PvP Minecraft: Java servers

PvP on Java covers three very different games. KitPvP and arena servers hand you gear and reset on death, so you lose nothing but time; factions and lifesteal put your base and your hearts on the line, which means joining an established one is arriving late to a raid war already in progress. Anarchy has no rules at all, including no promises about anti-cheat. Work out which of the three you're joining before you invest a night in it.