Abiotic Factor: Best base locations

Let’s cover the basics first:

A base is needed so that you have a safe zone where you can store items, craft new items, eat, drink, sleep and use the toilet.

Technically? Anywhere. There are no pre-designed base locations in the game, so you can technically have a base anywhere in the game, as long as you have a powered Crafting Bench. However, some locations are better than others for a base, depending on different factors – for instance, placing a base on a Robot’s patrolling route is a bad idea, as the Robot will likely attack your base. And this is where this guide comes in.

A powered Crafting Bench – this is what sets up a safe zone, inside of which enemies will not spawn, so you can then use this area without being bothered by enemies attacking you or your structures. You will also need the Crafting Bench to craft various items throughout the game.

You know you’re inside a safe zone when this status is active:

Besides the Crafting Bench, you will also need other things:

• Storage Crates to store your items
• A Repair & Salvage Station to fix damaged gear and scrap items into resources
• A bed to sleep on (one bed for each player)
• A Refrigerator (or more than one) to store items that decay, such as meat
• Power supply to your electric appliances (this will be covered further below)
• A Makeshift Stove to prepare food (if there are no other stoves nearby)
• … And more! These cover the basics, but as you progress through the game, you’ll unlock more things that you can place on your base, either for utility or decoration.

Yes. Even though enemies cannot spawn inside the safe zone, they can still spawn outside of it and, if they spot your base, they will then attack it. Additionally, raids will happen on occasion. Therefore, it’s important to keep your base protected with barricades and traps (in addition to also being prepared to defend your base yourself).

Additionally, keep in mind that safe zones do not disable Robot spawns. A Robot will still come out of its station, even if there is a safe zone around said station.

Some factors are important to consider:

• If it’s on the patrolling route of a Robot – as explained above, Robot spawns are not disabled by safe zones
• How easy it is to defend – think of whether or not you’re able to funnel enemies through one or two passages or if enemies would be able to come from all directions
• How close it is to access other areas, whether it’s by tram, on foot or with a vehicle (helpful at the start, but becomes less important later)
• If it’s in an area affected by some sort of condition, such as radiated areas (as you probably don’t want to be constantly taking radiation or have your character constantly freezing/overheating, etc.)
• At least one wall socket (it doesn’t need to be near, you can use Tech Scrap to extend it to your base)

Other things that aren’t as important, but can be helpful:

• Being close to other resources, such as a water source, a fishing location or vending machines (also something that is helpful at the start but is less relevant later)
• Physical space for expansion – while it’s possible to make a base in a small space (and other players have done so), you might want to consider how much space you have if you need to expand your base
• Being close to enemies that you can farm for resources

You can. However, this is a lenghty process since you have to carry everything over to the new location yourself. The bigger your base, the longer it takes to move your base to a new location. Currently, there is no easy way to move your base. Overall, it isn’t worth it – once you have an ideal location that has room to expand if needed, I’d recommend sticking to it.

You can definitely set up smaller or temporary bases in other locations, possibly placing some crates to store some items you might need in that location. However, it’s not really needed. As long as you place a Crafting Bench to use your Personal Teleporter, you can easily just teleport back to your main base.

As explained in the previous section, you need power for your base appliances, such as Refrigerators, Stoves and the Crafting Bench itself. After all, when you have a Refrigerator full of meat, you definitely don’t want it to lose power in the middle of the night.

To power your base, you don’t need multiple wall sockets (although I would advise using multiple ones if possible). However, you do need to know how to use batteries.

To keep it short: do not daisy-chain batteries. While this might seem like a simple way to use multiple batteries, this makes them less efficient. Each subsequent battery in the chain counts as one connected appliance, making each of them less efficient.

The efficient way to use batteries is: place one battery at the base of the chain, then use Tech Scrap and Plug Strips/Boards to distribute power to your appliances. Then, at last, place one battery for each of those appliances.

For the battery at the base of the chain, use a powerful one, since this battery will provide power to all the rest – an Industrial or Carbon battery is recommended, but if you don’t have one of these just yet, then use two Makeshift ones (yes, the second one will be less efficient, but it should be enough until you acquire a better one).

For the batteries connected to each appliance, a Makeshift Battery will do, since it’s only supplying power to that one specific appliance.

The idea is that, when the power goes out, the power chain will first consume the battery (or batteries) at the base. Then, when that goes out, each appliance has its own separate battery to keep it powered through the night and it should last for just enough until the night is over.

For a more detailed explanation on how batteries work, how to distribute batteries and why daisy-chaining is inefficient, check out MechWarden’s guide on batteries:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3255972657

Technically, these are two separate base locations. However, they are so close to each other that they might as well be one (and it could be).

A lot of available space and nearby resources.

If building in the Plaza, just make sure to not build close to the Robot’s patrolling path. Also, a Pest will occasionally come down the stairs, so you might want to place traps at the stairs as well.

If building in the Cafeteria, you might want to either set up traps at the entrance to the bathrooms or place a Crafting Bench (doesn’t need to be your main one) close to it in order to disable enemy spawns in the bathrooms. You might also want to do the same on the door to the Flow Transit area.

Pros:

• Lots of space
• Nearby water source
• Nearby vending machines
• Nearby tram station
• Nearby charging station
• At the center of the Office Sector, close to shortcuts to the rest of the facility
• Traps can be used to farm the nearby Robot for CPUs

At the other side of the tram station is also a good location for a base. While it doesn’t have as much space, there are no nearby enemies and it’s easy to defend against raids, in addition to easy access to the trams.

You can also use Jump Pads or Ramp+Bridges to create an easy access to the other side of the station.

Pros:

• Nearby water source
• Nearby tram station
• No enemies around
• Easy to defend against raids
• Traps can be used to farm the nearby Robot for CPUs

Cons:

• Not a lot of space

This location is accessible after acquiring the Hacking Device. There are no enemies inside and any enemies outside can’t access this location, since you have to climb a ladder to get to it, making it a very easy to defend location.

Pros:

• No enemies around
• Easy to defend against raids
• Not too large but there is a decent amount of space
• Easy access to both level 3 (through the elevator) and level 1 (going down the stairs)

Cons:

• Not well located to explore the Manufacturing Sector, at least until you have access to Personal Teleporters

There is an area above the Data Farms that has a decent amount of space for a base. And because it’s above everything, enemies won’t reach it (the Crafting Bench should disable the nearby spawn of an Exor Monk).

Pros:

• No enemies around (only below)
• Easy to defend against raids (raid enemies won’t spawn inside the base area)

Cons:

• Have to be careful not to fall off the edges (use furniture/barricades if needed)
• Not well located to explore the Manufacturing Sector, at least until you have access to Personal Teleporters

This location is accessible after acquiring the Hacking Device. The Security Office is a favorite location for a lot of players due to a combination of factors: easy to defend since the shutters can be enabled/disabled, it has a coffee machine, charging station, vending stations, lockers and lots of space.

Pros:

• Nearby charging station
• Nearby coffee machine
• Nearby vending machines
• Lots of space
• Lockers can be used for extra storage
• Easy to defend by just using the shutters, after fixing the controls
• Traps can be used to farm the patrolling Robot for CPUs

Manufacturing West doesn’t have a lot of great locations for bases – some are decent but not really great.

The tutorial area that you can access again through a portal is by far the best location due to how much space it has and no enemies to worry about.

Pros:

• Lots of space
• Easy to defend (no enemies in this location)

Cons:

• Not well located, depends too much on the use of Personal Teleporters for transporation (although this is only an issue before acquiring Personal Teleporters)

The camp area giving access to the mines is also a good location for a base due to how much space there is and no enemies around. However, the space can also be a little cramped due to all the things found in this location.

Pros:

• Lots of space
• Easy to defend (no enemies in this location)

Cons:

• Space can be a bit cramped

The kitchen that is close to the Supply Room is a good location for a base since the Grunt that spawns here can be disabled with the Crafting Bench and there are no other enemies around. However, the kitchen also doesn’t have that much space.

The Supply Room can be used for more space, but you might need an extra Crafting Bench to disable enemy spawns in there too. Also, the space in the Supply Room is pretty cramped.

Enemies outside will usually not bother the base too much if you build in the Supply Room, but you might need defenses close to the passage that leads to the bathroom depending on where you’re building.

Pros:

• Easy to defend, as long as enemy spawns are disabled
• Nearby tram station
• Nearby charging station
• Nearby vending machines

Cons:

• Cramped space

The Reception is, arguably, the best location for a base in the Labs sector due to a multitude of factors, such as easy access to the elevator.

The reception itself has a decent amount of space and, if needed, can be expanded outside to the garage where there is a Security Cart (although you cannot build in the spawn location for the Security Cart).

Pros:

• Decent amount of space
• Easy to defend (no enemies around)
• Easy access to the elevator
• Easy access to the Wildlife Pens (for farming Milk Sacs/Leather/meat)
• Nearby Shock Pests in the Lobby can be farmed for Capacitors
• Nearby water source/fishing spot
• Nearby vehicle spawn
• Traps can be used to farm the nearby Robot (use Tesla Coils connected to a lever and Shock Traps, then lead the Robot to them and activate the lever)

There is an area in the Lobby accessible by climbing the stairs that also has an open space suitable for a base.

Pros:

• Decent amount of space
• Easy access to the elevator
• Easy access to the Wildlife Pens (for farming Milk Sacs/Leather/meat)
• Nearby water source/fishing spot
• Traps can be used to farm the nearby Robot (use Tesla Coils connected to a lever and Shock Traps, then lead the Robot to them and activate the lever)

Cons:

• Crafting Bench will disable some of the Shock Trap spawns, which might make it harder to farm Capacitors

This is a cell where you’ll find Dr. Cahn stuck inside. Later in the game, the cell will be opened once you go through the Control Center. Once open, this cell can be used as a base, although it doesn’t have a lot of space.

Pros:

• Easy to defend (no enemies around and raids can only come through one direction)
• Close to 2 Portal Worlds, the Space Queen and the Furniture Store

Cons:

• Not a lot of space

This is right close to the tram station in the Containment area.

Pros:

• Immediately close to the tram station
• Nearby vending machines
• Close to 2 Portal Worlds, the Space Queen and the Furniture Store
• Easy to defend (no enemies around)

This is a large empty area that’s right close to the blocked-off entrance to Containment Block Curie.

Pros:

• Lots of space
• Easy to defend (no enemies around)

Once you’ve gone through the Control Center, the turrets in this area will become friendly to you and hostile to enemies. This will also disable most enemy spawns in the area, except for only a few locations. This, in turn, makes pretty much almost the whole area a viable base location. Of course it doesn’t mean that you have to use the entire area, but you have multiple options on where to set up.

Pros:

• Lots of space
• Easy to defend (turrets will target enemies in the area)
• Nearby coffee machine (in the kitchen)
• Nearby vending machine (in the entrance)

This is a building where, on top of it, you’ll find one of the first snipers. The good thing about placing a base here is that it disables this sniper.

The sniper in the tower close by doesn’t seem to target you here, but you can place a Crafting Bench on that tower if you want to make sure – just use a nearby wall socket and extend it until you can place the Crafting Bench in the tower.

Pros:

• Easy to defend (the Crafting Bench disables the sniper and the enemies below)
• Can expand upwards or downwards if needed

Cons:

• Can be noisy due to enemy infighting nearby

From the same building of the location above, you can jump on top of the big building nearby and find a lot of available space for a base.

Just be sure to disable the two snipers nearby (one on top of the Transformers building, one in the tower) using Crafting Benches so they don’t target you or your base.

Pros:

• Easy to defend (as long as the snipers are disabled, no other enemies will reach this area besides during raids)
• Lots of space

Cons:

• Can be noisy due to enemy infighting nearby

Near the submarine, there is an area that can be suited for a base. Even though there is an alarm blaring nearby, the sound doesn’t reach this area.

Pros:

• Nearby vending machine
• Nearby kitchen stoves
• Kitchen cabinets and lockers can be used for extra storage
• Can expand upwards if needed
• Easy to defend (no enemies around)

Cons:

• Can be noisy due to enemy infighting nearby

Inside of the Hydroplant Building, there is a lot of space for a base. Alternatively, you can also place a base on top of it – it has less overall space, but still has plenty of space and it also has more vertical space if you want to stack crates.

The only problem is the sniper outside, which can target you or your base through the windows. Place a Crafting Bench outside to disable him.

There is also a radiated zone on top of the building, but you’ll need to disable it to progress in the game, anyway. Just make sure that you don’t place the laser in the middle of your base (like in the screenshot above – I didn’t have a base here so I just kept the laser as is).

Pros:

• Nearby vending machines
• Kitchen cabinets can be used for extra storage (if setting up inside the building)
• Can expand upwards or downwards if needed (if setting up inside the building)
• Zipline above can be used for easy access to the Waterfall Apartments
• Easy to defend (no enemies above the building and inside the building, only the sniper can be a problem)

The lobby of the Waterfall Apartments has lots of space for a base. Just be mindful of the two patrolling Exors – the one above shouldn’t be a problem, but the one coming from the men’s bathroom might be able to target your base depending on where you’re building. Use traps if needed.

Pros:

• Lots of space
• Nearby vending machines
• Nearby kitchen stoves
• Nearby water source
• Kitchen cabinets can be used for extra storage

The World in the Mirror is perfect if you want a LOT of space and to be completely safe. Personally, I find this location to be boring because of how eventless it is.

Also, if you’re using the Containment Unit to farm the Leyak, note that the Leyak does not show up here, so this won’t be possible.

Pros:

• Completely safe from any enemies or threats
• A LOT of space

Cons:

• The Leyak cannot be farmed using the Containment Unit
• Lacking walls except for the small area underneath (if you want to place wall decorations, you’ll need to place furniture first)

The top of the Furniture Store has a lot of space for a base. Just keep in mind that the elevator resets every time you visit the store, so you won’t be able to use it to go down to the store itself.

Additionally, having a base here can be a bad idea if you intend to farm the resources from the store, since portal worlds will not reset if there is someone inside.

Also, note that you cannot set up in the store itself or in the store’s basement due to the lack of wall sockets. Only the top of the store has them.

Pros:

• Easy to defend (no enemies around)
• Lots of space

Cons:

• Makes it more difficult to farm resources in here

The rooftop of Rise has a lot of space for a base. As long as enemy spawns are disabled in this area with a Crafting Bench, it’s safe to set up a base here.

However, this falls into the same issue of bases in Portal Worlds: setting up a base here can make it harder to farm resources here since Portal Worlds will not reset if someone is inside.

Pros:

• Easy to defend (no enemies around as long as enemy spawns are disabled)
• Lots of space

Cons:

• Makes it more difficult to farm resources in here
• Music in Rise has a constant banging noise that can become annoying over time

The starting area of Flathill has a lot of space for a base and it’s also a safe location, as Composers will not reach characters here.

As before, this also has the same problem of other Portal Worlds – setting up a base here can make it more difficult to farm resources in this location, due to Portal Worlds not resetting while someone is inside.

Pros:

• Easy to defend (no enemies around)
• Lots of space

Cons:

• Makes it more difficult to farm resources in here

I hope you find this guide useful for your base locations. As mentioned at the top of the guide, not every single location is included, but I tried to include the best ones.

If there are any that you’d like to suggest, please let me know.

More base locations will be included over time, either based on suggestions or when more content is released.