DayZ Console Server File Encyclopedia

What This Is

This encyclopedia documents every user-editable DayZ server configuration file for console (Xbox / PlayStation). Each article covers what the file does, every field explained, what you normally change, how it connects to other files, and what breaks things.

Console Directory Structure

dayzxb/                                         ← server root (Xbox)
dayzxb_missions/
└── dayzOffline.<mapname>/                      ← MISSION ROOT
    │
    ├── db/                                     ← 5 FILES ONLY
    │   ├── economy.xml
    │   ├── events.xml
    │   ├── globals.xml
    │   ├── messages.xml
    │   └── types.xml
    │
    ├── env/                                    ← TERRITORY FILES
    │   ├── bear_territories.xml
    │   ├── cattle_territories.xml
    │   ├── hare_territories.xml
    │   ├── hen_territories.xml
    │   ├── pig_territories.xml
    │   ├── red_deer_territories.xml
    │   ├── roe_deer_territories.xml
    │   ├── sheep_goat_territories.xml
    │   ├── wild_boar_territories.xml
    │   ├── wolf_territories.xml
    │   └── zombie_territories.xml
    │
    ├── custom/                                 ← USER FILES (loadouts, object spawners)
    │
    ├── areaflags.map
    ├── cfgeconomycore.xml
    ├── cfgEffectArea.json
    ├── cfgenvironment.xml
    ├── cfgeventgroups.xml
    ├── cfgeventspawns.xml
    ├── cfggameplay.json
    ├── cfgignorelist.xml
    ├── cfglimitsdefinition.xml
    ├── cfglimitsdefinitionuser.xml
    ├── cfgplayerspawnpoints.xml
    ├── cfgrandompresets.xml
    ├── cfgspawnabletypes.xml
    ├── cfgundergroundtriggers.json
    ├── cfgweather.xml
    ├── mapclusterproto.xml
    ├── mapgroupcluster.xml
    ├── mapgroupcluster01.xml
    ├── mapgroupcluster02.xml
    ├── mapgroupcluster03.xml
    ├── mapgroupcluster04.xml
    ├── mapgroupcluster05.xml
    ├── mapgrouppos.xml
    └── mapgroupproto.xml

restart.log

Map name options: chernarusplus · enoch (Livonia) · sakhal
PlayStation uses dayzps_missions/ instead of dayzxb_missions/

How the Files Talk to Each Other

The Economy Chain

cfglimitsdefinition.xml  +  cfglimitsdefinitionuser.xml
    ↓ defines the shared vocabulary: categories, usage names, tier names, tags
    ↓
types.xml  (db/)                        cfgspawnabletypes.xml
    ↓ what items exist, how many,           ↓ what spawns WITH each item
    ↓ how long they last, where they go     ↓ (attachments, cargo, damage range)
    ↓ uses: category, usage, value
    ↓
mapgroupproto.xml
    ↓ which building spots accept which loot
    ↓ uses: category, tag, usage to filter
    ↓
economy.xml  +  cfgeconomycore.xml  (db/)
    ↓ CE module config and core settings
    ↓
globals.xml  (db/)
    ↓ hard caps: max zombies, max animals, cleanup timers, loot damage ranges

If any name in types.xml (category, usage, value) doesn’t match cfglimitsdefinition.xml, that item either doesn’t spawn or spawns in wrong locations. Silently.

The Event Chain

events.xml  (db/)
    ↓ event scheduler rules (how many, how long, spacing)
    ↓
cfgeventspawns.xml  (mission root)
    ↓ coordinate pools — where events can physically appear on the map
    ↓
cfgeventgroups.xml  (mission root)
    ↓ what objects and loot compose the event site
    ↓
types.xml  (db/)
    ↓ items used by event groups must exist here

An event with no coordinates in cfgeventspawns.xml cannot place. An event group referencing an item not in types.xml silently fails to spawn that item.

The Territory Chain

cfgenvironment.xml  (mission root)
    ↓ wires territory files to the engine — references file paths
    ↓
env/*_territories.xml
    ↓ defines map zones where AI populations spawn
    ↓
types.xml / events.xml
    ↓ creature classnames must exist and be valid

A wrong file path in cfgenvironment.xml silently disables that entire territory category.

The Map Loot Chain

mapgroupproto.xml  (mission root)
    ↓ defines loot slots inside specific buildings
    ↓
mapgrouppos.xml  (mission root)
    ↓ places those building group definitions at world positions
    ↓
mapgroupcluster*.xml  (mission root)
    ↓ cluster grouping of loot positions
    ↓
mapclusterproto.xml  (mission root)
    ↓ cluster prototype definitions

Golden Rules Before Editing Any File

Download the live file before touching it.
Save a backup with a date stamp (types.xml.2026-06-28.bak).
Change one system at a time. Economy one pass. Events another.
Upload to the exact original path.
Re-download after uploading to confirm your edits are present before restarting.
When something breaks, roll back and compare the diff.

File Index

db/ — Core Economy (5 files)

File	What It Controls
types.xml	Item counts, lifetimes, location routing
events.xml	Dynamic event scheduler rules
globals.xml	Global population caps, cleanup timers, loot damage
messages.xml	Automated server broadcast messages
economy.xml	CE core runtime settings

Mission Root — Config Files

File	What It Controls
cfgspawnabletypes.xml	Attachments, cargo, item condition on spawn
cfgeventspawns.xml	Event spawn coordinate pools
cfgeventgroups.xml	Event object compositions
cfglimitsdefinition.xml	Shared vocabulary: categories, tags, usage, tiers
cfglimitsdefinitionuser.xml	User-added extensions to the limits vocabulary
cfggameplay.json	All gameplay rules and toggles
cfgweather.xml	Weather cycle and phenomena
cfgplayerspawnpoints.xml	Player spawn locations
cfgenvironment.xml	Territory file wiring
cfgundergroundtriggers.json	Underground zone triggers
cfgEffectArea.json	Contaminated/effect zones
cfgignorelist.xml	Items excluded from economy
cfgrandompresets.xml	Randomized spawn presets
mapgroupproto.xml	Building loot point blueprints
mapgrouppos.xml	Building group world positions
mapgroupcluster*.xml	Loot cluster groupings
mapclusterproto.xml	Cluster prototype definitions
cfgeconomycore.xml	CE module load configuration
areaflags.map	Zone flag map (military, industrial, etc.)

env/ — Territory Files

File	What It Controls
*_territories.xml	AI zone definitions per creature type

custom/ — User Files

File	What It Controls
Loadout JSONs	Player spawn gear presets
Object spawner JSONs	Persistent world object placement