For many players, Sons of the Forest truly begins once you’ve gathered all available tools. That means you should first focus on the story to unlock the game’s full feature set. The upside: you’ll be able to build bigger and better structures! Thanks to the mix of the game’s two building systems (free placement and blueprints), you can create some genuinely impressive builds. Sons of the Forest gives you plenty of freedom to construct your dream base and maintain it across many seasons. Below, we’ll look at advanced techniques you can use for even more fine detail work.
Prep for base-building: Secrets, blueprints, and power in Sons of the Forest
Before diving into building, we recommend thoroughly exploring the game and its map. Ideally, you’ve completed the story and remain on the island to take full advantage of all features. If you’re unsure where to go, check our guide (Sons of the Forest: Story Walkthrough with Bunkers, Keycards & Bosses) .
You should also:
- Have found and assembled all 7 artifacts (Sons of the Forest Artifact: All 7 Pieces, Locations & Functions)
- Get familiar 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 vital in the late game (Sons of the Forest: All 16 Blueprints – Locations & Uses)
Crossbeam trick for stability and movement while building
This tip isn’t exactly a secret, but many players still don’t realize it’s possible. Normally, to maintain stability, you drive support logs into the ground that hold up the structure above. There’s a trick, though, that lets you pull those annoying intermediate supports back out.
Take quartered logs and place them between the vertical and upper beams as braces. You can then remove the vertical center logs and reuse them elsewhere. This structure can span up to five tiles, letting you remove three full logs in total. Be sure to add extra support for heavy builds (e.g., tall roofs) so nothing collapses.
Building narrow roofs and proper roof pitches
Sometimes you can’t get a roof to meet cleanly at the top from both sides, or the slopes feel too shallow. This is where the game’s smart building system shines, as you can use smaller logs you likely have lying around your base.
Lay down a full log, place a halved log on top, then a quartered log above that. This creates a pitched roof that narrows more sharply than a standard roof. From above, add a crossbeam as a ridge cap and then fill in the planks. Pro tip: Use a ridge beam and mirror the slope from there so rain and snow shed cleanly.
Rope gun creativity: railings, windows, and transport
The rope gun is one of your most useful tools. It’s not just for gliding long distances or hauling logs—you can also use it creatively for building. Ropes work beautifully as slim dividers, railings, or even window elements.
It does cost some ropes and bolts for the rope gun, but the results look great. Set firm anchors (logs or posts), tension the rope, and adjust height so doorways remain usable. You can remove and re-place ropes later if you remodel.
Use tarps as roofs, walls, and trampolines
Most players only use the silver tarps for small tents to rest in between. But there are other uses you won’t find in the little book.
You can stretch tarps between four logs—horizontally, vertically, or at an angle—so they act as roofs or walls. Another function is the trampoline: stretched tarps will bounce you into the air. This helps you overcome small height differences and mitigate fall damage. Place multiple offset tarps to create safe landing zones.
Stone walls as decorative and defensive fences
Large stones shine in bigger bases and provide strong contrast to wood. They’re versatile—think large fireplaces or rock gardens. Another great option: build half-height stone walls to ring your base.
These not only look classy but also provide a modest defensive barrier against mutants and cannibals. For sturdy pillars, stack up to four large stones and connect them in a line. The same approach works for horizontal stone footings. Fill the gaps to your desired height. Combine this with traps and narrow chokepoints to control intruders.
Lanterns and lighting: logs, torches, skull lamps, and power
The right pathside decor completes a base. Lights help you see at night and find your way back home.
For a lamp post, stack sticks vertically and add a horizontal stick facing the path. The same concept works with logs. Attach torches, skull lamps, or light bulbs, and power them via solar panels and batteries. Blueprints also unlock floodlights and the grotesque leg lamp. Keep cable management tidy so you don’t snag on wires.
Planters and self-sufficiency: grow, heal, decorate
Finally, make effective use of planters throughout your base. They’re great for food and medicine, and they just look fantastic. Use both standing planters and hanging planters to beautify your space.
You can grow these plants yourself:
- Aloe Vera
- Arrowleaf
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Chicory
- Devil’s Club
- Guarana Berry
- Fireweed
- Horsetail
- Salmonberry
- Yarrow
Keep beds organized and label planters for medicinals, energy, and food so you can grab what you need quickly during combat or winter.
Conclusion: Advanced base-building tips for long-lasting bases
With its flexible building system, Sons of the Forest hides many small tricks that not everyone knows. For a long-term save, it’s worth baking these directly into your structures. Some aspects only become available after finishing the game; once you focus fully on building, you’ll have all the resources you need!
It’s even more fun in co-op: Rent one of our Sons of the Forest servers and gather the necessary resources with your friends.
