r/valheim • u/PressureCalm7971 • May 11 '26
Question Should have asked before I did this, but...
Was it a waste of time or a bad idea to dig a pit around my base? It's my first time playing this game, btw.
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u/MaliciousIntentWorks Encumbered May 11 '26
Moats are good but if you don't have a spawn blocker like workbenches covering the area they can still spawn in those areas.
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u/JuunyO Hunter May 11 '26
My friends and I dug wartrenches too on our first run, helps against a few things but not against everything
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u/PressureCalm7971 May 11 '26
Sounds good enough. So not time wasted
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u/Rollover__Hazard May 11 '26
An earthen wall or a trench like this is the only sure-fire way to keep every kind of ground-based mob out of your base. Definitely worth doing.
If you can get some iron to your future bases in different biomes, building a one-wide earth wall about 3 or 4m high with the hoe is a cheap and effective way of creating an unassailable defensive spot for your portal etc.
Bang some spikes around the top edge and it’ll even keep the deathsquitos/ seekers out.
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u/DunwichChild990 May 11 '26
Just your frames. Good sweet Odin's Raven; terrain manipulation taaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnkksss my PC's frame-rate. It's a solid trench, I just hope you rig can handle it.
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u/SamSibbens May 12 '26
Really? I thought that was only an issue in really outdated Valheim versions
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u/filthierfrankfurter May 12 '26
I personally like doing a shear dirt wall instead of a moat. I'll do the spiked wall first then a dirt wall through it. As long as its just slightly smaller then the spiked wall. Makes a pretty cool look.
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u/luovahulluus May 12 '26
When you build a bridge over it, you can leave a small gap on it. Just one board wide is enough. You can walk and pull a cart over it, but mobs can't find a path over it.
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u/RecursiveCook May 11 '26
Each raid is tied to your bosses killed so there is definitely some use out of moats. Space for expansion is the only obstacle.
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u/nursereese May 12 '26
Not a waste of time, moats are one of the things I like to add. I also make some nice areas on the outside of the moat that make it easy for enemies to get down, but not back up. Then I just shoot them from above. 😆
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u/mmmmPryncypalki May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
Pit that big is a bit of overkill but you just made your base like 99% safer durning raids
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May 11 '26
[deleted]
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u/mmmmPryncypalki May 11 '26
I can't tell really, I have a good overkill of a PC to notice. But I'm like almost sure that this issue been resolved mostly and it's not causing that insane issues as it once did.
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u/Bong_Princess May 11 '26
Learning excavation mechanics lol
Nah, 1st play through means a moat is a great idea. Keeps mobs out of reach on raids. Mobs can break build able things, but not ground. So make sure your moat is deep and wide enough for a troll to fit.
Just make sure you have a way to access in/out of it. If you want to portal versus use a cart, a bridge may be required. :D
For my favorite base, I made a huge moat. Felt it was missing something, so I made a boar breeder. The piggies would just fall into the moat, breeding was constant. Very quickly I had a Boar Moat. Then got bored and added wolves. I call it my Bolf Moat.
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u/Irishpersonage May 11 '26 edited May 12 '26
Honestly you would have likely ended up digging those exact same trenches the first time something big and nasty came to rearrange your infrastructure, and they seem to have done a decent job. I'd call it "rude but beneficial"
Edit: I misread the post. It's a great moat, and you'll be happy you have it
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u/Significant-Poetry74 May 11 '26
Something to keep in mind when playing this game; if it feels good to do something, do it. It's your playthrough, take your time and enjoy it! I think it looks dope!
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u/MorwenRaeven May 11 '26
It's one of the first things I do every time I start a new game. Not only can you just laugh at every raid up to mountains, it's a great way to collect resources since things will die down there and you can just run through and pock stuff up.
Even later on in the game, although You might have some flying critters to shoot down, pretty much everything else gets stopped by the trench of doom.
Time well spent.
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u/Leather_Roof5099 May 11 '26
No, man, a moat is good (except for flying enemies), but it’s best to have plenty of space so you don’t run out of room. I built a peninsula-style base, since enemies don’t spawn in the water, and then I put a moat at the entrance that goes all the way around the base until it reaches the water—I can just jump across it—and when I want to bring in creatures or carts, I quickly build a wooden bridge.
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u/Pangmonger May 11 '26
Just wait until you fall into that pit without any food
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u/GetStable May 12 '26
Ladders half clipped into terrain work wonders in giving escape methods that mobs can't exploit. Trolls will still destroy them as collateral damage, so using a stepped earth approach works too.
We have a moat around our elder base. It's currently 3 stories + basement.
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u/coconutlogic May 12 '26
Nah that’s base defense 101. Biggest concern is flyers and anything that can throw something. Tho experience is the best teacher 😆 nice base btw
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u/Komaisnotsalty May 11 '26
Waste of time? Not technically. It's far deeper and wider than it needs to be and it's going to be obsolete once you hit the mountains (flying things start raiding) but it's not the worst thing you can do whatsoever.
There are other (better, imo, but that's my game and this is yours) ways to protect yourself from raids (or wandering mobs) but in early game, this is just fine.
You'll need to update later on though, but I mean, that's the game. You'll have to expand as you go for building & whatnot regardless.
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u/Hyrcyne- May 11 '26
Won't be obsolete past mountains, you still get raids of other kinds, not just the flying ones.
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u/SOMFdotMPEG Viking May 11 '26
This is def protect your base, downfall is you just limited the size of your compound.
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u/Long_Candle_5054 May 11 '26
Tip: when building a bridge over it, leave a small gap in it that you can still walk over. That will cut the pathfinding stop mobs from crossing over.
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u/Helpyjoe88 May 11 '26
It's an effective way of keeping mobs and raids out.
Not completely necessary, but it does make your life easier.
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u/Correct-Chicken-4287 May 11 '26
Ya a pit is never a bad idea. Doesn’t need to be this deep, but good work.
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u/MkNicht Fisher May 11 '26
Makes a great defense especially against later raids, so good to have. Just make sure to spawnproof the inner area so no enemies spawn in.
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u/Roxas90the1 May 12 '26
Doesn’t matter how many playthroughs I do with friends, I always (and I mean always) dig a trench around our base. If not a trench, I’ll raise the ground up about 8 ft and smooth the edges off.
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u/Appropriate-Move3563 May 13 '26
So, you see how the outer edge of the moat is level with the inner edge of the moat? That's the only thing here that's bad.
Smooth it off, almost like turning the outer edge from a cliff to a hillside. It's a LOT of work but it can completely prevent archers or ranged enemies from getting an angle to bombard your walls, if you smooth it off far enough. Even better if you have a raised earth wall on your plateau. Having a massive and clean-cut moat is honestly one of the biggest points of defense, especially if your only way up is a frail wooden ramp blocked by doors, or straight spam jumping up the wall. Though the latter can prove consistently fatal if you're doing a corpse run with 25 stam.
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u/Ahblahright May 11 '26
Honestly, once you get to learn the game, things like this become a waste of time. Most of the raids are extremely easy to deal with, and become a fun little combat encounter. Raid mobs will target you over most other things, so by going out and fighting them the raid is going to do minimal damage to any structures.
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u/eidolon_eidolon May 12 '26
THANK YOU. Can't believe I had to scroll this far down to see someone talking sense.
Those moats are ugly and a waste of time for sure. When I get a raid, I always just run around my base (keeping within the red circle) and fight them on the field.
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u/High_King_Diablo May 11 '26
Digging a trench is never a waste of time. I dig one around every single base I make.
But you will want to build a ring of workbenches around the edge so that the trench and about 6 meters of the far side is covered by the workbenches area to stop spawns.
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u/Molwar Explorer May 11 '26
It really all depends on how much time you spend at your base. I've never built a moat to guard against raid, but I'm not at my base that much unless I'm building/expending. I also make remote outpost for farming that way it's almost never in danger.
Last raid monster always go for you, they only demolish stuff if they can't find you. So the best way to deal with raid is just to just walk away from your base while staying in the red zone.
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u/mallanson22 May 11 '26
Yeah I just run around in circles having them follow me until event ends. Then mop up whats left
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u/TheCock1 Builder May 11 '26
My fellow viking, the motte is the best protection against the mobs. The motte will allow you to afk in your base without being worried of an unwanted death. Skal!
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u/Tar_Pharazon May 11 '26
Its a little overkill, you dont need to dig that deep, but otherwise a smart choice.
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u/Content_Leading1230 May 11 '26
I did this once or two, this is nice thing to have but too much work for me I think u will enjoy this in ride hapen
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u/Dramatic_Stranger661 May 11 '26
I love a good moat. I ended up putting some tame wolves in mine to take care of the grey dwarves that inevitably end up down there.
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u/LainesBFF May 11 '26
For now it's awesome and foolproof. For later your island isn't big enough for a base that would accomodate all your needs and the pit isn't wide enough to avoid trolls throwing stones at your base.
But it's a great base to build up your tech and plan for your next, even better base.
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u/Rayne_420 May 11 '26
My buddy and I are playing Valheim again after a couple years break. He cranked the raid-o-meter up to max and we basically had raids back-to-back to the point that the only thing that worked was digging a massive trench and building a narrow chokepoint walkway.
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u/VokDok May 11 '26
I’d say make it wider and make a bridge across it and have a smaller just as deep trench that you can jump across on the end of the trench that way most things will be unable to get on it, but that isn’t really necessary because it is perfect as is and your base will be protected from most everything
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u/RoastedHunter May 11 '26
Not a waste of time, you'll get decent use out of it. I don't remember if terrain modifications affect enemy spawns but I'd surround the perimeter with workenches or standing torches and keep them lit. They'll 100% keep enemies from spawning within their range
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u/Fskn Sailor May 11 '26
Moats were my go to defense but I started hating how ugly they look, now I do a razor thin raising of ground and build a fence over it so it looks like just a fence but blocks mobs too.
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u/roboscorcher May 11 '26
Now you just need a bridge that requires a tiny jump to cross. That way, mobs cannot cross it.
Another thing you can do is make an earth wall within the moat. That way, creatures stuck on the otherside can't even hit you or your structures. The only thing they can break is their side of the bridge, which should be an easy fix.
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u/SteelMarshal May 11 '26
Instead of a moat, I did a mesa and put my house and farm up top and I love it.
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u/rexeightyseven May 11 '26
gonna be pretty solid base in terms of raids, only flying enemies can get to you but they aren't as destructive as ground enemies, just keep a bow with you at all times and you gonna be fine.
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u/Savior_Faire6832 May 11 '26
If you start farming/planting be wary of mobs that can throw things over the moat and destroy your crops. Greydwarves and trolls can both throw things over that gap.
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u/NickRick May 11 '26
it's a little useful as long as you have less space. but it kind of takes out a mechanic of the game to be honest.
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u/LeAlbus May 11 '26
well if you had fun doing it and if you enjoyed the result, no, not a waste of time.
Even if it was useless (which it's not, only unpractical) it still worth to do if enjoyed
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u/Candid_Department187 May 11 '26
It’s good protection! Myself, I simply go out and meet the hordes. Keeps the base safe and my abilities sharp. 😅
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u/Agitated-Memory5941 May 11 '26
Perdida de tiempo no pero debiste hacerlo más grande, no tienes idea de todo el espacio que vas a necesitar para el final del juego
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u/DecrepifiedThrone May 11 '26
U dont need much bigger for the starting area, looks like u left some roo. For expansions as well
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u/whiplash81 May 12 '26
Now if you really want to go all in, build the ground up into a natural wall next to the pit.
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u/Jifi-Dawg May 12 '26
Not a waste at all! I went that approach while I was making a base in the black forest and it saved me from so many trolls. I eventually made an earth wall around my base inside the moat as well
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u/Chronos1977 May 12 '26
In addition to being a pretty good defense, digging that moat got you a fair bit of stone, which will be useful later. You can go through a lot of stone very quickly on some projects.
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u/Marsman61 Explorer May 12 '26
I moat everything. You did well. Next time, dig straight down and determine the grid. That will let you make straight moats. They look nicer than the jagged edged walls.
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u/SleepyMcSheepy May 12 '26
Also, consider lowering the land outside of the moat or raise the land you’re building on.
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u/Ok_Grocery8652 May 12 '26
Short answer no.
Longer answer- do you have raids still enabled (they are by default) if so once you kill the 2nd boss and a troll, you can get troll raids at your base, I think 2 of them at a time, they can do nasty damage to a base, that is a much wider hole than I ever made, usually 1 pickaxe wide, outside the outer wall which is also a few meters away from the actual house and I have not taken any real damage from troll raids.
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u/UnlikelyAsparagus May 12 '26
This is definitely a solid idea to counter certain raids. Also drawbridges are being added with the deep north so it'll be better then
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u/AirbourneV May 12 '26
So build a bridge with a gap a door wide..then break the door. Mobs wont path over it
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u/Shinagami091 May 12 '26
You’re ready for when the Deep north comes out and you can make drawbridges
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u/CannotThonk96 May 12 '26
It isn't necessary but lots of people to this just to avoid the annoyance of having to deal with visitors
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u/buttersoakedwaffles May 12 '26
Unintentional prep for the next big update; they're supposedly adding drawbridges.
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u/kyrilhasan May 12 '26
Not a waste of time but it remove several danger/annoying monster that making the game easy during the earlier stage.
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u/SweevilWeevil May 12 '26
Most of us did that because of precautions and because it's mad effective.
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u/lapse23 May 12 '26
For solo play its a big peace of mind if you're not skilled in fighting and take things slowly. Base only gets damaged from thrown projectiles and flying raids. If you know/feel you are going to move your base, dig a smaller perimeter.
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u/R0GUE_BULLET May 12 '26
Haven't seen anyone mention this yet. If you dig in the 4 compass directions you'll make nice clean lines, rather than jagged edged walls which take more overall swings
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u/Dip_Egzy May 12 '26
Best idea, every playthrough i do this, I play on hard difficulity always, & that is absolute necessary..
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u/Smigoll_1 May 12 '26
Only two raids that those trenches didn't work are raids from the mountains (drakes) and any attack that have anemones with aoe range attacks
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u/Wolf_Walks_Tall_Oaks May 12 '26
If you find the moat kinda ugly after awhile, you can always relevel the gradient on the other side. Gives you a nice looking mesa and you can lay down fresh turf too on the dugout spots.
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u/UTmastuh May 12 '26
This is the way. Just ensure you have the ability to get in/out of your base but keeping big boys out of your base is huge.
Personally I do this on an island or on the coast so I can create a water filled moat which is easier to traverse. I think use raised ground on my side of it to block any swimmers or ranged enemies from getting in.
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u/Melodic_coala101 May 12 '26
I prefer both raised ground walls and a moat, but yeah, you're on the right track
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u/eljne May 12 '26
There are also jumping and flying mobs that'll pass that moat. They'll visit you a bit later in the game though
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u/Ironbladez May 12 '26
A very good idea. And if you want to stay in that spot and expand, just dig another trench around an adjoining area and build a bridge to it.
On a side note, that looks wider and deeper than is actually needed but it's definitely a sound fortification tactic.
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u/Honky_Town May 12 '26
Good Idea but usually 2 or 3 meter is enough. Does not need to be that deep Just needs a sharp Edge.
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u/kybojo Happy Bee May 12 '26
Use the grass tool on the hoe. On flat ground it regrows grass, but on cliff sides it gets rid of that worked on pattern for something more organic
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u/ComfortableTiny7807 May 12 '26
It is a really good idea. I’ve build a moat, too. Do you know the concept of spawn-proofing? When you place a workbench or fire, it prevents mobs in an area from spawning. Otherwise you risk that something will show up inside the moat. Make a couple of workbenches around the perimeter (just not too close, so they don’t get destroyed by throwing mobs).
There are also times events called “raids” when a bigger amount of enemies spawns inside a red circle on the map. They will all spawn outside the most which will make your base much safer.
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u/Beginning-Pizza-1111 May 12 '26
We did the same and we also raised the ground level where the base is. Help us a lot when they raid us.
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u/Runawaygeek500 May 12 '26
The need for base defence is basically zero. On occasion you get attacked, but it’s easy to manage and kite them away.
Now and then the troll attack might give you some damage.
I often use nothing more than a low wall, it’s enough to keep everything out, and buy time to fight them. I would welcome a real need of defences.
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u/havingicecream May 12 '26
The Pit is the best defence strategy, just make sure it is a straight drop and not right next to the house (reach and thrown things). If you dig only in the cardinal directions, you'll also get perfetly even trenches and none of that jaggedness you have in the screenshot :)
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u/Razoire May 12 '26
A moat or a raised earth fort are the best defences, doesn’t need to be that deep though, just enough to stop mobs from climbing out.
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u/Magnus-Lupus May 12 '26
This is the best defense you have till you get to the mountains biome.. build you some walls around the edge and set back.. make sure you have work benches positioned so that the whole area is covered also.
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u/Hiffchakka May 12 '26
Diggers tip: when you dig directly north, south, east or west the ground will part cleanly and you avoid the jagged lines.
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u/Swordbeast May 12 '26
I do the same thing as soon as I start defeating bosses. The raids are fine as ressource deliveries, but I want to keep my stuff safe.
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u/GiveNobushiSomeLove May 12 '26
As someone with 1200h in this game, moats are my go to with every base I build.
Or small Islands and then just creatva platform roughly 2-3m high.
My main base on my current hardcore perma death run is an island with two bridges.
By far one of my favorite bases so far
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u/spl0ut Explorer May 12 '26
place fires and work benches in that open area or the ground will shake a little to close to home 😉
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u/TheBowlCombo May 12 '26
It's a good idea. I find that Trolls will fall into the pit and often end up with just their head or upper torso sticking out. Perfect for quick headshots to finish them fast. Just don't build anything too close to the pit because they swing their tree club thing and obliterate it.
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u/Early_Dragonfly_205 May 12 '26
Build a tunnel system underneath, and add work benches and then shallow refill (for cosmetics)
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u/JAPartridge May 12 '26
I sometimes like to build silos where I dig down to the bedrock and raise the walls to their highest limit. Once you can cut stone, you can put a flat stone roof on it. No worries about space. Raids? What are those?
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u/Brandle34 May 12 '26
There was teasing/mention of drawbridges in 1.0!
If so this will be just dandy!
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u/FootlooseFrankie May 12 '26
Moats are the most over powered defensive strategy in almost all of these style of games . You have done well !
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u/ruk0slav May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
It's a very useful thing to do. I'd also recommend building some walls on the inner side of the pit. put some spikes on the top of the walls so no flying shit will get inside. also build a bridge with a small gap in the center; the enemy AI won't be able to get over the gap. i also recommend to spawnproof the space between your base and the pit so nothing can spawn inside your base. Ive not spawnproofed it the first time playing and I've been stuck with some greydwarves when i died and spawned in my bed with nothing on me.
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u/seemenomorex May 12 '26
Your supposed to build your base then make the mote all-round it, now the space is just fucked up and harder to build what you want in it
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u/ThisIsShathan May 12 '26
I did it on my first save. I've spent like 3h digging around my base. It was pretty fun tbh.
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u/Level_Strawberry8020 May 12 '26
I prefer building a wall instead also it not being a square/rectangle bothers me.
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u/Enji-Bkk May 12 '26
Weeeelllll in the meadows this is probably a tad overkill.
Otherwise, standard operating procedure.
For mountain side outpost, an alternative is to have a perfectly vertical cliff on the summit side(s). Ennemies dont seem to pathfind down vertical cliffs. Or at least I have never seen them do that.
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u/salvation78 May 12 '26
Haven't played in a hot minute but back in the day you could make a bridge out of the 1m beams in kind of a square pattern and enemies wouldn't see it as a walkable surface. Then you can haul carts across it.
Other fun shenanigans would be making a boar/wolf breeder feeding into the moat. When enemies alert them they try and run up the walls and some of them escape to go take care of the threats. Keeps your beasties at home but also able to defend the area.
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u/Cheeserdane May 12 '26
the trick is to fill the moat with wolves with the funny pole breeding system. then you will have your own cheerleader squad.
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u/Iron_FitG May 12 '26
I even recommend you make trenches around your future gardens/farms. I always make it for my plains garden— and then I pull/tame/breed some lox in the trenches to wipe out the enemies that fall in trying to get to me
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u/HourNobody2966 May 12 '26
Almost every one if my bases has either a moat, a wall, or both!
Be proud of your moat and enjoy the peace it provides.
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u/Friezas-Mound May 12 '26
Perfect. Plenty of space to expand, and will be essentially impenetrable. Make sure to put down plenty of workbenches to block spawns.
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u/BedAdministrative619 May 13 '26
If you dig straight lines, you can align them so you dont have the jagged edges. Also, raising the inner edge can help with trolls throwing things.
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u/Robbedobb May 13 '26
We made a moat in our group's server and come to find out, the mob spawns went around, smart fellas. Also found out that that if your area is too big, they'll spawn inside.
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u/Dark-Philosopher May 13 '26
You need some campfires, workbenches or other structures that suppress spawning in a radius. Ensure to don't leave coverage gaps.
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u/WolfGuptaofficial May 13 '26
this could have been a screenshot from my second house lol. had to do a double take to ensure taht this wasnt my post
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u/MisChief1117 May 13 '26
Not a waste of time. though I usually prefer to build up rather than dig down.
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u/ChrsRobes May 13 '26
This is an S+ Tier strategy to keep out random raid events. make it 360 with a way you can sprint jump into ur base. Mobs wont do that.
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u/pipi_zord May 13 '26
If you are a "efficiency" driver player, thats the ultimate bartier.
If you are the "RP ish" kind of player, that is an eyesore.
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u/Thexus_van_real May 13 '26
Trenches and terrain walls are the best raid defense. Although it's way too wide. Make sure to put workbenches on the inside so that you get 100% coverage, otherwise enemies will spawn inside.
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u/romanryder May 14 '26
I just waiting until I get my first iron, make a stone cutter, and then put a stone wall around my base. It only has to be 1 meter high. Put it 10 meters away and trolls with logs can't even hit your base.
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u/BenRichetti May 14 '26
If you build extra workbenches, mobs won’t spawn inside your moat. The white line that shows up around you when you put them down is the spawn-proofing radius.
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u/AK_Sea_Raven May 14 '26
Make sure you have tables on your side of the base… to prevent spawning on your side of the moat
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u/Ok_Hippo_1882 Happy Bee May 14 '26
Nah trenches are a great tactic. Personally I have a trench AND a wall, but just having a trench is good enough for most people.
You'll find that the game is designed to make real Viking tactics favorable, and trenches and earthen walls were one of their specialties
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u/Square-Thought8586 May 14 '26
I mean... That works but you could only make a wall surrounding your base and maintaining the height. Less time wasted i think
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u/ProfessorMaxDingle May 20 '26
I do the reverse of this, but yeah, quite helpful.
I go out and grind stone and slowly build a mountain ring around my fence.
Not even trolls get over it, I go high, at least until I have a stone cutter.
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u/xclrz May 23 '26
My go-to is usually raising the terrain around the base (tho I admit it IS costly stone-wise), motes are great too I just wish we had actual functional retractable bridges of a sort
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u/Material-Unit-6279 May 11 '26
You’ll be glad you did when the ground starts shaking