---
title: Managing AFK Players During Pixelmon Battles
description: Keep Pokémon battles moving by configuring AFK behavior on your Pixelmon server. This guide explains how the settings in afk_handler.yml control inactivity timers and automatic turn handling when players stop responding during battles.
source: "https://nodecraft.com/support/games/minecraft/mods/pixelmon/managing-afk-players-during-pixelmon-battles"
image: "https://dynamic-assets.nodecraft.com/signedurl/w7vokBAexMnVlnMZ1Q/image.jpg?modifications=W3sibmFtZSI6ImdhbWVfYmciLCJpbWFnZV91cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2Ntcy1hLm5vZGVjcmFmdC5jb20vZi8xMzM5MzIvMjAwMHg1NTAvZGNiMGFkNjkzOC9jYXZlcy1hbmQtY2xpZmZzLXB0LTItMS0yLTAucG5nL20vIn0seyJuYW1lIjoiZ2FtZV9sb2dvIiwiaW1hZ2VfdXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9jbXMtYS5ub2RlY3JhZnQuY29tL2YvMTMzOTMyLzM3NXgxNTAvM2MxZGIyYmFiNS9taW5lY3JhZnQucG5nL20vIn0seyJuYW1lIjoiY3RhX3RleHQiLCJ0ZXh0IjoiQ3JlYXRlIHlvdXIgb3duIHNlcnZlciEifSx7Im5hbWUiOiJ0ZXh0IiwidGV4dCI6Ik1hbmFnaW5nIEFGSyBQbGF5ZXJzIER1cmluZyBQaXhlbG1vbiBCYXR0bGVzIn1d&s=bdeddaf1961c0f04c88b824314a692fbe1c621d4ba7c896a502fb8b4a52a93aa"
published: "2026-08-16T23:26:02.174Z"
updated: "2026-08-16T23:26:02.174Z"
---

# Managing AFK Players During Pixelmon Battles

Keep Pokémon battles moving by configuring AFK behavior on your Pixelmon server. This guide explains how the settings in afk_handler.yml control inactivity timers and automatic turn handling when players stop responding during battles.

The AFK Battle section contains the options Pixelmon uses for this part of the server. Set battle inactivity timers and determine how Pixelmon handles turns for AFK players.

## Pixelmon AFK Battle Settings

The settings below are listed in the same order as they appear in afk\_handler.yml. The table preserves each default and identifies the accepted value type. The Setting column shows a reader-friendly name first, followed by the matching afk\_handler.yml key for reference.

| Setting and Config Key | Default and Accepted Values | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Enabled** enabled | **Default:** false **Values:** true or false | Whether or not the AFK handler is enabled. |
| **AFK Activate Seconds** afk-activate-seconds | **Default:** 90 **Values:** whole number | The amount of time (in seconds) that a player can be unresponsive in battle before the AFK handler takes control. |
| **AFK Timer Turn Seconds** afk-timer-turn-seconds | **Default:** 15 **Values:** whole number | The amount of time that the AFK handler takes to make a move. |

## Important AFK Battle Setting Notes

### Defaults and Value Types

Boolean toggles, numeric rates, timers, lists, and mappings use different value formats. Preserve the value type shown in the table and keep collection syntax intact when changing afk\_handler.yml.

### Settings That Work Together

Several afk battle options can affect the same outcome. Review related rates, limits, timers, and lists together before deciding that one value is responsible for a result.

### Testing Changes

- Change one related group of settings at a time so its effect is easy to measure.
- Test the result under the conditions affected by the setting, including relevant dimensions, player states, or encounter types.
- Keep a copy of the previous values so unexpected balance or performance changes can be reversed quickly.

## Final Thoughts

AFK Battle settings are easier to balance when changes are deliberate and documented. Start with the defaults, adjust only what the server needs, and verify the result before moving on to the next group.