PvP zones

Rule sets vary. Many servers do normal drop-on-death in the combat areas and keep deaths lighter in safe regions. Others run keep-inventory but add penalties like money loss, durability loss, or a respawn cooldown. The key thing to check is whether the zone is full loot, partial loot, or no-loot PvP, because that determines whether people fight for gear, control, or just wins.

Usually, if you build in the protected areas, you are safe from being killed at your own door. Raiding rules are separate: some servers also block explosions and block breaking in safe regions, while others allow raiding only in designated wilderness or raid zones. The common promise is that long-term builds are not decided by whoever logs in at odd hours with TNT.

Yes. The nether is a natural PvP space because portals concentrate traffic and the terrain forces close engagements. The end is also common because elytra, shulker shells, and end city loot are high value. A lot of servers keep the overworld more community-focused and put the main risk in those dimensions.

Treat it like a supply run. Carry only what you are willing to lose, keep your hotbar simple, and avoid lingering at borders and portals. Scout before committing, listen for nearby movement, and assume the obvious path is watched. If the server allows it, set a nearby safe-zone respawn or waypoint so one death does not turn into a recovery marathon.

They can, especially at portal exits and zone edges. Well-run servers reduce it with buffer regions, multiple entrances, no-combat spawns, and short portal protections. The practical upside is that camping is concentrated in known places, so you can reroute, bring backup, or counter-push instead of being hunted randomly across the whole world.