In Sons of the Forest, your basic design determines life or death. Waves of enemies, mutants and cannibals attack dynamically – often when you feel safest. This guide shows you how to build efficiently, use materials, place traps and strategically defend your base – for solo and co-op players alike.
1. basics of building – blueprints & freehand system
Since the last major update, Sons of the Forest uses two building modes:
- Blueprint mode: Classic placement of prefabricated structures as in “The Forest”. Ideal for exact blueprints and larger bases.
- Freehand mode: Manual stacking, cutting and turning of logs. More freedom, but also more effort.
Press B to open your build menu. Hold
2. the perfect location for your base
Choose the location carefully – the environment determines resource availability and defensibility:
- Near water source: Saves paths and serves as a natural barrier.
- Slightly elevated position: Gives visibility of attacks and holds off mutants for longer.
- Near the forest: Important for wood supplies, but with a higher aggro risk.
- Coastal areas: Safer in the early game, fewer opponents.
Many experienced players place their base between two biomes – for example at the edge of a forest near a river. This gives you building materials, visibility and retreat routes at the same time.
3. walls, gates & structures
First build a foundation from logs. Then you can build walls by erecting split logs – sharpen them with the axe (hold
Double gates with a roof are recommended for entrances – opponents can otherwise slip in due to bow collisions.
Pro tip: Build walls with a slight external angle. This automatically deflects opponents’ attempts to jump.
4. traps & defense systems
Traps are indispensable in Sons of the Forest, as they stop waves of enemies early on. The best defensive structures include:
- Stick fence (barbed wire substitute): Cheap but effective against standard cannibals.
- Bone Maker Trap: Sets enemies on fire and burns them instantly – provides bones as bonus material.
- Fly Swatter Trap: Perfect for mutants; catapults attackers after contact.
- Happy Birthday Trap: Classic from “The Forest” – several logs hit forward when triggered.
Place traps in concentric circles or staggered by priority (Cheap → Strong). Use natural bottlenecks to make enemy movement predictable.
5. materials & upgrades
Wood remains the main building material, but metal and rope can be used to reinforce structures. Currently (Patch 1.0, 2025), the following materials are the most effective:
- Logs: Base for walls, platforms, roofs.
- Ropes: For traps, suspension bridges, reinforcements.
- Sticks: Fast defense (fences, tripwire traps).
- Bones: Armor and defensive deco – moral effect in co-op.
- Stone: Foundation reinforcement and aesthetic addition, stable against jump attacks.
6. strategic tips for efficient defense
- Use height advantages: Towers or tree houses offer ranged cover.
- Campfires & lights partly keep enemies away (psychological factor in the AI system).
- Defensive layer: Build several rings of fences and traps instead of a solid wall.
- Kelvin & Virginia: Use Kelvin for the wood farm loop and Virginia as ranged support.
Tip: relocate your sleeping areas and supplies inside, as mutants are now targeting structures.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions from the community
- How do I prevent mutant attacks at night?
Lighting, double walls and no open resource stores outside. - What is the safest base position?
River bank with rock face behind – natural barrier + water access. - How do I prevent traps from being destroyed?
Repair after each wave (hold down the build symbol) and place in the second line. - Is it possible to make bases completely invulnerable?
No – AI reacts adaptively. The aim is to slow down attacks, not to prevent them completely.
With a clever building site, reinforced walls and coordinated traps, your base in Sons of the Forest will become an impregnable fortress. Plan in rings, use defense towers and automate your resource management – so you can survive even the toughest mutant waves.
