PK System Basics
PK (Player Kill) means killing another player who is not in a PvP state — that is, someone without a purple flag. The PvP system draws a clear line between lawful PvP and PK. Attack a player first and you get a purple flag. Kill a player who has no flag and you earn a PK point and karma — a red name.
Karma is a numeric value representing your "crimes." More PKs mean more karma. A red name is visible to everyone and carries serious consequences. The full ruleset is covered in the server rules.
Karma Penalties
A red name turns several systems against you. The table below sums up what karma costs you:
| Penalty | What happens |
|---|---|
| Item drop on death | Chance to drop equipped weapon and armor, including expensive gear. |
| NPCs refuse service | Gatekeepers, merchants and warehouse keepers become unavailable. |
| Town guards attack | Guards strike you on sight inside towns. |
| Free target | Other players can kill you without gaining PK — a red name makes you fair game. |
Losing an enchanted weapon or an expensive armor set when you die with karma is a real and painful risk.
How to Remove Karma
Karma drops as you kill monsters. The more karma you stack, the longer it takes to clear. Grind mobs in safe spots where no one will find you — the Catacombs are an excellent choice thanks to how isolated they are.
An alternative is the Sin Eater NPC quest line. Some classes clear karma faster: Tyrant and Destroyer kill mobs at high speed. Buffs from an NPC Buffer will speed up the process even more.
Karma-Free PvP Rules
Lawful, karma-free PvP is available in several situations: clan war (declared through the clan menu), castle sieges, the Olympiad, and retaliatory PvP (when your opponent struck first). During sieges and the Olympiad, PvP is completely open — no karma, no PK points. For deeper tactics, see the PvP guide.
Safe PK Tactics
Decided to go PK? Minimize the risk. Rule one: never go PK in valuable equipment. Wear a backup set you won't mind losing and keep your main gear stashed in the warehouse.
Pick spots with few players and fast access to mobs. The routine is simple: make your kill, then immediately move to an isolated zone to grind it off. The Catacombs fit best. AoE classes like the Sorcerer and Spellhowler clear karma faster thanks to AoE farming.
Don't let karma pile up. After 4-5 kills the grind to clear it becomes painfully long. Work surgically: one kill, clear the karma, then the next. Mind the time of day too — during off-peak hours you're far less likely to run into PK hunters.
Defending Against PKers
Your defense starts with awareness. Watch the chat for PK warnings in your area. The moment you spot an approaching player, start running toward a teleport or town. A Scroll of Escape ports you to town in seconds.
Farm in a party. PKers prey on solo players. A group of 3-4 can fight back and kill the attacker without gaining karma (retaliatory PvP is lawful). If you're wearing expensive gear, pick high-traffic spots — the presence of other players scares PKers off. Clan ties (the clan system) are your best protection: if a large clan stands behind you, the odds of being attacked drop dramatically.