What is WorldGuard?
WorldGuard is a free plugin for Paper, Purpur and Spigot servers that protects areas of your world, called regions, and changes the rules inside them with flags – for example no building for strangers, no PvP or no mob spawning. It's made by EngineHub, the same team as WorldEdit.
Typical uses:
| Region | What you set |
|---|---|
| Spawn | Nobody but staff can build; no PvP; no hostile mobs; no explosions |
| Shop or market | Shop owners can build, everyone can open doors and use buttons |
| PvP arena | PvP on, building off |
| A player's base | Only that player (and friends) can build and open chests |
| The whole world | Global rules, e.g. PvP off everywhere |
WorldGuard is an admin tool: staff create the regions with commands. If you want players to protect their own land themselves, look at GriefPrevention in the last section of this guide.
What do you need to run WorldGuard?
A Paper, Purpur or Spigot server with WorldEdit (or FastAsyncWorldEdit) installed – WorldGuard won't load without it. WorldGuard uses WorldEdit's selection tool to mark where a region begins and ends.
| Plugin | Why |
|---|---|
| WorldGuard | The protection plugin |
| WorldEdit or FastAsyncWorldEdit | Required: selections for regions (install only one of the two) |
| LuckPerms | Optional: lets staff use WorldGuard commands without being OP |
WorldGuard doesn't run on Vanilla, Fabric, Forge or NeoForge. If you're new to plugins, how to install Minecraft plugins explains the basics.
How to install WorldGuard on a Spot.gg server
In "Addons" → "Available to install", install WorldEdit first and then WorldGuard, each with the file marked "Compatible with your server", and restart the server.
- Use Paper or Purpur. On Vanilla, go to "Information" → "Profile" → "Modify" → "Change engine" and pick Paper on the same Minecraft version – your world stays.
- Open "Addons" → "Available to install", search for WorldEdit and install the file marked "Compatible with your server".
- Search for WorldGuard and install it the same way.
- When the panel asks "Restart required", click "Restart". WorldGuard creates
plugins/WorldGuard/with its config and region files. - Give yourself OP: in "Console" type
op YourName(no slash in the console).
On your own server it's the same: put both jars in the plugins folder and restart. Type /plugins in the game – WorldEdit and WorldGuard should both be green.
Turn off Vanilla spawn protection. server.properties has spawn-protection=16 by default, which stops everyone who isn't OP from building near spawn, even where WorldGuard allows it. Once WorldGuard protects your spawn, set it to 0 – on Spot.gg under "Configuration" → "server.properties", then restart.
How to create a WorldGuard region
Select the area with the WorldEdit wand, then type /rg define <name> – that's it, the region is protected. Players who aren't members of the region can no longer build or break blocks in it.
- Get the wand: type
//wand. You get a wooden axe. - Mark two opposite corners: left-click one corner block, right-click the opposite corner block. WorldEdit confirms both positions in chat.
- Make it full height: type
//expand vert. Without this, the region only covers the height between your two clicks, and players could still build above or dig below it. - Create the region:
/rg define spawn
Region names must be unique in the world and aren't case-sensitive. You can name owners right away: /rg define base Steve Alex.
The wand and selections are explained in more detail in how to use WorldEdit.
Test it with a normal account. As an OP you bypass region protection (everything except PvP deny flags), so you'll still be able to build everywhere. Type /rg bypass to toggle that off while you test, or ask a friend to try.
The most important WorldGuard commands
The commands you'll use most are /rg define, /rg flag, /rg addmember, /rg info and /rg remove. /rg is short for /region; both work.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/rg define <name> |
Creates a region from your current selection |
/rg redefine <name> |
Changes an existing region to your new selection |
/rg info [name] |
Shows the region you're standing in (or the named one): owners, members, flags, priority |
/rg list |
Lists the regions in this world |
/rg select <name> |
Selects an existing region with WorldEdit, e.g. to see or change its size |
/rg flag <name> <flag> <value> |
Sets a flag |
/rg flags <name> |
Shows all flags of a region as a clickable list |
/rg addmember <name> <player> |
Adds a member |
/rg addowner <name> <player> |
Adds an owner |
/rg removemember <name> <player> |
Removes a member (removeowner for owners) |
/rg setpriority <name> <number> |
Sets the priority for overlapping regions |
/rg teleport <name> |
Teleports you to the region |
/rg remove <name> |
Deletes the region |
/rg bypass |
Turns your own bypass on or off |
WorldGuard flags: pvp, build, mob-spawning and more
Flags change the rules inside a region: /rg flag <region> <flag> <value>, where the value is usually allow or deny. For example /rg flag spawn pvp deny turns PvP off at spawn. To remove a flag again, leave out the value: /rg flag spawn pvp.
| Flag | What it controls | Example |
|---|---|---|
build |
Building, breaking and most interactions for non-members | /rg flag arena build deny |
pvp |
Player-versus-player combat | /rg flag spawn pvp deny |
mob-spawning |
Whether mobs can spawn | /rg flag spawn mob-spawning deny |
deny-spawn |
Only the listed mob types can't spawn | /rg flag spawn deny-spawn zombie,creeper |
creeper-explosion |
Creeper explosions damaging blocks | /rg flag spawn creeper-explosion deny |
tnt |
TNT explosions | /rg flag spawn tnt deny |
use |
Doors, buttons, levers, pressure plates | /rg flag spawn use allow |
chest-access |
Opening chests and other containers | /rg flag shop chest-access deny |
interact |
Using blocks and entities in general | /rg flag spawn interact allow |
entry / exit |
Whether players can enter or leave | /rg flag vault entry deny |
greeting / farewell |
Chat message on entering / leaving | /rg flag spawn greeting Welcome to spawn! |
item-drop |
Dropping items | /rg flag lobby item-drop deny |
invincible |
Players can't take damage | /rg flag lobby invincible allow |
fire-spread, lava-fire |
Fire spreading, lava starting fires | /rg flag spawn fire-spread deny |
fire-spread and lava-fire only work when the "high frequency flags" option is turned on in WorldGuard's config, because checking them costs performance.
Setting flags for a group of players
Add -g and a group to apply a flag only to some players: all, members, owners, nonmembers or nonowners.
/rg flag vault entry -g nonmembers deny
This keeps everyone except the region's members out of the vault. One flag can only have one value per region, so you can't give the same flag different values for two groups.
A protected spawn in four commands
/rg define spawn
/rg flag spawn pvp deny
/rg flag spawn mob-spawning deny
/rg flag spawn use allow
The region already blocks building for non-members. use allow lets everyone open doors and press buttons, which a protected region otherwise blocks too.
How to add members and owners to a region
Members can build in a region; owners can also manage it. Add them with /rg addmember and /rg addowner:
/rg addmember base Alex
/rg addowner base Steve
You can also add a whole permission group by putting g: before its name, for example /rg addmember spawn g:builders gives every player in the LuckPerms group "builders" building rights at spawn. Groups are set up in how to set up LuckPerms.
Commands for staff without OP: WorldGuard's permissions start with worldguard.region., for example worldguard.region.define or worldguard.region.info.*, and worldguard.* gives full access. Give them to a staff group with LuckPerms – and keep in mind that full access includes the bypass, so those players can build in every region too.
How do region priorities work?
When regions overlap, the one with the higher priority wins; every region starts at priority 0. Set it with /rg setpriority <name> <number>.
Example: a shop inside your spawn region. Both have priority 0, so a shop owner would also need to be a member of spawn to build. Give the shop a higher priority:
/rg define shop1
/rg addmember shop1 Alex
/rg setpriority shop1 10
Now only the shop's member list counts inside it, and Alex can build in his shop but not in the rest of spawn. For flags, WorldGuard uses the highest-priority region that has that flag set – so a pvp deny at spawn still applies inside the shop unless the shop sets its own pvp value.
Regions can also inherit settings from a parent: /rg setparent shop1 spawn.
The global region: rules for the whole world
__global__ is a special region that covers an entire world, and you use it to set world-wide flags such as /rg flag __global__ pvp deny. Each world (overworld, Nether, End) has its own.
- World-wide rules:
/rg flag __global__ pvp deny,/rg flag __global__ creeper-explosion deny. - Protect the whole world by default:
/rg flag __global__ passthrough deny. After that only members of the global region can build anywhere outside other regions – useful for creative build servers. - Don't set
buildon__global__. It stops everything from placing or breaking blocks, including pistons, and WorldGuard's documentation strongly advises against it. Usepassthrough denyinstead.
WorldGuard not working? Common problems
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
WorldGuard is red in /plugins |
WorldEdit is missing or the wrong version | Install WorldEdit for your Minecraft version, restart |
| You can still build in the region | You're OP and bypass protection | Test with a normal account or toggle /rg bypass |
| Players can't build anywhere near spawn | Vanilla spawn-protection |
Set spawn-protection=0 in server.properties |
| Players build above or below the region | The selection wasn't full height | /rg select <name>, //expand vert, /rg redefine <name> |
| Players can't open doors at spawn | Protected regions block use for non-members |
/rg flag spawn use allow |
| A flag does nothing | Another region with a higher priority overrides it | Check /rg info at that spot and the priorities |
GriefPrevention: the alternative for player claims
GriefPrevention lets players protect their own land: they mark a claim with a golden shovel and then decide who can build or open chests there – no admin needed. It's a better fit than WorldGuard for survival servers where every player builds a base. Many servers use both: WorldGuard for spawn, GriefPrevention for players.
| WorldGuard | GriefPrevention | |
|---|---|---|
| Who creates protected areas | Admins, with commands | Players, with a golden shovel |
| Best for | Spawn, shops, arenas, world rules | Players' bases on a survival server |
| Needs WorldEdit | Yes | No |
| Height | Region height (use //expand vert) |
Claims always reach the max build height |
How it works with the default settings:
- First chest: new players get an automatic small claim around the first chest they place.
- Golden shovel: right-click one corner of the land, then the opposite corner – that's a claim. A claim has to be at least 5 blocks wide with an area of at least 100 blocks.
- Stick: right-click with a stick to see claim borders around you.
- Claim blocks: every player starts with 100 claim blocks and earns 100 more per hour of play, up to 80,000 earned this way. Idling doesn't count.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/trust <player> |
Lets a player build in your claim |
/containertrust <player> |
Chests, crops, animals, beds, buttons and levers |
/accesstrust <player> |
Only beds, buttons and levers |
/permissiontrust <player> |
Lets a player share their access with others |
/untrust <player> |
Removes access |
/trustlist |
Shows who has access to the claim you're in |
/claim <radius> |
Creates a claim around you without a shovel |
/extendclaim <blocks> |
Pushes the claim border in the direction you're facing |
/abandonclaim |
Deletes the claim you're standing in |
/subdivideclaims |
Shovel mode for sub-claims, e.g. a shared shop inside a town |
GriefPrevention is in our catalog: on Spot.gg install it from "Addons" → "Available to install" like any other plugin and restart.
FAQ
Does WorldGuard need WorldEdit?
Yes. WorldGuard won't load without WorldEdit (or FastAsyncWorldEdit), because it uses WorldEdit's selections to define regions.
How do I protect spawn with WorldGuard?
Select the spawn area with //wand, run //expand vert, then /rg define spawn. Add flags like /rg flag spawn pvp deny and /rg flag spawn mob-spawning deny.
How do I turn off PvP in WorldGuard?
In one region: /rg flag <region> pvp deny. In the whole world: /rg flag __global__ pvp deny.
Why can I still break blocks in my region?
Because you're OP, and operators bypass region protection. Use /rg bypass to turn the bypass off, or test with an account that isn't OP.
Is WorldGuard free?
Yes. WorldGuard is free and open source. On Spot.gg you install it from the "Addons" tab at no extra cost.
What's better, WorldGuard or GriefPrevention?
They do different jobs. WorldGuard is for admins protecting spawn and special areas; GriefPrevention is for players protecting their own bases. Many survival servers use both.
Does WorldGuard work on Fabric or Forge?
No. WorldGuard is a plugin for Paper, Purpur and Spigot. Fabric and Forge servers need a protection mod instead.