Anti-Criminal Code Effect Area, also known as «AREA», divides the field where monsters run rampant and the main town where players make preparations and rest in «Sword Art Online». The insides of a main town is known as «AREA», where the players are absolutely unable to wound other players. The slashing of a weapon would only invoke the system effects, the HP bar will not decrease at all, and all kinds of poisonous items and damage over time will not function, however the piercing damage over armor and equipment will continue to apply. A direct act of violence cannot be performed within the AREA. Only by starting a duel or accepting a duel request can cause the AREA effect to be lifted to the players involved.

There are some loopholes. Requesting a Total Deplete Mode duel to a sleeping opponent by moving ones fingers to press the "OK" button (Refer to Player Killing). Another method is carrying an unconscious body out of the Area, and then attacking them. Homicide is impossible within the Anti-Criminal Code Effect Area unless there are special circumstances. An example would be if while killing somebody outside the area, waiting till there HP runs out, and using the time till they die scattering into polygons to send them teleport them in an AREA.