In Sons of the Forest it’s not just about surviving — it’s also about building. Just like in the predecessor, you have plenty of great recipes to shape the island to your liking. On top of that, there’s a completely new building system that gives you more room for your own ideas and creative builds. Both systems work seamlessly together and cover different aspects of the game. We’ll take a closer look at both and show you how to lay the groundwork for your first base.
Sons of the Forest Blueprint System: Use plans to build your first base fast
Open the build menu with B, then hold X to switch the book to your left hand and enable the classic build mode. This works similarly to the first The Forest: you place blueprints in the world and then fill them with the required materials. Even at the start you already have lots of great recipes available, though some rarer structures unlock later.
At the beginning this system is very handy if you want to build a quick and simple shelter. For example, you have various small structures you can finish in roughly a day. You can place them on the ground or attach them to a tree. However, complex builds often consume many resources, costing time and energy. They’re better suited for later on, once you’re stronger, have a better axe for felling trees, and a steady food supply nearby.
That said, blueprints are essential for certain builds you can’t create with the new freeform system. These include:
- Furniture: Build tables, benches, chairs, and even a bed to make your home more welcoming.
- Traps: Use traps to catch animals and fish, and to defend yourself against the locals. Just don’t walk into them yourself!
- Storage systems: Set up storage for building materials and add shelves or other surfaces for all kinds of items in your home, so your inventory doesn’t overflow.
- Decoration: From paths, wall decor, and light sources to animal pens, there are many additional elements you can place in your base.
- Gardens: With seeds and a planter you can start your own small garden.
The blueprint system is simple and intuitive and every player should make use of it. Building resources have to be added in sequence, so always watch which material is currently required. When you look at a placed blueprint in the world, the required material is shown with a white arrow and can be added with E. All missing resources are listed in a text box at the bottom left — this list includes every blueprint you have placed in the world. You can delete blueprints by holding X.
Sons of the Forest Freeform System: Creative building without blueprints
If you switch the guide book back to your right hand with X, you’ll see different recipes. You don’t place these as silhouettes. Instead, you memorize them and build them directly in the world with the available materials.
This is the completely new freeform system introduced with this game. You work directly with resources and are no longer bound to blueprints! That gives you far more freedom and perfectly complements many blueprinted structures.
Building with sticks: Fire, torches, fences, and traps
First, take a stick from your inventory and experiment with what you can do. You can snap a stick to make a fire, or plant it in the ground to unlock more recipes. A fire should be your initial priority. Your character snaps the stick over the knee and lights the campfire. You can reinforce it by placing seven larger stones around it.
With upright sticks you can build other things. Torches are useful to brighten the night. Wrap a cloth around the stick and place another stick on top. You can also decorate a torch with a skull.
You can also build a fence from sticks to circle your base. And if you hit an upright stick from a specific angle with your axe (shown by a curved arrow), you can turn it into sharpened spikes!
Building with logs: Foundation, walls, palisade
Logs are your most important resource for building. They’re the backbone of large houses and offer far more freedom in Sons of the Forest than in the predecessor.
After felling a tree, you can do many things with a log:
- Split lengthwise to get two flat halves
- Cut into up to four smaller pieces for short stumps
- Drive it vertically into the ground to build a palisade
- Lay it lengthwise on the ground to build a wall
A platform for a house starts with a foundation, which you should first mark with four small log stumps. This also helps level uneven terrain. In general, you can work with the ground and platforms will adapt — though only to a point. Once you’ve placed something, dashed lines indicate additional actions. This helps you keep spacing, add new logs, and unlock extra functions.
The freeform system is very deep and offers many great options for building your dream base. Flip through the guide book to see what’s possible: reinforce pillars and roofs, build stairs, add doors and windows, or even construct buildings out of stone!
Practical tips for base building in Sons of the Forest
- Location: Build near water, resources, and gently sloped terrain. Avoid heavily traveled enemy paths.
- Defense: Secure your base with a palisade wall (sharpen logs) and place traps at chokepoints. Torches help with visibility at night.
- Resource management: Set up storage and shelves so your inventory doesn’t overflow. Stack logs neatly to keep paths clear.
- Efficiency: Plan your foundation first, then build walls, doors, and windows. Use the dashed lines to align placements.
- Safety: Save often, work in stages, and reset blueprints when needed (hold X) if something doesn’t fit.
- Multiplayer: Divide tasks (logging, building, defense) and keep clear paths within the base.
Conclusion: Master both systems and build the perfect base
Sons of the Forest significantly overhauls the building system and is perfect for survivors who want to live in style on the island. Players of The Forest will feel right at home with the blueprint system, but the new freeform system offers far more ways to realize your own ideas and build massive bases. Rent your Sons of the Forest server now and work with your friends on a big house where you can live and survive together. A perfect combination of both methods will help you create your dream home!
