Building is a gameplay aspect that allows the player to construct objects such as fires and shelters using accessible materials. Various damaged buildings can be fixed using sap or the Repair Tool once they have crafted it. Though there are some buildings like the Custom Foundation that may require logs as part of the repairing process.
To build structures, use the Survival Guide by pressing B
. After choosing a structure, the player can designate where they want the building to be placed. While designating, use R
to rotate the building and your use button (E
by default) to place it. Custom type buildings can have their first point placed by pressing left mouse button
and you can remove the last point by pressing right mouse button
, this can also cancel the placement. By pressing and holding C
, you can erase a building's blueprint. This will return most of the materials back, depending on how much is placed. The more materials that have been placed, the more that will be lost in the process and some are non recoverable, like turtle shells, leaves, and pots.
Quick Find
Fires
Fires may be used to cook meat, stews, boil polluted water with a pot, provide warmth, provide a light source, and/or to protect against or attract cannibals and mutants. They can be fueled with leaves and cash which extends their burn length. They can be difficult to maintain when it is raining. Fires will also damage players if they walk into them with the exception of the standing fire. Fires can be used to burn dead cannibals for bones & skulls. If heads are cooked, they’ll turn into skulls. If arms or legs are cooked for too long, they’ll turn into a bone. There are some fires located in caves that the player can utilize. Fires can be lit with the lighter, molotovs, lit tennis balls and fire arrows. They can also be lit by a leaf pile trap if it is placed on or in a fire. When lit, the leaf pile trap will cause a chain reaction and light the fires at the same time. Fire Thrower Cannibals fire attack can also light fires.
There are four different types of fires currently exist within the game:
Shelters
Shelters are one of the most important buildings in all of The Forest game. They are used for sleep which restores energy, and also for saving your progress. All shelters come with a house overlay icon which marks its location, it can be seen anywhere in the game world. This is advantageous to the player when adventuring, so they can always find their way home. The player can press R
on this icon to change its color, or change it to a white color to switch the icon off. Most of the shelters protect against rain and keep players warm during the night. Like most of other buildings, shelters can be destroyed by cannibals and mutants. Currently there are six kinds of shelters. Two are listed under elevated structures, being the Tree House and Alpine Tree House, which both require a tree to attach to.
Here are the four standard shelters that can be built:
Food and Water
These buildings will provide ways to collect and store food and water, though mostly food. Very useful and cheap to build resource-wise. Their pages contain more information:
Storage Structures
Storage structures are great way how to keep your backpack free of resources, or important items like food, weapons, medicine, etc. Currently there are eight kinds of these structures: (In newer updates of The Forest the Snack Bar and the Medicine Cabinet can hold the same items in 1. E.g. Snacks can go into medicine cabinet and Meds can go into snack bar. They just become Small Cabinet (medicine cabinet) and Large Cabinet (snack bar) in your handbook.
Custom Buildings
Custom buildings give the player the creative freedom to build almost everything, from tiny wooden houses to gigantic fortresses. To improve your own creative shelters. Most of these buildings that can be stretched diagonally, when you do so, it often leaves an invisible portion of the structure stretched out further than you can't see, blocking movement. These buildings allow the most creative freedom of all the buildings in the game:
Name and Image
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Description
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Building Requirements
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Custom Foundation
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- Easiest way to start custom building
- Snaps into place to make it easier to build
- It is great for planning where you're going to build
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Custom Floor
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- Use
C to activate manual mode, on a building
- Has many uses, including bridges
- To build many custom designs, primarily multiple floors
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Custom Wall
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- Use
C to activate manual mode, on a building
- Use
R to change type, to window, doorway, or wall
- To build many custom designs
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Custom Roof
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Custom Stairs
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- Provides custom elevation
- Does not have an automatic mode
- Can be difficult to reach higher areas
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Hole Cutter
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- Removes most buildings, boats, and log sleds
- Helps in creating multiple floors, e.i clears a hole in custom floors for stairs
- Highly destructible, use caution. Saving before use is recommended
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N/A
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Platform
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Side Platform
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- Use the platform blueprint to obtain this
- Can only be placed against set game objects, more cost effective
- Attachable to cliffs, big trees, Cannibal huts & giant tree stumps
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Gazebo
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Rock Wall
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- Stronger than bone fences and stick fences
- Three stacks high will prevent enemies climbing it
- Used for walls, bases, houses, etc.
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Rock Path
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- Decoration purposes only
- Can be removed with the hole cutter
- Can be used to clear grass, will regrow if removed through
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Stick Fence
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Bone Fence
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- Used for walls, bases, houses, etc.
- Stronger than stick fences, weaker than rock walls
- Not automatically stack-able
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Elevated Structures
Elevated Structures are buildable structures that mostly can be built and attached to certain trees. Some structures like the Tree Bridge can be attached to platforms though. The Tree House and Alpine Tree House can be used as shelters to save and sleep. Keep in mind that an Armsy can knock down trees, they spawn after day 7. Even with building destruction mode switched off, they can still knock trees down. These are very safe from cannibals and other mutants.
Name and Image
|
Description
|
Building Requirements
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Tree House
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- Can be slept and saved in.
- After placed, press
R To remove or keep the climbing rope.
- If tree is destroyed, it will be destroyed
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Alpine Tree House
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- Can be slept and saved in.
- After placed, press
R To remove or keep the climbing rope.
- If tree is destroyed, it will be destroyed
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Tree Platform
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- After placed, press
R To remove or keep the climbing rope.
- tree bridges can be attached
- If tree is destroyed, it will be destroyed
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Tree Bridge
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Basic Structures
If the shelters above don't suit you, a custom one can be created using the following components in a way that does:
Utility Structures
Utility Structures are structures that serve and be used to benefit the player:
Name and Image
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Description
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Building Requirements
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Stick Marker
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- Provides a flag marker to note a location
- Can be placed most places in the game, including caves
- Flag color can be changed using
R
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Wood Target
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Climbing Rope
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Sap Collector
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- Attach it to a tree to create an automatic sap collector
- If pot is placed in blueprint and it is cancelled, pot will disappear
- If tree is destroyed, the sap collector is destroyed
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Freestanding Zipline
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- To travel faster and over terrain or water
- Can be used to transport logs
- Can be placed over the sinkhole
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Tree Zipline
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- To travel faster and over terrain or water
- Can be used to transport logs
- If tree is destroyed, the structure is destroyed
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Crane
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- Certain builds can be placed on it, such as storage buildings
- Won't accept log sleds
- Destroys everything it is placed on, use caution
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Birdhouse
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- Attracts birds to where it is placed which will leave feathers behind.
- Does not need to be placed on a tree, can be placed on many structures.
- Works similar to the sap collector, in that it automatically collects
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Furniture
Furniture is used for decoration of your base/shelter/house, though some furniture buildings have practical uses aside from decorating. There are many pieces of furniture that you can build:
Name and Image
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Description
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Building Requirements
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Bench
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- A wooden bench for recovering energy and decorating
- Very cheap to build
- Can block animals
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Bed
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Table
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Chair
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- A stick chair for recovering energy and decorating
- Same purpose as the bench, smaller & more expensive
- Only fits one player
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Fireplace
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- Primarily built for decoration
- Intended to place a basic fire or fire pit inside it
- Does not have a chimney
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Couch
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- A wooden couch covered in deer skin, recovers energy
- Same purpose as the bench, bigger & more expensive
- Fits multiple players on it
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Small Table
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Bone Chair
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- A bone chair which is used for recovering energy and decorating
- Same purpose as the bench, smaller & more expensive
- Only fits one player
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Decorations
As the title implies, most of these constructions are for decorative purposes only, although some of them may provides benefits like lamps, weapon racks or planters. There are many types of decorations that you can build:
Name and Image
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Description
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Building Requirements
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Deer Skin Decoration
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- Places a deer skin on a nominated surface.
- Decoration only
- Will sometimes appear inside the surface, use caution
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Rabbit Fur Decoration
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- Places a rabbit fur on a nominated surface.
- Decoration only
- Will sometimes appear inside the surface, use caution
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Skull Lamp
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- Permanent light source that can be placed on the ground
- Does not provide warmth
- Cannot set the player on fire
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Ceiling Skull Lamp
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- Permanent light source that can be placed on a ceiling of some buildings
- The light flickers, this may be an issue for some
- Provides light, but does not provide warmth
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Decorative Skull
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- A stick with a skull on it that can be placed on a wall for decoration
- Decoration only
- Has no light source
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Head Trophy
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- Attach to a wall, then attach any animal head or mutant head
- Some heads have collision, mainly large ones like the crocodile head
- Heads cannot be removed after attached
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Wall Weapon Rack
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Ground Weapon Holder
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Wall Planter
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Bone Chandelier
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Bone Frame
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- Decoration only, intended to place Timmy's drawings inside it
- It is very difficult to get pictures perfectly inside it
- Pictures cannot be removed or changed once placed, use caution
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Stick Frame
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- Decoration only, intended to place Timmy's drawings inside it
- It is very difficult to get pictures perfectly inside it
- Pictures cannot be removed or changed once placed, use caution
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Small Traps
Small Traps are used to catch wild animals and get food easier, or to fight off mutants and cannibals.
Name and Image
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Description
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Building Requirements
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Animal Trap
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Fish Trap
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Leaf Pile Trap
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- Used to light things on fire
- Triggered by fire
- Works well in front of gates
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Molotov Wire Trap
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- Used to light enemies on fire
- Can be triggered by player, use caution
- No materials are recovered after trap is triggered
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Explosive Wire Trap
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- Can be triggered by player, use caution
- No materials are recovered after trap is triggered
- Will destroy buildings and trees, use caution
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Advanced Traps
Advanced Traps are used to kill mutants and cannibals. They are more difficult to use and all have their strengths and weaknesses depending on the given situation.
Defensive Structures
Defensive Structures are built by players to assist in preventing cannibals and mutants from entering their bases and causing them harm, however these buildings can be destroyed. Defensive Structures are found in the Survival Guide and can consist of, the Defensive Spikes, Defensive Wall, Defensive Wall Reinforcement and the Catapult. The Catapult is especially different because it is more of an offensive building and can even be used as storage. Defensive structures can also include rock walls, stick fences, and bone fences. Though here is a list of specific defensive structures:
Name and Image
|
Description
|
Building Requirements
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Defensive Spikes
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- Enemies cant go through it
- Stronger than defensive wall
- Can be climbed by player, not by enemy
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Defensive Wall
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- Can be upgraded with Defensive Wall Reinforcement
- Gates can be placed inside the defensive wall by pressing
R
- A double gate be achieved by pressing
R on two sections side by side
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Defensive Wall Reinforcement
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- Provides 40% bonus health to defensive walls
- Possibly prevents cannibals from climbing walls
- Spikes don't damage enemies
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Catapult
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- Used to launch many items in the game, including explosives
- Launches 3 items at a time
- Can be used as storage, holds 20 items
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Boats
Boats can be used to travel the waters quickly, to move materials, to be a mobile base, to avoid cannibals, mutants, crocodiles, sharks, and to aid the player in fishing more easily. They can be used when building a base on an island, since most storage buildings can be placed on them allowing for greater movement of needed materials. There are currently three different kinds of boats that the player is able to build: the Small Raft, the Large Raft (Requires two players to operate properly) and the House Boat. The three are similar, but still have their own pros and cons. Many useful structures can be built on boats, including storage containers, campfires, and skull lamps. The dock also comes under boats, though it is stationary and not actually a boat. Here is the list on boat type buildings:
Name and Image
|
Description
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Building Requirements
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Small Raft
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- Used to travel on water
- Difficult to use when structures are built on it due to balancing
- Can capsize rather easy
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House Boat
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- Used to travel on water, good for single player
- Certain buildings can be placed on top of it, different to inside
- Bed not included, provides protection from elements
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Large Raft
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- Used to travel on water, too difficult for single player
- Needs two players to operate properly
- Certain buildings can be placed on it
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Dock
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- Houseboats can be tied to it
- Can be used as a bridge, a very expensive bridge
- Can only be placed on or near water
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These constructions are only available once a players sanity has dropped to 90% or below. They are intended to scare cannibals, causing them to hang back or flee. To build them, you will need body parts from dead enemies or enemy effigies. These are extremely unpredictable as to how they work. It is believed that cannibals will be scared of them providing you haven't created too much hostilities with them. Does not work on mutants. So far there are 4 types:
Name and Image
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Description
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Building Requirements
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Custom Effigy
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- Parts are determined by the player, It sometimes scares away enemies
- Extremely unpredictable, not guaranteed to work
- These are not invulnerable, they can be destroyed by mutants
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Small Effigy
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- A small effigy, It sometimes scares away enemies
- Extremely unpredictable, not guaranteed to work
- Cannot be destroyed by cannibals or mutants
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Large Effigy
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- A large effigy, It sometimes scares away enemies
- Extremely unpredictable, not guaranteed to work
- Cannot be destroyed by cannibals or mutants
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Arm Effigy
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- A effigy built mostly out of arms, It sometimes scares away enemies.
- Extremely unpredictable, not guaranteed to work
- Cannot be destroyed by cannibals or mutants
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Schematic Buildings
These buildings require the schematics to be found first to be able to build them. Once the schematic is found, they can be built from the survival guide in the story item section, this is where the schematics are placed.
Name and Image
|
Description
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Building Requirements
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Tower
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- The tallest building in the game
- Can be built off
- Useful for the glider and coaster
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Glider
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- Allows the player to fly
- Cannot be stored in backback
- When carried, the player cannot attack
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Log Track
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- Used for turtle shell sledding
- Can be used to make ramps, stairs, etc
- Can be cheaper than the custom stairs
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Coffin
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- Decoration only
- Non operational
- Doesn't contain remains
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Cross
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- Decoration only
- Can be built off
- Expensive
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Church
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- Decoration only
- Doesn't come with bible
- The power of Christ doesn't compel enemies
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Special
There is only one special building in the game currently, and that is the SOS signal. The SOS signal is found on its own page.
Name and Image
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Description
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Building Requirements
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SOS Signal
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- Mostly used for decoration
- Calls a plane to go overhead
- Is quite large in its placement
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End Game Buildings
End game buildings are buildings that are unlocked at the ending, if you pick the ending that allows you to continue playing. The SOS signal is found on its own page. Family buildings are unique buildings that only appear after a certain choice is made at the end of the game.
Name and Image
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Description
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Building Requirements
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Timmy Standing
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- 1 of the 4 types of family buildings
- Only accessible after a certain ending is chosen
- Nonfunctional decorative building
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Wife Standing
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- 1 of the 4 types of family buildings
- Only accessible after a certain ending is chosen
- Nonfunctional decorative building
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Timmy Sitting
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- 1 of the 4 types of family buildings
- Only accessible after a certain ending is chosen
- Nonfunctional decorative building
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Wife Sitting
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- 1 of the 4 types of family buildings
- Only accessible after a certain ending is chosen
- Nonfunctional decorative building
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Car
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- Nonfunctional decorative item
- Does not drive
- Can place a sitting wife or timmy first, then place the car
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Dog
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- Doesn't bark, fetch, or roll over
- Could be intimidating to enemies
- Looks like a cot to Farket
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Television
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- Nonfunctional decorative item
- Cannot be placed on the table
- More entertaining than Amy Schumer
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Other
These buildings have been unimplemented, removed or merged with other buildings in the game.
Name and Image
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Description
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Status
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Climbing Rope Platform
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- Was added in the full release v1.0 to replace climbing ropes in caves
- Can only be placed using console commands, not available on PS4
- Cannot be found within the survival guide
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UNKNOWN MOST LIKELY WON'T BE ADDED
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Wardrobe
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- Was added in the game files on v1.11, though not functional or buildable
- Can only be placed using console commands, not available on PS4
- Cannot be found within the survival guide
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UNKNOWN COULD BE ADDED SOON
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Wooden Path
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MERGED WITH CUSTOM FLOOR
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Steps
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REMOVED NOT ACCESSIBLE
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Large Drying Rack
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- Was added in v0.08, and removed in v0.53, replaced by the Drying Rack
- Was difficult to access meat on the rack, so it was replaced with a lite version
- Still has its own game files and can be added with console commands
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REMOVED STILL ACCESSIBLE
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Head Effigy
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- Was added in v0.03, and removed in v0.25, replaced by the Custom Effigy
- Custom effigy still uses the same survival guide image
- Still has its own game files and can be added with console commands, not available on PS4
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REMOVED STILL ACCESSIBLE
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Stash
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- Can place most of games items inside, but can't take them out
- Requires Ultimate Cheatmenu, in Multiplayer Only - spawn [MP]ItemStash_Built
- Status of this building is unknown
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UNIMPLEMENTED ACCESSIBLE THROUGH ULTIMATE CHEAT MENU
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Small Wall
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- A two log high, long wall
- Can only be placed using console commands, not available on PS4
- Status of this building is unknown
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UNIMPLEMENTED ACCESSIBLE THROUGH CONSOLE COMMANDS
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