres that share an acronym.
• Your first week on a new SMP A checklist that gets you established without losing your first base, in the order that actually matters.

Genres

• Lifesteal SMP mechanics explained Hearts as a transferable resource, elimination when you run out, and revival as the economy that grows around it.
• Anarchy servers explained No rules, no claims, no moderation, no reset. What that actually means for your first session.
• Earth SMP and towny servers Real-world maps, player nations, taxes and border wars. The most political corner of Minecraft multiplayer.

Protection

• Land claims and protection: what each system actually stops Claims protect blocks from strangers, which is narrower than most players assume. Where each system leaks.

Economy

• SMP economies: jobs, shops and why prices inflate Money enters an SMP economy every time anyone sells to a shop. Without sinks, prices only go one way.
• Trading on an SMP without getting scammed Most SMPs have no escrow, so the trade structure is the only protection you get. The four safe shapes.
• SMP ranks and stores: reading the pay-to-win line One test settles most pay-to-win arguments: is anything in the store unobtainable in game?

Combat

• SMP PvP: combat versions, crystals and opt-in zones The 1.8 versus 1.9 combat split, why crystal PvP dominates modern SMPs, and what opt-in PvP zones change.

Server life

• Nether and End rules on SMP servers Highways, roof rules, End resets and dragon fights. The parts of an SMP that are almost always governed by server-specific rules.

Reference

• SMP glossary Every SMP term you will meet in chat, defined in one line.