For many players, Sons of the Forest only truly begins once you have all the available tools. That means you should focus on the story first, so you can make full use of everything the game offers. But that also gives you the chance to make your builds even bigger and better. Thanks to the mix of the two building systems in the game, you can create some genuinely impressive structures. Sons of the Forest gives you plenty of freedom to construct your dream base and maintain it across many seasons. We’ll look at several advanced techniques you can use for even more fine detail.
Preparation for base-building: secrets, blueprints & power in Sons of the Forest
Before you dive into building, we recommend exploring the game and the map thoroughly. Ideally, you’ve finished the story and remain on the island to take advantage of every feature. You can find more about this in our guide if you’re not sure where to go (Sons of the Forest: Story walkthrough with bunkers, keycards & bosses) .
You should also:
- Have all 7 artefacts found and assembled (Sons of the Forest artefact: All 7 parts, locations & functions)
- Get to grips with power and electricity to upgrade your base (Sons of the Forest power guide: Solar panels, batteries, lamps)
- Find all 16 blueprints to unlock rare structures that become extremely important in the late game (Sons of the Forest: All 16 Blueprints – Locations & Uses)
Crossbeam trick for stability and freedom of movement while building
This tip isn’t exactly a secret, yet many players still don’t realise it’s possible. Normally, to maintain your structure’s stability, you keep ramming posts into the ground to support the upper frame. Those interim posts keep everything together — but there’s a trick to remove those annoying centre supports again.
Take quarter logs and place them between the vertical posts and the upper beams as braces. Afterwards, you can remove the vertical posts in the middle and reuse them elsewhere. This span can be up to five tiles long, meaning you can remove up to three vertical logs in total. Do ensure heavy builds (e.g. tall roofs) have additional support so nothing collapses.
Build narrow roofs and set roof pitches correctly
Sometimes you can’t get a roof to meet perfectly at the top from both sides, or the sides feel a bit too shallow. This is where the game’s clever building system shines, because you can use the many small logs probably lying around your base for these roofs.
Lay down a full-length log, then place a half log on it, and then a quarter log. This lets you form a kind of pitched roof that tapers more sharply on both sides than a standard roof. From above, you can finish it with a crossbeam and then fill in the planks. Pro tip: Use a ridge beam and set the pitch symmetrically from there, so rain and snow run off neatly.
Rope gun creativity: railings, windows and transport in builds
The rope gun is one of your most useful tools. It’s not only great for gliding across long distances or moving logs, you can also use it creatively for building. Ropes work brilliantly as slim dividers, railings, or even window elements.
It will cost a few ropes and bolts for the rope gun, but the end result looks fantastic. Place solid anchor points (logs or posts), string the rope, and adjust the height so doorways remain usable. You can remove and reposition ropes later if you remodel.
Use tarps as roofs, walls and trampolines
Most players only use the silver tarps for small tents to sleep in. But there are several other use cases that aren’t listed in the little book.
You can stretch tarps between four logs — horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. They therefore work as roofs or walls. Another function is a trampoline, as tensioned tarps will bounce you into the air. This helps you overcome small height differences and absorb fall damage. Place multiple tarps in a staggered layout to create safe landing zones.
Stone walls as decorative and defensive fences
Large stones are particularly useful for bigger bases and provide a strong contrast to wood. They’re versatile — from a large fireplace to a rock garden. Another great option: build half-height stone walls and ring your base with them.
They don’t just look good; they also provide a modest defensive barrier against mutants and cannibals. For sturdy pillars, you can stack up to four large stones on top of each other and connect them in a line. The same works for horizontal stone foundations. Fill the gaps to your desired height. Combine them with traps and narrow choke points behind to control intruders.
Lanterns and lighting: sticks, torches, skull lamps and power
It’s the little touches along the path that make a base feel complete. Lights are ideal for seeing at night and finding your way back to base.
For a lamp post, you can stack sticks vertically and add a horizontal stick pointing towards the path. The same principle works with logs. Attach torches, skull lamps, or light bulbs, powering them with solar panels and batteries. Through blueprints, you also gain access to floodlights and the grotesque leg lamp. Keep your cable management tidy so you don’t snag on anything.
Planters and self-sufficiency: grow, heal, decorate
Finally, we recommend using planters effectively in your base. They’re great not only for food and medicines, but they also look stylish. Use both standing planters and hanging planters to decorate your base.
You can grow these plants yourself:
- Aloe Vera
- Arrowleaf
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Chicory
- Devil’s Club
- Guarana berry
- Fireweed
- Horsetail
- Salmonberry
- Yarrow
Keep your beds organised and label planters for medicinals, energy, and food so you can grab what you need quickly in combat or winter.
Conclusion: advanced base-building tips for long-lasting bases
With its flexible building system, Sons of the Forest hides plenty of little tricks that not everyone knows. For a long-term save, it’s worth integrating these straight into your structures. Some aspects only become available after finishing the game; once you focus purely on building, you’ll have access to all the resources you need.
The game is even more fun in co-op: Rent one of our Sons of the Forest servers and gather the necessary resources together with your friends.
