In Rust, raiding is an inseparable part of gameplay, and it’s impossible to avoid it completely. However, some bases get attacked far more often than others. Usually, these are the ones that “scream loot” by their location or design. For example, a base that’s visible from every road and monument will be noticed first.
Experienced players recommend building far from roads, hidden among trees, or tucked into uneven terrain — not next to oil rigs or water treatment plants. According to server statistics, a significant share of players (sometimes up to half) lose their base within the first 48 hours after a wipe.
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Location Choice and Base Visibility
Building on a “main spot” (near loot areas, roads, or in open fields) is a common mistake.
The problem: such bases are easy to find and often marked as “rich,” since the location itself already suggests the owner has resources.
The solution: choose a more hidden place — away from towns and main roads, ideally in forests, mountains, or on uninhabited islands. Use the terrain to your advantage: on a mountain you’ll be less visible from the sea, while in a forest your base can be concealed by trees.
Lack of Multi Layer Defense (Honeycombing)
A simplified base design without extra walls is a direct invitation to raiders.
The problem: if you build without multi-layered walls (honeycombing), even a single weak point — like a thin wall or a soft door — can let raiders breach quickly. One fragile wall can bring the whole base down, since most modern bases rely on the stability-point system.
The solution: surround your core structure with extra walls and rooms, creating “cells” out of square or triangular foundations so that raiders need significantly more explosives to reach your loot room. Use layered defense: a gradient of materials (stone or armored on the outside, even wood on the inside) makes it harder for raiders to calculate the exact cost of explosives. Make sure floors and walls are oriented with their “thick” side facing outward, and whenever possible, add inner pillars and frames for extra stability.
Avoid transparency in walls and doors: leaving side gaps or see-through elements is a huge giveaway. For example, shopfronts or glass windows expose the interior of your base, while hollow metal frames reveal pathways to entrances.
Solution: minimize windows and transparent defensive elements. If you need interior light, place small openings at higher levels (upper floors, roof), so there’s no direct line of sight from the outside. Consider covering or removing metal double frames, and protect your entrance with an additional wall. You can also add a fake corridor or compartment behind your main door to mislead raiders about where your loot room actually is.
Poorly Protected Loot
Keeping all your valuables in the main room is a common mistake.
The problem: if your core room with the Tool Cupboard (TC) and storage boxes has few layers of defense and only basic doors, raiders can reach everything you’ve stockpiled in a single raid. Offline raiders almost always target the TC first, since destroying it collapses the entire base.
The solution: hide your TC and loot rooms as deep as possible in a maze-like layout. Ideally, add decoy rooms or empty stashes to distract attackers. Spread resources across multiple caches: keep part of your materials in a small hidden stash outside the main base. That way, even if your primary storage is breached, some loot will survive.
Always use code locks instead of key locks — keys can be stolen by killing the owner. A code lock for a door costs only 100 scrap and removes the need for physical keys.
Lack of External Defense: Traps and Turrets
Ignoring defensive mechanisms makes life much easier for raiders.
The problem: without auto turrets and traps, attackers can run freely through your base, quickly killing sleeping players and destroying furniture.
The solution: invest resources into defense. Place auto turrets in key locations (entry corridors, intersections, and loot rooms). Set up shotgun traps in vulnerable passageways and install reinforced doors on every room.
Tip: “Before logging off (especially overnight), deploy as many traps and turrets as possible — this will definitely increase raid time and may even scare attackers away.” Even the most determined raiders struggle to push through heavy fire.
Base Check Up Checklist
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Location: Are there roads, monuments, or other bases nearby? Is your base hidden by trees or rocks?
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Layering: Does your core have an additional wall/foundation ring (honeycombing)? Is there a single weak wall exposed?
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Entrance Defense: Are all passages (doors, hatches) protected with traps or turrets? Do you have uncovered windows that give outsiders a view inside?
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Storage: Is your Tool Cupboard (TC) placed as deep as possible? Is loot split between different stashes? Do all critical doors and boxes have code locks installed?
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Defense: Do you have enough turrets with ammo? Are shotgun traps placed in front of every potential entry point?
Summary
Raids are an inseparable part of Rust, but a well-built base gives you a real chance to survive even under the toughest conditions. Fix the mistakes outlined above: hide your fortress from prying eyes, make entryways more complex, and reinforce your defense with traps and strong locks. This way, raiders will always have to spend more resources and time on you — and you might even greet them with a hail of bullets.
In the end, your chances of keeping your hard-earned loot will rise sharply, and you’ll stop “waking up” every morning to an empty base.
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