Every public Minecraft server runs on two sets of rules. The written ones sit in a /rules command, a spawn sign or a Discord channel. The unwritten ones are what regular players expect from each other and rarely bother to spell out. Most bans for newcomers come from not knowing either. This guide covers both, and explains why the same action can be fine on one server and a permanent ban on another.
Why rules differ between game modes
A server's rules follow from what its players came for. Before you join, it helps to know which kind of server you are on.
- Anarchy servers have few or no rules about gameplay. Griefing, raiding, killing at spawn and stealing are part of the game. Even here, most owners still ban things that threaten the server itself, such as exploits that crash it, and sometimes illegal content in chat.
- Survival and SMP servers protect what players build. Griefing and stealing are usually banned, land is protected with claims, and the community is small enough that reputation matters. See the survival servers page for examples of how varied these can be.
- Minigame networks care most about fair matches. Rules focus on hacked clients, teaming in solo modes, exploiting map bugs and abusive chat, because one cheater ruins a round for everyone else in it.
- PvP and faction servers sit in between. Killing and raiding are allowed inside the rules of the mode, but things like combat logging, abusing claim glitches or using x-ray are not.
- Roleplay and creative servers often add rules about staying in character, building to a theme or respecting plot borders.
So "it was allowed on my last server" is not a defence. Read the rules of the server you are actually on.
Reading the rules properly
Type /rules when you first join. If nothing comes up, try /help, look for signs or an NPC at spawn, or check the server's Discord. Many servers make you accept the rules before you can leave the spawn area.
Pay attention to the specific parts that vary the most:
- whether griefing and stealing are allowed outside claims;
- which client mods are allowed (minimaps, shaders, schematic mods);
- whether automatic farms and lag-heavy redstone are limited;
- whether alt accounts are allowed;
- what language is expected in public chat.
Staff usually enforce the spirit of a rule, not only the wording. Finding a loophole and arguing about it in chat rarely ends well.
Griefing, claims and building near others
Griefing means damaging or changing something another player built without permission: breaking blocks, flooding, burning, placing lava, killing pets or taking items from chests. On most survival servers it is the most common reason for a ban, and staff can usually see exactly who did it, because block logging plugins record every block placed or broken and every chest opened.
Most SMP servers use land claims. You mark an area, usually with a golden shovel or a command, and only you and the players you trust can build there. Some practical habits:
- Claim your base as soon as you start building, not after something goes wrong.
- Do not build right next to someone else's claim. A common unwritten rule is to leave a gap of at least 100 blocks unless you have asked.
- Unclaimed does not mean free to take. On many servers taking from an unclaimed but obviously used base is still treated as stealing.
- Replant trees you cut near spawn and fill holes you dig in shared areas.
- If you trust someone in your claim, remember that you are responsible for what they do there.
Chat behaviour and spam
Chat is where most warnings start. The usual rules:
- No insults, slurs, threats or harassment, including in private messages.
- No spam: repeating the same message, flooding chat with lines, writing in capital letters or filling the screen with symbols. Many servers have an automatic filter that mutes you for it.
- No begging staff for ranks, items or creative mode.
- No sharing personal information about yourself or others, such as real names, addresses or photos.
- Keep to the language of the channel. International servers often have separate channels or rules for other languages.
Arguing with a moderator in public chat almost never changes a decision. If you think a punishment was wrong, use the appeal process described below.
Advertising other servers
Posting another server's address in chat is banned on nearly every server, and automatic filters often catch IP addresses and domain names instantly. This includes sending addresses through private messages, books, signs and item names. If someone asks where you also play, answer outside the game. Advertising a Discord invite, a shop or a video channel is usually banned for the same reason, unless the rules say otherwise.
Hacked clients and what anti-cheat flags
Hacked clients are modified game clients that give an unfair advantage. Anti-cheat plugins look for movement and actions that the normal game cannot produce. Typical things that get flagged:
- kill aura and reach (hitting players too fast or too far away);
- fly, speed and no-fall movement;
- x-ray and ore finders, often detected by mining statistics rather than in real time;
- auto-clickers and macros on servers that ban them;
- scaffold and fast-place building.
Some legitimate mods can cause trouble too. Minimaps with cave or entity radar, free cam mods and some performance mods are allowed on one server and banned on the next. If a mod gives you information the normal game would not, assume it needs permission. A lagging connection can also trigger false flags, so a single kick for movement is not unusual, but tell staff about repeated ones before they turn into a ban.
Alt accounts and ban evasion
An alt is a second account you play on. Some servers allow alts for AFK farming or trading, many limit them to one or two, and some ban them entirely. What is never allowed is using an alt to get around a ban or mute. Servers link accounts by IP address and other data, so ban evasion is usually caught quickly and turns a temporary ban into a permanent one, sometimes on every account involved.
If you share a home network with a sibling or friend who plays on the same server, tell staff in advance so their account is not linked to yours.
How to report players
Most servers have a /report command, a ticket system on Discord, or both. A useful report includes:
- the player's exact username;
- what they did and which rule it breaks;
- the time and place, with coordinates if relevant;
- evidence: a screenshot of chat, or a short video for cheating.
Do not accuse players in public chat, and do not file reports just because someone beat you in a fight. False reports are a punishable offence on many servers.
Ban appeals
If you are banned, the kick message usually shows the reason, the length of the ban and where to appeal, typically a Discord server or a web form. A good appeal is short and honest. State your username, the ban reason, what happened from your side, and, if you did break the rule, that you understand it and will not repeat it. Appeals that insult staff, claim "my little brother did it" or are sent again and again in several places are usually rejected. Appeals for cheating bans are rarely accepted without clear evidence that the detection was wrong.
Being a good newcomer on an SMP
Smaller SMP servers live on their community, and regulars notice new players quickly. A few habits make a good first impression:
- Say hello and read chat for a while before joining in.
- Walk a fair distance from spawn before building.
- Ask before using someone's farm, portal or shop.
- Do not build huge lag machines in your first week.
- Join community projects and events; it is the fastest way to be trusted.
If you are still looking for a server, our server list shows live status, player counts, supported versions and reviews from other players, which often mention how strict staff are. Server owners can add their server for free, and the FAQ answers common questions about how the list works.