Building a truly safe base to survive 99 nights in The Forest takes smart planning, smart placement, and a few tricks you might not know. In this guide, we’ll walk through step by step how to put up a fortress that keeps you alive, protects the missing children, and even runs itself when you’re busy out gathering supplies. Also check out the new Alien Update in 99 Nights in the Forest Guide.
1. Choose Your Site Wisely
- Flat ground near resources: Pick a spot that’s mostly level, close to trees and rocks, and not too deep in predator territory.
- Easy access to caves: You’ll need stone and scrap for traps. Being within a short run of a cave makes harvesting quicker.
- Good sightlines: Leave at least two clear approaches so you can see enemies coming from a distance.
2. Build a Perimeter with Tree Walls
- Ring of cut logs: Chop saplings and small trees close to your base. Plant them in a circle using the “plant tree” action.
- Layer it up: Leave about two squares between each planted tree, then add a second ring outside it. When those grow, they’ll form an impenetrable wooden wall.
3. Add Your Core Structures
- Central fire pit: Level it up to at least stage four for cooking, light, and passive warmth. Upgrade with fuel so it never goes out at night.
- Sleeping area: Build beds or hammocks inside. You need a place to sleep, reset your spawn point, and heal.
- Storage racks: Craft wood storage shelves against an inner wall. Keep food, weapons, and scrap where you can reach them quickly.
4. Automate Your Defenses
- Spiked traps: Use defense blueprints to craft spike stakes. Place them two deep just inside each entrance.
- Bear traps: Set these on any open ground where creatures like to wander. They’ll snap shut and immobilize bigger threats.
- Barbed wire (if you find it): Stretch it between stakes and walls. Enemies get slowed and take extra damage stepping through.
5. Layer in Redundancies
- Multiple kill zones: Force enemies to walk through at least two trap fields before reaching you.
- Fireburst barrels: If you’ve discovered explosive barrels in caves, hide them behind weak walls with a tripwire. One spark from your lighter and any mob that follows will clear out fast.
- Backup exits: Leave one tightly guarded back door or cave entrance to make a quick escape if things go sideways.
6. Keep Your Base Running Smoothly
- Nighttime patrols: Even with traps, patrol your walls now and then. Look for damaged spots or walls that need fresh saplings.
- Rescue runs: Send one player out each day to locate and return missing children. Each rescued child gives bonus resources or a morale boost for your team.
- Resource rotation: Store new wood and scrap away from your working area so your main rooms stay uncluttered.
Building the safest base in The Forest isn’t about one big wall—it’s about many small layers of defense working together. With tree walls, automated traps, reliable core buildings, and a clear plan for resource management, you’ll stand a far better chance of surviving 99 nights and bringing home every lost kid. Now grab your axe, gather your friends, and start fortifying. Good luck out there in 99 Nights in The Forest!