Once Human Guide: How to Build and Defend Your Base

In Once Human, base building is not just about creating a safe haven; it’s about strategically defending against waves of enemies while managing resources efficiently. Whether you’re setting up a Stardust resonator or fending off Lovecraftian horrors, building and defending your base effectively can mean the difference between victory and a complete wipeout. This guide will walk you through the best practices for constructing a robust base and defending it against all threats.

---

1. Base Location and Layout

1.1 Choose the Right Location

Location is key in Once Human. You want to avoid building your base in places where enemies can easily swarm you. Here are some ideal spots to consider:

• Near Water: Placing your base near or partially in water can slow down or outright prevent many enemies from reaching you. This is especially useful for funneling enemies into choke points. However, be cautious of flying enemies that can bypass water obstacles.
• Elevated Areas: Building on a hill or elevated structure can give you a defensive advantage. Enemies will have a harder time reaching you, and you’ll have a better vantage point when defending.
• Away from Stardust Resonators: When you’re setting up a Stardust resonator, keep it away from your main base. Enemies will prioritize attacking the resonator, and you don’t want them destroying your main structures in the process.

1.2 Base Structure: Start with a Strong Foundation

A strong foundation is crucial to preventing your base from being easily destroyed:

• Use Triangular Foundations: A circular or hexagonal base layout using triangular foundations provides a more stable structure and makes it harder for enemies to target weak points.
• Double-Layer Foundations: For added protection, consider double-layering your walls and foundations, especially on the lower levels where enemies are most likely to attack.

1.3 Honeycombing for Maximum Defense

Honeycombing is a technique used in many survival games where walls are layered to create compartments of protection:

• Inner and Outer Walls: Build an outer layer of walls around your base, leaving a gap between the inner and outer walls. This gap prevents splash damage from affecting both layers, ensuring enemies need to break through multiple defenses.
• Pillars and Support Structures: Use stone columns or reinforced concrete columns to support the upper levels. These columns should be spread out, as enemies will need to destroy all of them to collapse your base.

---

2. Power Management and Turret Setup

2.1 Efficient Power Management

Power is essential for running your base, especially your defense systems:

• Separate Power Grids: One of the best strategies is to have separate power grids for your base and your turrets. This way, when you’re under attack, you can divert all available power to your defensive turrets. Set up switches that allow you to toggle between base operations and defense mode.
• Solar Panels and Biomass Generators: Place solar panels on the roof of your base to generate power during the day. For nights or cloudy days, use biomass generators fueled by wood. One biomass generator can fuel your turrets for 7-10 days with minimal resources.

2.2 Setting Up Turrets

Turrets are your primary defense against incoming waves of enemies:

• Use Both Shotgun and Rifle Turrets: Shotgun turrets are ideal for close-range combat, especially when placed on the lower levels of your base. Rifle turrets have longer range and should be placed on higher levels to cover a larger area.

• 360° Coverage: Ensure your turrets have full 360° coverage of your base. This can be done by strategically placing turrets facing outward from various corners and edges of your base.
• Gravitational Traps and Sensors: Place gravitational traps around your base to slow down enemies, giving turrets more time to mow them down. Dynamic sensors can also help your turrets detect enemies faster, ensuring quicker response times.

---

3. Defending the Resonator

3.1 Resonator Placement

When running a purification event, the resonator will be the main target for enemies, so its placement is critical:

– Build Far from Your Base: Always build your resonator away from your main base. This ensures that even if enemies destroy the resonator, your base remains intact.
– Protect with Sandbags and Walls: Surround the resonator with sandbags or stone walls to slow down enemies. If you can, place a few shotgun turrets around it to provide additional defense.

3.2 Portable Portals for Quick Access

In larger bases, you may need to move between different areas quickly:

– Use Strange Doors (Portals): These allow you to teleport between the front and back of your base, or from your base to the resonator. This can be particularly useful if you need to check for flying enemies or quickly respond to breaches in your defenses.

---

4. Enemy Spawn Points and Choke Points

4.1 Determine Enemy Spawn Points

Before building your base, it’s a good idea to figure out where enemies will spawn:

– Run a Low-Level Purification Event: Run a level 1 purification to see where enemies are coming from. Once you know the spawn points, you can fortify those areas with extra walls, turrets, and traps.
– Use Natural Barriers:

If possible, place your base near natural barriers like water or cliffs to limit the number of spawn points and funnel enemies into predictable paths.

4.2 Create Choke Points

Choke points are narrow areas where enemies are forced to pass through, making them easier to kill:

– Single Entry Points: If your base is near water, ensure there’s only one path leading to your base. Place traps and turrets along this path for maximum efficiency.
– Funnel Enemies into Turret Fire: Use walls and barriers to guide enemies into areas covered by multiple turrets. This allows you to focus all your firepower on a single location.

---

5. Blueprinting for Easy Rebuilds

5.1 Save Your Base as a Blueprint

One of the most useful features in Once Human is the ability to save your base as a blueprint:

– Create a Blueprint After Building: Once your base is set up and you’re happy with the layout, save it as a blueprint. This allows you to easily rebuild it if it gets destroyed or if the season resets.
– Adapt the Blueprint for Different Locations: If you move to a new location or expand your territory, you can use the same blueprint and adapt it to the new environment.

---

6. Final Tips for Base Defense

6.1 Regular Maintenance

Regularly check your walls, turrets, and power systems for damage:

– Repair Between Waves: Some enemies, especially bosses, can deal significant damage to your defenses. Make sure to repair between waves to prevent breaches.
– Use Paper Doll Deviants: These special deviants can automatically repair your base structures during and after combat, ensuring that your base stays intact without you needing to micro-manage repairs.

6.2 Be Prepared for Bosses

Boss enemies can lob projectiles that deal splash damage:

– Extra Honeycombing: For boss fights, make sure you have extra layers of honeycombing and protection, especially around your power generators and resonators.
– Focus Fire on Bosses: While your turrets handle the smaller enemies, manually target and deal with the bosses to minimize the damage they can do.

---

Conclusion

Building and defending your base in Once Human is all about preparation and strategy. By choosing the right location, setting up efficient power systems, and strategically placing turrets and traps, you can create a near-indestructible stronghold. Remember to adapt your base to the terrain, keep your resonator separate from your main structures, and always be ready for the next wave of enemies. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to surviving the harsh world of Once Human.

Happy building, and may your defenses never falter!