This Donut SMP beginner guide is for the person who just joined, stared at the screen, and thought "okay... now what?" You're not alone. One r/DonutSMP poster asked how to get started while sitting on about $3 million. The short version: /rtp away from the crowd, bring food and tools, run /sethome, learn the difference between /sell, /ah and /orders, hide your base, and treat every trade like someone's trying to rob you.
Everything below is based on the community wiki as of September 2026. Donut SMP changes a lot (there was a big update in June 2026), so if something here doesn't match what you see in game, trust the game.
Joining Donut SMP
The address and the Bedrock port live in my Donut SMP IP guide, so I won't repeat them here. Same server and same world for Java and Bedrock players. Before you do anything else, lock down your account. Account security is the first thing the wiki's own beginner guide tells you to do, followed by reading the server rules before you touch any client mods.
Donut SMP commands you'll actually use
You'll find longer command lists around. These are the ones a new player needs, and what each one does. Syntax can shift with updates and rank, so type the command and read what chat says back.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
/rtp | Throws you to a random spot. It can land you somewhere unsafe, so bring food and tools. |
/spawn | Takes you back to spawn. |
/sethome | Saves a home where you're standing. Run it without a name and read the reply. |
/home | Takes you back to a saved home. |
/tpa <player> | Asks to teleport to a player. They have to accept with /tpaccept. |
/tpahere <player> | Asks a player to teleport to you. |
/tpaccept <player>, /tpadeny <player> | Accept or refuse an incoming request. |
/sell | The server buys items at a base price. It also routes to a higher-paying player order if one matches. |
/ah | The Auction House. Search it, or list the item in your hand with /ah sell <price>. |
/orders | Buy orders other players have posted. |
/shop | Quick Buy since the June 2026 update: a quick-purchase system built on the Auction House, not a fixed-price server shop. It can spend up to 3x the displayed price if listings move, and it warns you. |
/bal, /baltop | Your balance, and the richest players. |
/pay <player> <amount> | Sends money. |
/block <player> | Blocks messages and teleport requests from someone. |
/settings | Opens your settings. |
Your first day on Donut SMP, step by step
- Secure your account and read the rules. Boring, but the wiki puts it first for a reason.
- Pack before you jump. Get food, tools and some free inventory space together.
/rtpdoesn't promise a safe landing. - Use
/rtpto get away from the central areas. Once you've landed, write your coordinates down somewhere private. Do it after the teleport finishes, not before. - Run
/sethome. Now you can always get back. A home name doesn't make the spot private, so don't go posting coordinates. - Start making money. More on that below.
- Hide whatever you build. Bases get hunted here (see below).
How to make your first money
You start at $0. Before you sell anything, compare /sell, /ah and /orders. The base /sell price is often lower than what players pay. Cheap farms like kelp and crops are the usual way in. The full breakdown, with the money shorthand (1K, 1M, 1B), is in my Donut SMP money guide.
Shards are the second currency, and you earn 1 for every 10 minutes you play. The old AFK area and kill shards are gone. Details in the shards and AFK guide.
Protecting your stuff (and not getting raided)
Donut SMP is semi-anarchy, and the gameplay revolves around base-hunting and Crystal PvP. The world is small for the number of players, and per the wiki most bases get found and raided within days to a month. I haven't found a claim system, so your protection is hiding. My guide on how to hide your base on Donut SMP goes through it.
- Don't share coordinates. Not in chat, not in screenshots.
- Only accept teleport requests from someone you recognise. A request can pull you out of a safe spot.
- Don't leave everything valuable in one place.
Scams and trade safety
Raids aren't the only way to lose your stuff. A /pay moves money, but it doesn't prove the other person sent you the item. The classic mistakes are paying a username that looks almost right, or leaving digits out of the amount. Check both before you hit enter. Real-money trading is banned, so anyone selling in-game currency for cash isn't someone to buy from. The longer rundown is in is Donut SMP safe?. If something does go wrong, the community wiki points to support.donutsmp.net for official support.
Playing Donut SMP on Bedrock
Bedrock players join the same world as Java. You'll need the Bedrock port from the IP guide, and your name shows a leading dot. The commands above work the same, and I haven't found any Bedrock-only ones.
Donut SMP beginner FAQ
What should I do first as a beginner on Donut SMP?
Get food and tools, /rtp away from the busy areas, set a home, then work on your first money.
How do I get rich on Donut SMP as a beginner?
Start with cheap farms, compare the sell routes before you sell, and read the money guide. I won't promise numbers because they move.
How do I get back to spawn?
Type /spawn.
Is there somewhere else to try if Donut SMP isn't for you?
Yes, I rounded up servers like Donut SMP.