Crafting the ultimate base in RuneScape Dragonwilds

Why Base Building Matters in RuneScape: Dragonwilds

In RuneScape: Dragonwilds, your base is more than just a place to sleep. It’s where you store resources, craft powerful gear, and prepare for battles against formidable foes like the Dragon Queen. A strategically built base can save you time, protect your loot, and make exploration more efficient. The game’s building system is intuitive yet deep, offering snapping mechanics, magical spells like Astral Projection, and a variety of structural pieces that allow for both functionality and creativity. With non-scripted dragon attacks and enemy raids, a strong base is essential for survival.

Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting the Ultimate Base

Step 1: Choose the Perfect Location

Your base’s location can make or break your survival strategy. Here are key factors to consider when selecting a spot:

• Proximity to Resources: Choose an area near essential resources like Ash Logs, Stone, and Rune Geisers. Temple Woods and Bramblemead Valley are great starting points due to their abundance of wood, stone, and Flax.

• Access to Water: While boiling dirty water is an option, proximity to clean water sources reduces reliance on Campfires.

• Defensible Terrain: High ground or areas with natural barriers (like cliffs) offer protection from enemy raids and dragon attacks.

• Flat Land: Flat terrain simplifies building foundations and snapping pieces together.

• Near Vaults or Quest NPCs: Being close to Vaults (dungeons) or NPCs like Doric or Zanik can streamline quest progression and resource gathering.

Recommended Starting Location: The area between Temple Woods and Bramblemead Valley offers a balance of resources, flat land, and access to early-game NPCs.

Step 2: Gather Essential Resources

Before building, stockpile the following resources:

Resource	Source	Use
Ash Logs	Chopped from trees in Temple Woods	Foundations, walls, Crafting Table
Stone	Mined from boulders	Walls, floors, Sawmill, Rune Altar
Flax	Harvested in Bramblemead Valley	Coarse Thread for gear and furniture
Coarse Animal Fur	Dropped by rats, Kebbits, cows	Armor, furniture
Rune Essence	Mined from Rune Geisers	Rune Altar, magical gear

Tip: Use spells like Axtral Projection (unlocked at Woodcutting Level 13) to speed up tree chopping and Rocksplosion (Mining Level 11) for faster stone gathering.

Step 3: Unlock Key Crafting Stations

Crafting stations are the backbone of your base. Here’s a list of essential stations and how to unlock them:

Station	Unlock Method	Materials Needed	Purpose
Crafting Table	Talk to Doric near spawn, bring Ash Logs	4 Ash Logs	Craft weapons, armor, tools
Campfire	Unlocked via Wise Old Man questline	2 Ash Logs	Cook food like Rat Roast
Rune Altar	Find Zanik, bring 50 Ash Logs	12 Stone, 4 Rune Essence	Craft Runes (Air, Fire, etc.)
Spinning Wheel	Unlocked via quest progression	4 Ash Logs, 2 Stone	Craft Coarse Thread from Flax
Sawmill	Unlocked after gathering Bronze Bars	10 Ash Logs, 8 Stone, 2 Bronze Bars	Craft planks for advanced structures
Brewing Cauldron	Unlocked via quest or exploration	6 Clay	Craft potions (Antipoison, Attack, etc.)
Tannery	Unlocked via Artisan skill progression	6 Ash Logs, 4 Stone	Convert hides into Leather

Tip: Place portable stations like Campfires near resource hotspots to craft on the go. Build multiple bases to avoid encumbrance penalties from carrying too many materials.

Step 4: Build Your Base’s Foundation

To start building, press B to open the build menu. Follow these steps:

1. Lay Foundations: Use Ash Logs to place wooden foundations. The game’s snapping system ensures pieces align easily.

2. Add Walls and Roofs: Use Ash Logs for basic walls and Stone for stronger ones. Ensure Spinning Wheels and other stations are under a roof, as some require shelter to function.

3. Use Astral Projection: This Construction spell (unlocked at Level 11) lets you fly around like a drone, making it easier to place roof tiles and upper floors.

4. Incorporate Variety: Unlock medium-sized pieces (Construction Level 3), small pieces (Level 5), and triangular pieces (Level 8) to add aesthetic flair.

Pro Tip: Hold Ctrl to raise or lower pieces or disable snapping for precise placement. This is especially useful for uneven terrain.

Step 5: Design for Functionality

A great base balances aesthetics with practicality. Organize your base into zones:

• Crafting Zone: Cluster Crafting Table, Sawmill, Spinning Wheel, Tannery, Rune Altar, and Brewing Cauldron for efficient workflows.

• Storage Zone: Build chests to store resources. Place them near the Crafting Zone for easy access.

• Cooking Zone: Place Campfires with nearby water sources for quick food prep.

• Defense Zone: Add walls or spikes (unlocked later) to protect against enemy raids. Position near entrances.

• Rest Area: Include beds and furniture (unlocked at Construction Level 16) to recover stamina and health.

Example Layout:

Zone	Stations/Furniture	Location in Base
Crafting	Crafting Table, Sawmill, Rune Altar, etc.	Central, under roof
Storage	Chests, shelves	Adjacent to Crafting Zone
Cooking	Campfire, water container	Near entrance, open area
Defense	Spikes, reinforced walls	Perimeter, near gates
Rest	Beds, armor mannequin	Quiet corner, upper floor

Step 6: Enhance Defenses

Enemy raids and dragon attacks can destroy poorly defended bases. Strengthen your base with:

• Reinforced Walls: Craft at the Sawmill using planks and Bronze Bars (Construction Level 18).

• Whetstones: Sharpen melee weapons at the Crafting Table (Artisan Level 40) for increased damage against invaders.

• Runes for Spells: Stockpile Air and Fire Runes to cast defensive spells like Fire Spirit (Runecrafting Level 20).

• Strategic Placement: Elevate key stations on upper floors to protect them from ground-based attacks.

Tip: Explore Vaults to collect Vault Cores, which unlock advanced crafting stations and Lodestones for fast travel, enhancing base connectivity.

Step 7: Level Up Construction Skills

Construction is a resource-intensive skill, but leveling it unlocks powerful building options:

Level	Unlock	Benefit
3	Medium-sized building pieces	Larger, more stable structures
5	Fine Details (small pieces)	Decorative elements for aesthetics
8	Sacred Geometry (triangular pieces)	Complex shapes for unique designs
11	Eye of Oculus (Astral Projection)	Fly-around building mode for precision
16	Creature Comforts	Furniture and decorations for comfort
18	Oak building pieces	Stronger, more durable structures

Grinding Tip: Build and deconstruct structures repeatedly to gain Construction XP without wasting resources, as the game refunds materials upon deletion.

Step 8: Experiment and Expand

RuneScape: Dragonwilds encourages experimentation. Try these advanced techniques:

• Multi-Story Bases: Use Oak pieces and triangular supports for stable upper floors.

• Thematic Designs: Craft furniture like armor mannequins (Construction Level 40) to create a tavern or castle vibe.

• Forward Operating Bases: Build small, temporary bases near resource hotspots or Vaults. Deconstruct them when done to recover materials.

• Co-op Collaboration: In co-op (1-4 players), assign roles (e.g., one player focuses on defenses, another on crafting stations) to streamline base development.

Essential Base-Building Tips

Here’s a quick reference table of crucial tips to remember:

Tip	Details
Travel Light	Avoid encumbrance by storing excess materials in chests.
Build Multiple Bases	Set up camps near resource hotspots for efficient gathering.
Talk to NPCs	NPCs like Doric and Zanik provide quests that unlock recipes and stations.
Stock Fuel	Keep Ash Logs on hand, as they power most crafting stations.
Craft to Level Up	Craft often to gain XP and unlock stronger recipes.
Use Magic	Spells like Magical Mending (Artisan Level 27) repair gear instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I unlock the Crafting Table?
A: Talk to Doric near the starting spawn point and bring him Ash Logs. This unlocks the Crafting Table recipe, which requires 4 Ash Logs to build.

Q: Can I move or delete my base?
A: Yes! Enter repair mode in the build menu to access the delete button. Deleting structures refunds all materials, allowing you to move or redesign your base without loss.

Q: What’s the best way to protect my base from dragon attacks?
A: Use reinforced walls (Construction Level 18), place key stations on upper floors, and stockpile Runes for defensive spells like Fire Spirit. Build on high ground for natural defense.

Q: How do I craft planks for advanced building?
A: Unlock the Sawmill by gathering Bronze Bars (smelted from Tin and Copper Ore). Build it with 10 Ash Logs, 8 Stone, and 2 Bronze Bars, then use it to convert logs into planks.

Q: Should I build one big base or multiple smaller ones?
A: Multiple smaller bases near resource hotspots are more efficient for exploration and gathering. Maintain one central base for crafting and storage.

Q: How do I level up Construction quickly?
A: Build and deconstruct structures repeatedly to gain XP. Focus on placing furniture and decorations (unlocked at Level 16) for higher XP rewards.

Conclusion

Crafting the ultimate base in RuneScape: Dragonwilds is a rewarding journey that blends strategy, creativity, and survival. By choosing a prime location, unlocking key crafting stations, and leveling up your Construction skill, you can build a fortress that withstands dragon attacks and supports your adventures in Ashenfall. Experiment with layouts, leverage magic spells, and collaborate with friends to create a base that’s both functional and visually stunning. With the tips and strategies in this guide, you’re well-equipped to conquer the wilds and take on the Dragon Queen. Happy building!