How to Fix PvP Not Working on a Minecraft Server

Direct answer

Check the server PvP setting plus region, team, claim, minigame, and protection rules that can independently block damage.

What it means

Player-versus-player damage is being blocked by the server PvP setting or by another rule such as a region, team, claim, minigame, or protection plugin.

If you are a player

Identify the affected world, exact coordinates and whether the victim takes no damage, only knockback, or damage from some sources.
Try a consensual duel away from spawn or claims on a test server.
Record whether the player is in an arena, protected region or newly joined invulnerability period.

If you run the server

Check pvp=true in server.properties, then restart if you changed this startup setting.
Check the actual world/claim/region PvP flags and minigame rules, not just the global setting.
Use two ordinary accounts to test direct melee damage and separately projectiles, while tracking the active protection and combat plugins.
Do not disable your protection stack across the whole server to fix one location.

Verify the result: Confirm intended PvP regions allow damage and safe zones remain protected, with non-OP test accounts and the intended game modes.

References

Use the documentation for the exact software and release you run. These sources support the settings or diagnostic behavior used in this fix.

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