Upgrading to a Bigger Base: A Step-by-Step Approach
Don't jump straight to a sprawling base. Growing one step at a time keeps you protected the whole way through.
Once your first small base is established, expanding it into something bigger and more defensible is best done step by step, rather than all at once.
Start Small
Don't try to build your "final" base on day one. A base that grows gradually, upgraded as you gather more resources, is safer than one that's ambitiously oversized from the start but under-defended everywhere.
Always Build an Airlock
No matter how big the base gets, keep a real airlock at every entrance — a single door with no buffer space in front of it undermines the rest of your defenses no matter how upgraded the walls are.
Where to Expand
Two broad approaches: build hidden in the woods, surrounded by resources, or — if you're experienced enough — build partly over water, where one half to two-thirds of the base is surrounded by ocean, making it much harder for raiders to access from most angles. The water approach demands more game knowledge to pull off safely, so it's better suited to players who already understand boat mechanics and water-base layouts.
Mind the Topography
Terrain height and shape around your base affects sightlines, natural cover, and how easily someone can approach unseen. Building with the surrounding terrain in mind, not just flat, open ground, adds a layer of natural defense for free.
Upgrade Ceilings First
It's easy to focus entirely on walls and forget the roof — but a weak-tier ceiling is a viable raid path too (dropping in from above). Upgrading ceilings early, alongside your walls, closes an entry point a lot of new builders overlook.
Upgrade Walls and Foundations Together
Don't leave foundations behind while upgrading walls — a base with top-tier walls sitting on a weaker foundation tier still has an exploitable weak point.
Set Up Traps and Use Code Locks
Traps add a real cost to anyone trying to push through your base on foot, and code locks (over simple key locks) let you manage access without needing to hand out physical keys to every teammate.
Should I build my forever-base immediately after my first small base?
No — grow into it gradually. A base upgraded step by step, with each tier actually finished before moving to the next, tends to be safer than an ambitious build that's only half-upgraded everywhere.
Is a water-based build a good idea for a newer player?
It can be very effective, but it requires more game knowledge (boats, water mechanics, specific layout considerations) to execute well — probably worth waiting until you're comfortable with standard base building first.
Why upgrade ceilings before finishing all the walls?
Because roofs are an easy thing to overlook entirely, and a weak roof undermines strong walls just as much as a weak wall would — it's a commonly missed entry point specifically because it's less visible day to day.
Are code locks worth the extra cost over key locks?
For a base with more than one or two players, generally yes — code locks let you manage and change access without needing to physically hand out (and risk losing) a set of keys.