diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/Charm.luau b/packages/charm-sync/Charm.luau
index 6b6fb92..0070134 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/Charm.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/Charm.luau
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+if not script then
+	return require("../charm/src")
+end
+
 local Charm = require(script.Parent.Parent.charm.src)
 
 export type Atom<T = any> = Charm.Atom<T>
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/client.spec.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/client.spec.luau
index eaebab2..33f3013 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/client.spec.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/client.spec.luau
@@ -1,19 +1,22 @@
 local Charm = require("../../Charm")
-local CharmSync = require("../")
+local client = require("../client")
 local suite = require("../../../../test/suite")
 
 local atom = Charm.atom
 local subscribe = Charm.subscribe
-local client = CharmSync.client
 local test = suite.test
+local afterEach = suite.afterEach
+
+afterEach(function()
+	client.clearAtoms()
+end)
 
 test("should sync state payload", function()
 	local a = atom(1)
-	local client = client({ atoms = { a = a } })
 
-	client:sync({
-		type = "init",
-		data = { a = 2 },
+	client.registerAtoms({ a = a })
+	client.applyPayloads({
+		{ type = "init", data = { a = 2 } },
 	})
 
 	assert(a() == 2, "should set a to the initial value")
@@ -22,18 +25,16 @@ end)
 test("should sync state patch", function()
 	local a = atom({ b = 1, c = 2 })
 	local previous = a()
-	local client = client({ atoms = { a = a } })
 
-	client:sync({
-		type = "init",
-		data = { a = a() },
+	client.registerAtoms({ a = a })
+	client.applyPayloads({
+		{ type = "init", data = { a = a() } },
 	})
 
 	assert(a() == previous, "should set a to the initial value")
 
-	client:sync({
-		type = "patch",
-		data = { a = { b = 3 } },
+	client.applyPayloads({
+		{ type = "patch", data = { a = { b = 3 } } },
 	})
 
 	assert(a() ~= previous, "should apply patch")
@@ -43,19 +44,17 @@ end)
 
 test("should fix sparse array patches", function()
 	local a = atom({ 1 })
-	local client = client({ atoms = { a = a } })
 
-	client:sync({
-		type = "init",
-		data = { a = a() },
+	client.registerAtoms({ a = a })
+	client.applyPayloads({
+		{ type = "init", data = { a = a() } },
 	})
 
 	-- This patch would be the result of a diff between { 1 } and { 1, 2 } that
 	-- was JSON-serialized and deserialized. The client should be able to catch
 	-- this and convert the string key back to a number.
-	client:sync({
-		type = "patch",
-		data = { a = { ["2"] = 2 } },
+	client.applyPayloads({
+		{ type = "patch", data = { a = { ["2"] = 2 } } },
 	})
 
 	assert(a()["2" :: any] == nil, "should convert serialized arrays to use numbers")
@@ -64,24 +63,21 @@ end)
 
 test("should apply multiple patches", function()
 	local a = atom(1)
-	local client = client({ atoms = { a = a } })
 	local calls = {}
 
+	client.registerAtoms({ a = a })
+
 	subscribe(a, function(value)
 		table.insert(calls, value)
 	end)
 
-	client:sync({
-		type = "init",
-		data = { a = a() },
+	client.applyPayloads({
+		{ type = "init", data = { a = a() } },
 	})
 
-	client:sync({
-		type = "patch",
-		data = { a = 2 },
-	}, {
-		type = "patch",
-		data = { a = 3 },
+	client.applyPayloads({
+		{ type = "patch", data = { a = 2 } },
+		{ type = "patch", data = { a = 3 } },
 	})
 
 	assert(a() == 3, "should apply the last patch")
@@ -91,9 +87,10 @@ end)
 test("should batch patches", function()
 	local a = atom(0)
 	local b = atom(0)
-	local client = client({ atoms = { a = a, b = b } })
 	local states = {}
 
+	client.registerAtoms({ a = a, b = b })
+
 	subscribe(a, function()
 		states.b = b()
 	end)
@@ -102,14 +99,12 @@ test("should batch patches", function()
 		states.a = a()
 	end)
 
-	client:sync({
-		type = "init",
-		data = { a = a(), b = b() },
+	client.applyPayloads({
+		{ type = "init", data = { a = a(), b = b() } },
 	})
 
-	client:sync({
-		type = "patch",
-		data = { a = 1, b = 2 },
+	client.applyPayloads({
+		{ type = "patch", data = { a = 1, b = 2 } },
 	})
 
 	assert(a() == 1, "should set a to the new value")
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/flatten.spec.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/flatten.spec.luau
index 2507b17..ff4848d 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/flatten.spec.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/flatten.spec.luau
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 local Charm = require("../../Charm")
-local CharmSync = require("../")
+local flatten = require("../flatten")
 local suite = require("../../../../test/suite")
 
 local atom = Charm.atom
-local flatten = CharmSync.flatten
 local test = suite.test
 
 test("should flatten atoms", function()
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/patch.spec.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/patch.spec.luau
index 05bfef5..4a68750 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/patch.spec.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/patch.spec.luau
@@ -1,15 +1,33 @@
-local HttpService = game:GetService("HttpService")
-
-local CharmSync = require("../")
+local config = require("../config")
+local patch = require("../patch")
 local suite = require("../../../../test/suite")
 
-local patch = CharmSync.patch
 local test = suite.test
+local afterEach = suite.afterEach
 
-local function serdes(value: { [any]: any })
-	return HttpService:JSONDecode(HttpService:JSONEncode(value))
+local function mockArraySerdes(object: { [any]: any }): { [any]: any }
+	if object[1] then
+		local copy = {}
+		for index = 1, #object do
+			copy[index] = object[index]
+		end
+		return copy
+	elseif table.maxn(object) ~= #object then
+		local copy = {}
+		for key, value in object do
+			copy[tostring(key)] = value
+		end
+		return copy
+	else
+		return object
+	end
 end
 
+afterEach(function()
+	config.autoSerialize = true
+	config.validatePatches = true
+end)
+
 test("returns a patch", function()
 	local prevState = { foo = "bar", baz = "qux" }
 	local nextState = { foo = "bar", baz = "quux" }
@@ -60,7 +78,7 @@ test("preserves array density after serdes", function()
 	local prevState = { "a", "b", "c", "d", "e" }
 	local nextState = { "A", "b", "c", "D" }
 
-	local patches = serdes(patch.diff(prevState, nextState))
+	local patches = mockArraySerdes(patch.diff(prevState, nextState))
 	local applied = patch.apply(prevState, patches)
 
 	for index in next, prevState do
@@ -72,27 +90,11 @@ test("preserves array density after serdes", function()
 	end
 end)
 
-test("preserves large gaps between keys", function()
-	local prevState = table.create(10000, "foo")
-	local nextState = table.move(prevState, 2, 9998, 2, { [1] = "bar", [9999] = "bar" })
-
-	local start = os.clock()
-
-	local patches = serdes(patch.diff(prevState, nextState))
-	local applied = patch.apply(prevState, patches)
-
-	assert(os.clock() - start < 10e-3, `Performance is not acceptable ({(os.clock() - start) * 1e3}ms)`)
-
-	for index in next, prevState do
-		assert(applied[index] == nextState[index], `expected {applied[index]} to be {nextState[index]}`)
-	end
-end)
-
 test("cannot preserve sparse arrays", function()
 	local prevState = {}
 	local nextState = { [2] = "foo" }
 
-	local patches = serdes(patch.diff(prevState, nextState))
+	local patches = mockArraySerdes(patch.diff(prevState, nextState))
 	local applied = patch.apply(prevState, patches)
 
 	-- Not enough information is available to determine whether 'patches'
@@ -102,24 +104,30 @@ test("cannot preserve sparse arrays", function()
 end)
 
 test("optionally fixes sparse arrays", function()
-	for index in next, patch.diff({ 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 }, { 2, 1, 1, 2 }, true) do
+	config.autoSerialize = true
+
+	for index in next, patch.diff({ 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 }, { 2, 1, 1, 2 }) do
 		assert(type(index) == "string", `expected {type(index)} {index} to be string`)
 	end
 
-	for index in next, patch.diff({ 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 }, { 2, 1, 1, 2 }, false) do
+	config.autoSerialize = false
+
+	for index in next, patch.diff({ 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 }, { 2, 1, 1, 2 }) do
 		assert(type(index) == "number", `expected {type(index)} {index} to be number`)
 	end
 end)
 
 test("optionally validates state", function()
 	local success = pcall(function()
-		patch.diff({}, { [0.1] = true }, true)
+		config.validatePatches = true
+		patch.diff({}, { [0.1] = true })
 	end)
 
 	assert(not success, "should not allow non-integer keys")
 
 	success = pcall(function()
-		patch.diff({}, { [0.1] = true }, false)
+		config.validatePatches = false
+		patch.diff({}, { [0.1] = true })
 	end)
 
 	assert(success, "should skip validation if not requested")
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/server.spec.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/server.spec.luau
deleted file mode 100644
index d88b36f..0000000
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/server.spec.luau
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,99 +0,0 @@
-local Charm = require("../../Charm")
-local CharmSync = require("../")
-local suite = require("../../../../test/suite")
-
-type SyncPayload = CharmSync.SyncPayload
-
-local atom = Charm.atom
-local server = CharmSync.server
-local patch = CharmSync.patch
-local test = suite.test
-
-local target: Player = {} :: any
-
-test("sends state to new players", function()
-	local a = atom(1)
-	local server = server({ atoms = { a = a }, interval = -1 })
-	local player: Player, payload: SyncPayload
-
-	local disconnect = server:connect(function(...)
-		player, payload = ...
-	end)
-
-	server:hydrate(target)
-
-	assert(player == target, "should send to the target player")
-	assert(payload.type == "init", "should be an init payload")
-	assert(payload.data.a == 1, "should send the initial state")
-
-	disconnect()
-end)
-
-test("sends state patches", function()
-	local a = atom({ b = 1, c = 2 } :: { [string]: number? })
-	local server = server({ atoms = { a = a }, interval = -1 })
-	local player: Player, payload: SyncPayload
-
-	local disconnect = server:connect(function(...)
-		player, payload = ...
-	end)
-
-	a({ b = 1, c = 5 })
-	server:_sendPatch(target)
-
-	assert(player == target, "should send to the target player")
-	assert(payload.type == "patch", "should be a patch payload")
-	assert(payload.data.a.b == nil, "should not send unchanged values")
-	assert(payload.data.a.c == 5, "should send changed values")
-
-	a({ b = 1, d = 1 })
-	server:_sendPatch(target)
-
-	assert(payload.data.a.b == nil, "should not send unchanged values")
-	assert(patch.isNone(payload.data.a.c) == true, "should send None for removed values")
-	assert(payload.data.a.d == 1, "should send new values")
-
-	disconnect()
-end)
-
-test("preserves history", function()
-	local a = atom(1)
-	local b = atom(1)
-	local payloads: { SyncPayload }
-
-	local server = server({
-		atoms = { a = a, b = b },
-		interval = -1,
-		preserveHistory = true,
-	})
-
-	local disconnect = server:connect(function(_, ...)
-		payloads = { ... }
-	end)
-
-	a(2)
-	b(2)
-	server:_sendPatch(target)
-
-	assert(#payloads == 1, "should only have one payload")
-	assert(payloads[1].type == "patch", "should be a patch payload")
-	assert(payloads[1].data.a == 2, "should send the new value of a")
-	assert(payloads[1].data.b == 2, "should send the new value of b")
-
-	a(3)
-	a(4)
-	b(3)
-	server:_sendPatch(target)
-
-	assert(#payloads == 2, "should have two payloads")
-	assert(payloads[1].type == "patch", "1 should be a patch payload")
-	assert(payloads[1].data.a == 3, "1 should send the new value of a")
-	assert(payloads[1].data.b == nil, "1 should not send unchanged values")
-	assert(payloads[2].type == "patch", "2 should be a patch payload")
-	assert(payloads[2].data.a == 4, "2 should send the new value of a")
-	assert(payloads[2].data.b == 3, "2 should send the new value of b")
-
-	disconnect()
-end)
-
-return {}
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/spec.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/spec.luau
index 84f7760..2fde10b 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/spec.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/spec.luau
@@ -4,10 +4,6 @@ suite.describe("client", function()
 	require("./client.spec")
 end)
 
-suite.describe("server", function()
-	require("./server.spec")
-end)
-
 suite.describe("flatten", function()
 	require("./flatten.spec")
 end)
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/validate.spec.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/validate.spec.luau
index 86d2edb..5d8b99a 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/validate.spec.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/validate.spec.luau
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 local Charm = require("../../Charm")
-local CharmSync = require("../")
 local suite = require("../../../../test/suite")
+local validate = require("../validate")
 
 local atom = Charm.atom
-local validate = CharmSync.validate
 local test = suite.test
 
 test("validates inputs", function()
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/client.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/client.luau
index 3bb778d..40edc76 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/client.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/client.luau
@@ -2,75 +2,72 @@ local Charm = require("../Charm")
 local patch = require("./patch")
 local types = require("./types")
 
-type AtomMap = types.AtomMap
 type SyncPayload = types.SyncPayload
 
-type ClientOptions = {
-	--- The atoms to synchronize with the server.
-	atoms: AtomMap,
-	--- Whether to ignore patches sent before the client has been hydrated.
-	--- Default is `true`.
-	ignoreUnhydrated: boolean?,
-}
+local atomRegister: { [string]: Charm.Atom } = {}
 
-type ClientSyncer = {
-	--- Applies a patch or initializes the state of the atoms with the given
-	--- payload from the server.
-	---
-	--- @param ...payloads The patches or hydration payloads to apply.
-	sync: (self: ClientSyncer, ...SyncPayload) -> (),
-}
+--- @client
+local function registerAtoms(atoms: { [string]: Charm.Atom })
+	for key, atom in atoms do
+		if atomRegister[key] and atomRegister[key] ~= atom then
+			warn("[Charm] Attempted to sync different atoms with the same key:", key)
+			continue
+		end
 
---- Creates a `ClientSyncer` object that receives patches from the server and
---- applies them to the local state.
----
---- @param options The atoms to synchronize with the server.
---- @return A `ClientSyncer` object.
-local function client(options: ClientOptions): ClientSyncer
-	local atoms = options.atoms
-	local ignoreUnhydrated = options.ignoreUnhydrated ~= false
+		atomRegister[key] = atom
+	end
+end
 
-	local self = {} :: ClientSyncer
-	local hydrated = false
+--- @client
+local function clearAtoms()
+	table.clear(atomRegister)
+end
 
-	local function hydrate(state: { [string | number]: any })
-		hydrated = true
+--- @client
+local function unregisterAtoms(...: string)
+	for index = 1, select("#", ...) do
+		local key = select(index, ...)
+		atomRegister[key] = nil
+	end
+end
 
-		for key, value in state do
-			local atom = atoms[key]
+local function applyInitPayload(data: { [string]: any })
+	for key, value in data do
+		local atom = atomRegister[key]
+		if atom then
 			atom(value)
 		end
 	end
-
-	local function apply(data: { [string | number]: any })
-		local target = {}
-
-		for key, atom in atoms do
-			target[key] = atom()
-		end
-
-		target = patch.apply(target, data)
-
-		for key, atom in atoms do
-			atom(target[key])
-		end
-	end
-
-	function self:sync(...)
-		for index = 1, select("#", ...) do
-			local payload: SyncPayload = select(index, ...)
-
-			Charm.batched(function()
-				if payload.type == "init" then
-					hydrate(payload.data)
-				elseif not ignoreUnhydrated or hydrated then
-					apply(payload.data)
-				end
-			end)
-		end
-	end
-
-	return self
 end
 
-return client
+local function applyPatchPayload(data: { [string | number]: any })
+	local target = {}
+
+	for key, atom in atomRegister do
+		target[key] = atom()
+	end
+
+	target = patch.apply(target, data)
+
+	for key, atom in atomRegister do
+		atom(target[key])
+	end
+end
+
+--- @client
+local function applyPayloads(payloads: { SyncPayload })
+	for _, payload in payloads do
+		if payload.type == "init" then
+			Charm.batched(applyInitPayload, payload.data)
+		elseif payload.type == "patch" then
+			Charm.batched(applyPatchPayload, payload.data)
+		end
+	end
+end
+
+return {
+	registerAtoms = registerAtoms,
+	clearAtoms = clearAtoms,
+	unregisterAtoms = unregisterAtoms,
+	applyPayloads = applyPayloads,
+}
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/config.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/config.luau
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3023971
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/config.luau
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+return {
+	--- The interval at which to send patches to the client, in seconds.
+	--- Defaults to `0` (patches are sent up to once per frame). Set to a
+	--- negative value to disable automatic syncing.
+	interval = 0,
+	--- Whether the history of state changes since the client's last update
+	--- should be preserved. This is useful for values that change multiple
+	--- times per frame, where each individual change is important. Defaults
+	--- to `false`.
+	preserveHistory = false,
+	--- When `true`, Charm will apply validation and serialize unsafe arrays
+	--- to address remote event argument limitations. Defaults to `true`.
+	--- This option should be disabled if your network library uses a custom
+	--- serialization method (i.e. Zap, ByteNet) to prevent interference.
+	autoSerialize = true,
+	--- When `true`, patches will be validated before being sent to clients to
+	--- enforce remote event limitations. Only checked in strict mode and if
+	--- `autoSerialize` is enabled. Defaults to `true`.
+	validatePatches = true,
+}
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/flatten.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/flatten.luau
index 5d4a60d..23a4e5d 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/flatten.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/flatten.luau
@@ -1,13 +1,9 @@
-local types = require("./types")
-
-type AtomMap = types.AtomMap
-
 type NestedAtomMap = {
-	[string]: NestedAtomMap | () -> (),
+	[string]: NestedAtomMap | () -> any,
 }
 
-local function flatten(atoms: NestedAtomMap): AtomMap
-	local result: AtomMap = {}
+local function flatten(atoms: NestedAtomMap): { [string]: () -> any }
+	local result: { [string]: () -> any } = {}
 
 	local function visit(node: NestedAtomMap, path: string)
 		for key, value in node do
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/init.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/init.luau
index 249922f..f9c1a8e 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/init.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/init.luau
@@ -1,17 +1,18 @@
 local client = require("@self/client")
+local config = require("@self/config")
 local flatten = require("@self/flatten")
 local patch = require("@self/patch")
 local server = require("@self/server")
 local types = require("@self/types")
-local validate = require("@self/validate")
 
+export type None = types.None
 export type SyncPayload = types.SyncPayload
 
 return {
+	config = config,
 	client = client,
 	server = server,
-	flatten = flatten,
-	validate = validate,
 	patch = patch,
 	isNone = patch.isNone,
+	flatten = flatten,
 }
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/interval.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/interval.luau
deleted file mode 100644
index 1225ecb..0000000
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/interval.luau
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
---- Schedules a function to be called at a fixed interval of `seconds`.
----
---- @param callback The function to call.
---- @param seconds The interval in seconds.
---- @return A function that cancels the interval.
-local function interval(callback: () -> (), seconds: number): () -> ()
-	if seconds < 0 then
-		return function() end
-	end
-
-	local clock = 0
-
-	local connection = game:GetService("RunService").Heartbeat:Connect(function(delta)
-		clock += delta
-		if clock >= seconds then
-			clock = 0
-			callback()
-		end
-	end)
-
-	return function()
-		connection:Disconnect()
-	end
-end
-
-return interval
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/patch.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/patch.luau
index fd449af..859cddc 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/patch.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/patch.luau
@@ -1,16 +1,28 @@
 local Charm = require("../Charm")
+local config = require("./config")
+local types = require("./types")
 local validate = require("./validate")
 
 local flags = Charm.flags
 
+export type None = types.None
+
 --- A special symbol that denotes the absence of a value. Used to represent
 --- deleted values in patches.
-local None = { __none = "__none" }
+local None: None = { __none = "__none" }
 
+--- Checks if a value is the special `None` symbol.
 local function isNone(value: any): boolean
 	return type(value) == "table" and value.__none == "__none"
 end
 
+--- Converts `nil` values to the special `None` symbol. This is useful when
+--- preparing data for serialization, since `nil` can represent both the absence
+--- of a value and the removal of a value in patches.
+local function nilToNone<T>(value: T?): T | None
+	return if value == nil then None else value
+end
+
 --- JSON serialization can drop the last values of a sparse array. For example,
 --- `{ [1] = 1, [3] = 3 }` becomes `[1]` in some cases. Ambiguity in the
 --- serialization of sparse arrays can be resolved by converting them to
@@ -29,7 +41,7 @@ local function stringifySparseArray(object: { any }): { [string | number]: any }
 
 	local dictionary = {}
 
-	for index, value in next, object do
+	for index, value in object do
 		dictionary[tostring(index)] = value
 	end
 
@@ -41,14 +53,11 @@ end
 ---
 --- @param prevState The previous state.
 --- @param nextState The next state.
---- @param serialize Whether to convert sparse arrays into dictionaries. Defaults to `true`.
 --- @returns A patch that can be applied to the previous state.
-local function diff(prevState: { [any]: any }, nextState: { [any]: any }, serialize: boolean?)
-	serialize = serialize ~= false
-
+local function diff(prevState: { [any]: any }, nextState: { [any]: any })
 	local patches = table.clone(nextState)
 
-	for key, previous in next, prevState do
+	for key, previous in prevState do
 		local current = nextState[key]
 
 		if previous == current then
@@ -56,18 +65,20 @@ local function diff(prevState: { [any]: any }, nextState: { [any]: any }, serial
 		elseif current == nil then
 			patches[key] = None
 		elseif type(previous) == "table" and type(current) == "table" then
-			patches[key] = diff(previous, current, serialize)
+			patches[key] = diff(previous, current)
 		end
 	end
 
-	-- Coerce sparse array patches into dictionaries
-	if serialize and (prevState[1] ~= nil or nextState[1] ~= nil) then
-		patches = stringifySparseArray(patches)
-	end
+	if config.autoSerialize then
+		-- Coerce sparse array patches into dictionaries
+		if prevState[1] ~= nil or nextState[1] ~= nil then
+			patches = stringifySparseArray(patches)
+		end
 
-	if serialize and flags.strict then
-		for key, value in next, patches do
-			validate(value, key)
+		if flags.strict and config.validatePatches then
+			for key, value in patches do
+				validate(value, key)
+			end
 		end
 	end
 
@@ -80,7 +91,7 @@ end
 --- @param patches The patches to apply.
 --- @returns The next state.
 local function apply(state: any, patches: any): any
-	if type(patches) == "table" and patches.__none == "__none" then
+	if isNone(patches) then
 		return nil
 	elseif type(state) ~= "table" or type(patches) ~= "table" then
 		return patches
@@ -89,7 +100,7 @@ local function apply(state: any, patches: any): any
 	local nextState = table.clone(state)
 	local stateIsArray = state[1] ~= nil
 
-	for key, patch in next, patches do
+	for key, patch in patches do
 		-- Diff-checking an array produces a sparse array, which will not be
 		-- preserved when converted to JSON. To prevent this, we turn string
 		-- keys back into numeric keys.
@@ -105,6 +116,7 @@ end
 
 return {
 	isNone = isNone,
+	nilToNone = nilToNone,
 	diff = diff,
 	apply = apply,
 }
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/server.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/server.luau
index 880944a..355ea11 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/server.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/server.luau
@@ -1,250 +1,265 @@
 local Charm = require("../Charm")
-local interval = require("./interval")
+local config = require("./config")
 local patch = require("./patch")
 local types = require("./types")
 
-type AtomMap = types.AtomMap
 type SyncPayload = types.SyncPayload
 
-type ServerOptions = {
-	--- The atoms to synchronize with the client.
-	atoms: AtomMap,
-	--- The interval at which to send patches to the client, in seconds.
-	--- Defaults to `0` (patches are sent up to once per frame). Set to a
-	--- negative value to disable automatic syncing.
-	interval: number?,
-	--- Whether the history of state changes since the client's last update
-	--- should be preserved. This is useful for values that change multiple times
-	--- per frame, where each individual change is important. Defaults to `false`.
-	preserveHistory: boolean?,
-	--- When `true`, Charm will apply validation and serialize unsafe arrays
-	--- to address remote event argument limitations. Defaults to `true`.
-	---
-	--- This option should be disabled if your network library uses a custom
-	--- serialization method (i.e. Zap, ByteNet) to prevent interference.
-	autoSerialize: boolean?,
+type RegisteredAtom<T = any> = {
+	atom: () -> T,
+	value: T,
+	valueLastSynced: T,
+	stop: () -> (),
 }
 
-type ServerSyncer = {
-	--- Sets up a subscription to each atom that schedules a patch to be sent to
-	--- the client whenever the state changes. When a change occurs, the `callback`
-	--- is called with the player and the payload to send.
-	---
-	--- Note that the `payload` object should not be mutated. If you need to
-	--- modify the payload, apply the changes to a copy of the object.
-	---
-	--- @param callback The function to call when the state changes.
-	--- @return A cleanup function that unsubscribes all listeners.
-	connect: (self: ServerSyncer, callback: (player: Player, ...SyncPayload) -> ()) -> () -> (),
-	--- Hydrates the client's state with the server's state. This should be
-	--- called when a player joins the game and requires the server's state.
-	---
-	--- @param player The player to hydrate.
-	hydrate: (self: ServerSyncer, player: Player) -> (),
-	--- @deprecated For internal use only.
-	_sendPatch: (self: ServerSyncer, player: Player) -> (),
-}
+type SyncStatus = number
 
---- Creates a `ServerSyncer` object that sends patches to the client and
---- hydrates the client's state.
----
---- @param options The atoms to synchronize with the client.
---- @return A `ServerSyncer` object.
-local function server(options: ServerOptions): ServerSyncer
-	local atoms = options.atoms
-	local autoSerialize = options.autoSerialize ~= false
-	local preserveHistory = options.preserveHistory
-	local syncRate = options.interval or 0
+local PENDING_INITIAL_STATE: SyncStatus = 0
+local LISTENING_FOR_CHANGES: SyncStatus = 1
 
-	local self = {} :: ServerSyncer
-	local sync: (player: Player, payload: SyncPayload) -> ()
+local atomRegister: { [string]: RegisteredAtom } = {}
+local clientRegister: { [any]: { [string]: SyncStatus } } = {}
+local globalUpdates: { { key: string, value: any, previousValue: any } } = {}
+local connection: RBXScriptConnection?
 
-	local function createSnapshot()
-		local snapshot = {}
-
-		for key, atom in atoms do
-			snapshot[key] = atom()
+local function registerAtom<T>(key: string, atom: () -> T)
+	if atomRegister[key] then
+		if atomRegister[key].atom ~= atom then
+			warn("[Charm] Attempted to sync different atoms with the same key:", key)
 		end
-
-		return snapshot
+		return
 	end
 
-	-- Send the initial state to a player when they join the server.
-	function self:hydrate(player)
-		assert(sync, "connect() must be called before hydrate()")
+	local registeredAtom: RegisteredAtom<T> = {
+		atom = atom,
+		value = atom(),
+		valueLastSynced = atom(),
+		stop = function() end,
+	}
 
-		sync(player, {
-			type = "init",
-			data = createSnapshot(),
-		})
-	end
+	registeredAtom.stop = Charm.effect(function()
+		local value = atom()
 
-	-- If the history of state changes should be preserved, keep a list of
-	-- previous snapshots and diff-check each one from the last.
-	if preserveHistory then
-		local snapshots = { createSnapshot() }
-		local changed = false
-
-		function self:connect(callback)
-			local subscriptions = {}
-
-			sync = callback
-
-			local function pushSnapshot(key: string | number, current: any, previous: any)
-				local lastSnapshot = snapshots[#snapshots]
-				local previousSnapshot = snapshots[#snapshots - 1]
-
-				-- Optimize snapshots by updating the most recent snapshot if the
-				-- previous and current values are the same, since this allows us
-				-- to group multiple changes into a single snapshot.
-				if previousSnapshot and previousSnapshot[key] == previous and lastSnapshot[key] == previous then
-					lastSnapshot[key] = current
-				else
-					local nextSnapshot = table.clone(lastSnapshot)
-					nextSnapshot[key] = current
-					table.insert(snapshots, nextSnapshot)
-				end
-			end
-
-			-- Populate the snapshot with the initial state of each atom.
-			-- Subscribe to each atom and update the state when it changes.
-			for key, atom in atoms do
-				subscriptions[key] = Charm.subscribe(atom, function(current, previous)
-					pushSnapshot(key, current, previous)
-					changed = true
-				end)
-			end
-
-			local disconnect = interval(function()
-				if not changed then
-					return
-				end
-
-				local payloads: { SyncPayload } = {}
-				local lastSnapshot
-
-				for index, snapshot in snapshots do
-					lastSnapshot = snapshot
-
-					if index == 1 then
-						continue
-					end
-
-					table.insert(payloads, {
-						type = "patch",
-						data = patch.diff(snapshots[index - 1], snapshot, autoSerialize),
-					})
-				end
-
-				snapshots = { lastSnapshot }
-				changed = false
-
-				for _, player in game:GetService("Players"):GetPlayers() do
-					callback(player, unpack(payloads))
-				end
-			end, syncRate)
-
-			return function()
-				disconnect()
-
-				for _, unsubscribe in subscriptions do
-					unsubscribe()
-				end
-			end
+		if config.preserveHistory and registeredAtom.value ~= value then
+			table.insert(globalUpdates, {
+				key = key,
+				value = value,
+				previousValue = registeredAtom.value,
+			})
 		end
 
-		function self:_sendPatch(player: Player)
-			assert(sync, "connect() must be called before _sendPatch()")
+		registeredAtom.value = value
+	end)
 
-			if not changed then
-				return
-			end
-
-			local payloads: { SyncPayload } = {}
-
-			for index, snapshot in snapshots do
-				if index == 1 then
-					continue
-				end
-
-				table.insert(payloads, {
-					type = "patch",
-					data = patch.diff(snapshots[index - 1], snapshot, autoSerialize),
-				})
-			end
-
-			snapshots = { snapshots[#snapshots] }
-			changed = false
-
-			sync(player, unpack(payloads))
-		end
-
-		return self
-	end
-
-	local previousSnapshot = createSnapshot()
-	local currentSnapshot = table.clone(previousSnapshot)
-	local changed = false
-
-	function self:connect(callback)
-		local subscriptions = {}
-
-		sync = callback
-
-		-- Subscribe to each atom and update the state when one changes.
-		for key, atom in atoms do
-			subscriptions[key] = Charm.subscribe(atom, function(state)
-				currentSnapshot[key] = state
-				changed = true
-			end)
-		end
-
-		local disconnect = interval(function()
-			if not changed then
-				return
-			end
-
-			local payload: SyncPayload = {
-				type = "patch",
-				data = patch.diff(previousSnapshot, currentSnapshot, autoSerialize),
-			}
-
-			previousSnapshot = table.clone(currentSnapshot)
-			changed = false
-
-			for _, player in game:GetService("Players"):GetPlayers() do
-				callback(player, payload)
-			end
-		end, syncRate)
-
-		return function()
-			disconnect()
-
-			for _, unsubscribe in subscriptions do
-				unsubscribe()
-			end
-		end
-	end
-
-	function self:_sendPatch(player)
-		assert(sync, "connect() must be called before _sendPatch()")
-
-		if not changed then
-			return
-		end
-
-		local payload: SyncPayload = {
-			type = "patch",
-			data = patch.diff(previousSnapshot, currentSnapshot, autoSerialize),
-		}
-
-		previousSnapshot = table.clone(currentSnapshot)
-		changed = false
-
-		sync(player, payload)
-	end
-
-	return self
+	atomRegister[key] = registeredAtom
 end
 
-return server
+local function unregisterAtom(key: string)
+	local registeredAtom = atomRegister[key]
+
+	if registeredAtom then
+		registeredAtom.stop()
+		atomRegister[key] = nil
+	end
+end
+
+local function unregisterUnusedAtoms()
+	local used: { [string]: boolean } = {}
+
+	for _, clientAtoms in clientRegister do
+		for key in clientAtoms do
+			used[key] = true
+		end
+	end
+
+	for key in atomRegister do
+		if not used[key] then
+			unregisterAtom(key)
+		end
+	end
+end
+
+local function createHistoricalPatches(): { any }
+	local patchCount = #globalUpdates
+	local patches: { any } = table.create(patchCount)
+
+	for index, update in globalUpdates do
+		patches[index] = patch.diff(update.previousValue, update.value)
+	end
+
+	return patches
+end
+
+local function createHistoricalPayloadsForClient(client: any, patches: { any }): { SyncPayload }
+	local syncedAtoms = clientRegister[client]
+
+	if not syncedAtoms then
+		return {}
+	end
+
+	local payloads: { SyncPayload } = {}
+
+	for index, update in globalUpdates do
+		local patchData = patches[index]
+
+		if not patchData then
+			continue
+		end
+
+		local key = update.key
+		local status = syncedAtoms[key]
+
+		if status == LISTENING_FOR_CHANGES then
+			table.insert(payloads, {
+				type = "patch",
+				data = { [key] = patchData },
+			})
+		elseif status == PENDING_INITIAL_STATE then
+			table.insert(payloads, {
+				type = "init",
+				data = { [key] = update.value },
+			})
+
+			syncedAtoms[key] = LISTENING_FOR_CHANGES
+		end
+	end
+
+	return payloads
+end
+
+local function createPatch(): any
+	local current: { [string]: any } = {}
+	local previous: { [string]: any } = {}
+
+	for key, registeredAtom in atomRegister do
+		current[key] = registeredAtom.value
+		previous[key] = registeredAtom.valueLastSynced
+		registeredAtom.valueLastSynced = registeredAtom.value
+	end
+
+	return patch.diff(previous, current)
+end
+
+local function createPayloadsForClient(client: any, patchData: any): { SyncPayload }
+	local syncedAtoms = clientRegister[client]
+	local payloads: { SyncPayload } = {}
+
+	if not syncedAtoms then
+		return payloads
+	end
+
+	local shouldSendInitialState = false
+	local initPayload: { [string]: any } = {}
+	local patchPayload: { [string]: any } = {}
+
+	for key, status in syncedAtoms do
+		local registeredAtom = atomRegister[key]
+
+		if status == LISTENING_FOR_CHANGES then
+			patchPayload[key] = patchData[key]
+		elseif status == PENDING_INITIAL_STATE then
+			initPayload[key] = registeredAtom.value
+			syncedAtoms[key] = LISTENING_FOR_CHANGES
+			shouldSendInitialState = true
+		end
+	end
+
+	if shouldSendInitialState then
+		table.insert(payloads, { type = "init", data = initPayload })
+	end
+
+	if next(patchPayload) ~= nil then
+		table.insert(payloads, { type = "patch", data = patchPayload })
+	end
+
+	return payloads
+end
+
+--- @server
+local function syncAtomsToClient(client: any, atoms: { [string]: () -> any })
+	if not clientRegister[client] then
+		clientRegister[client] = {}
+	end
+
+	local syncedAtoms = clientRegister[client]
+
+	for key, atom in atoms do
+		registerAtom(key, atom)
+
+		if not syncedAtoms[key] then
+			syncedAtoms[key] = PENDING_INITIAL_STATE
+		end
+	end
+end
+
+--- @server
+local function unsyncClient(client: any)
+	clientRegister[client] = nil
+end
+
+--- @server
+local function unsyncAtomsFromClient(client: any, ...: string)
+	local syncedAtoms = clientRegister[client]
+
+	if not syncedAtoms then
+		return
+	end
+
+	for index = 1, select("#", ...) do
+		local key = select(index, ...)
+		syncedAtoms[key] = nil
+	end
+
+	if next(syncedAtoms) == nil then
+		clientRegister[client] = nil
+	end
+end
+
+--- @server
+local function startSync(onSync: (client: any, payloads: { SyncPayload }) -> ())
+	if connection then
+		connection:Disconnect()
+	end
+
+	local elapsedTime = 0
+
+	local function sync()
+		local patches = if config.preserveHistory then createHistoricalPatches() else createPatch()
+
+		if Charm.flags.frozen then
+			Charm.deepFreeze(patches)
+		end
+
+		for client in clientRegister do
+			local payloads: { SyncPayload } = if config.preserveHistory
+				then createHistoricalPayloadsForClient(client, patches)
+				else createPayloadsForClient(client, patches)
+
+			if payloads[1] then
+				task.spawn(onSync, client, payloads)
+			end
+		end
+
+		unregisterUnusedAtoms()
+		table.clear(globalUpdates)
+	end
+
+	connection = game:GetService("RunService").Heartbeat:Connect(function(deltaTime: number)
+		elapsedTime += deltaTime
+
+		if elapsedTime >= config.interval then
+			elapsedTime %= config.interval
+
+			debug.profilebegin("CharmSync")
+			sync()
+			debug.profileend()
+		end
+	end)
+end
+
+return {
+	syncAtomsToClient = syncAtomsToClient,
+	unsyncClient = unsyncClient,
+	unsyncAtomsFromClient = unsyncAtomsFromClient,
+	startSync = startSync,
+}
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/types.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/types.luau
index 3ccd746..482f91d 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/types.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/types.luau
@@ -1,21 +1,17 @@
-local Charm = require("../Charm")
-
-type Atom<T> = Charm.Atom<T>
-
 --- A payload that can be sent from the server to the client to synchronize
---- state between the two.
+--- the states of the client's atoms with the server.
 export type SyncPayload =
 	| {
 		type: "init",
-		data: { [string | number]: any },
+		data: { [string]: any },
 	}
 	| {
 		type: "patch",
-		data: { [string | number]: any },
+		data: { [string]: any },
 	}
 
-export type AtomMap = {
-	[string | number]: Atom<any>,
-}
+--- A special type that represents a removed value in a patch. This is used to
+--- differentiate between a value that was set to `nil` and an unchanged value.
+export type None = { __none: "__none" }
 
 return nil
diff --git a/packages/charm-sync/src/validate.luau b/packages/charm-sync/src/validate.luau
index 769f410..6d747ce 100644
--- a/packages/charm-sync/src/validate.luau
+++ b/packages/charm-sync/src/validate.luau
@@ -2,25 +2,26 @@ local SAFE_KEYS = { string = true, number = true }
 local UNSAFE_VALUES = { ["function"] = true, thread = true }
 
 local function isTableUnsafe(object: { [any]: any })
-	local keyType = nil
-	local objectSize = 0
+	local key = next(object)
 
-	-- All keys must have the same type
-	for key in next, object do
-		local currentType = type(key)
-
-		if not keyType and SAFE_KEYS[currentType] then
-			keyType = currentType
-		elseif keyType ~= currentType then
-			return true
-		end
-
-		objectSize += 1
+	if key == nil then
+		-- An empty table is always safe
+		return false
 	end
 
-	-- If there are more keys than the length of the array, it's an array with
-	-- non-sequential keys.
-	if objectSize > #object and keyType == "number" then
+	local keyType = type(key)
+	local keyCount = 0
+
+	-- Keys must either be all strings or all numbers
+	for key in object do
+		if type(key) ~= keyType then
+			return true
+		end
+		keyCount += 1
+	end
+
+	-- Array keys must be sequential
+	if keyType == "number" and keyCount > #object then
 		return true
 	end
 
@@ -33,19 +34,21 @@ end
 --- @param key The key of the value in the table.
 --- @error Throws an error if the value cannot be synced.
 local function validate(value: any, key: any)
-	local typeOfKey = type(key)
-	local typeOfValue = type(value)
+	local typeKey = type(key)
+	local typeValue = type(value)
 
-	if not SAFE_KEYS[typeOfKey] then
-		error(`Invalid key type '{typeOfKey}' at key '{key}'`)
-	elseif UNSAFE_VALUES[typeOfValue] then
-		error(`Invalid value type '{typeOfValue}' at key '{key}'`)
-	elseif typeOfValue == "table" then
+	if not SAFE_KEYS[typeKey] then
+		error(`Invalid key type '{typeKey}' at key '{key}'`)
+	elseif UNSAFE_VALUES[typeValue] then
+		error(`Invalid value type '{typeValue}' at key '{key}'`)
+	end
+
+	if typeValue == "table" then
 		if getmetatable(value) ~= nil then
 			error(`Cannot sync tables with metatables! Got {value} at key '{key}'`)
 		elseif isTableUnsafe(value) then
 			error(
-				`Cannot sync tables unsupported by remote events! The value has the key '{key}'.\n\n`
+				`Cannot sync tables unsupported by remote events! The table was found at the key '{key}'.\n\n`
 					.. "This can be for the following reasons:\n"
 					.. "1. The object is an array with non-sequential keys\n"
 					.. "2. The object is a dictionary with mixed key types (e.g. string and number)\n\n"
@@ -54,7 +57,7 @@ local function validate(value: any, key: any)
 		end
 	end
 
-	if typeOfKey == "number" then
+	if typeKey == "number" then
 		if key == math.huge or key == -math.huge then
 			error("Cannot sync infinity as key")
 		elseif key ~= math.floor(key) then
diff --git a/packages/charm/src/init.luau b/packages/charm/src/init.luau
index 36236b2..e718af4 100644
--- a/packages/charm/src/init.luau
+++ b/packages/charm/src/init.luau
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
---!nolint DeprecatedApi
-
 local batched = require("@self/batched")
 local core = require("@self/core")
 local flags = require("@self/flags")
@@ -9,15 +7,11 @@ local observe = require("@self/observe")
 local subscribe = require("@self/subscribe")
 local types = require("@self/types")
 local untracked = require("@self/untracked")
+local utils = require("@self/utils")
 
 export type Atom<T = any> = types.Atom<T>
 export type Selector<T = any> = types.Selector<T>
 
---- @deprecated Function `batch()` is deprecated, use `batched()` instead.
-local batch = batched
---- @deprecated Function `peek()` is deprecated, use `untracked()` instead.
-local peek = untracked
-
 return {
 	core = core,
 	flags = flags,
@@ -32,7 +26,5 @@ return {
 	observe = observe,
 	subscribe = subscribe,
 	untracked = untracked,
-	-- Temporary aliases for backwards compatibility
-	batch = batch,
-	peek = peek,
+	deepFreeze = utils.deepFreeze,
 }
diff --git a/test/spec.server.luau b/test/spec.server.luau
index ab0f072..dfb6d0b 100644
--- a/test/spec.server.luau
+++ b/test/spec.server.luau
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ suite.describe("charm", function()
 	require("../packages/charm/src/__tests__/spec")
 end)
 
-suite.describe.ingame("charm-sync", function()
+suite.describe("charm-sync", function()
 	require("../packages/charm-sync/src/__tests__/spec")
 end)