Enshrouded 1.0 Starter Base Guide: Modular Hub, Farm, Alchemist Wing

This guide explains how to plan and build a modular starter base in Enshrouded 1.0, covering the hub layout, farm placement, and a dedicated alchemist wing. You’ll learn what to build first, where to put each crafting station, and how to expand without rebuilding.

Why a Modular Base Matters in Enshrouded

Enshrouded’s building system lets you place blocks and furniture freely, but the game’s progression demands constant additions: new crafting stations, NPCs, farm plots, and storage. A modular design—separate wings connected by a central hub—keeps your base organized and prevents the common problem of a cramped, chaotic build. Early on, you’ll have the Blacksmith, Alchemist, Hunter, and Farmer NPCs, each with their own crafting tables. If you place them randomly, you’ll soon run out of wall space for upgrades and decorations.

The 1.0 release didn’t change the core building mechanics, but it added new blocks and decorations. The same principles from early access still apply: build on flat ground, use a central courtyard or hall, and allocate one wing per NPC or function. This approach saves time when you need to add a new crafting station or expand your farm.

Planning Your Hub Layout

Start by choosing a location. The game’s starting area near the Cinder Well has flat terrain and easy access to early resources. Clear a rectangular area roughly 15×15 blocks for the hub. The hub is your main room: it holds your altar (the Flame), a few chests, a workbench, and a door to each wing.

• Central Flame: Place your Flame altar in the middle or against one wall. It’s the anchor of your base and the respawn point.
• Storage wall: Build a row of chests along one wall, labeled by type (ore, wood, food, crafting materials). This keeps everything accessible from one spot.
• Workbench: Put the basic workbench near the entrance, so you can craft tools and building blocks without walking far.
• Doorways: Leave 2-block-wide openings on each side of the hub, leading to the farm, alchemist wing, blacksmith wing, and hunter wing. Use doors or just open archways to save materials.

This layout ensures that you never have to run across your entire base just to craft a nail or store ore. The hub is the traffic center, and every wing is a short walk away.

Building the Farm Wing

Farming in Enshrouded requires the Farmer NPC and a farm plot. The farm wing should be a separate room or outdoor area with plenty of light. You’ll need a Farm Soil block (crafted from dirt and plant fiber) and a Seedbed to start growing crops.

1. Build a room about 10×10 blocks, with a ceiling at least 3 blocks high so crops have room to grow.
2. Place the Farmer’s crafting station (the Farm Table) against one wall.
3. Lay down farm soil in rows, leaving a 1-block gap between rows for walking.
4. Place a Seedbed near the table. This is where you’ll plant seeds to get seedlings.
5. Once seedlings are ready, plant them in the farm soil. Water them regularly (using a water source or rain).

For 1.0, the main crops are wheat, berries, and vegetables. Each has a growth time of a few in-game days. A 10×10 plot can feed one player easily, and you can expand by adding more rows. If you build the farm outdoors, make sure it’s within your Flame’s protection radius—otherwise, enemies may destroy your crops.

Designing the Alchemist Wing

The Alchemist is one of the first NPCs you rescue, and their crafting station is essential for potions, oils, and later, magic items. The alchemist wing should be a dedicated room with enough space for the Alchemy Station, a few chests for ingredients, and room to expand to the Laboratory (unlocked later).

• Size: 8×8 blocks is enough for the station, a chest, and a couple of shelves.
• Placement: Put the Alchemy Station against a wall, with the chest directly beside it. This minimizes walking when you’re crafting multiple potions.
• Lighting: Use torches or lanterns—the alchemist room often looks dark, and good lighting helps you see what you’re doing.
• Expansion: Leave one wall free. When you unlock the Laboratory, you can add it as an extension of the same wing, or build a second room connected by a short corridor.

Keep a stack of common ingredients (like mushrooms, water, and plant fiber) in the chest. This makes bulk crafting much faster. The alchemist wing is also a good place to put a bed for the NPC, so they’re always nearby.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many players make the same errors when building a starter base. Here are the most frequent ones and their fixes:

• Building too close to the Flame’s edge: Your base must be within the Flame’s protection radius. If you build too far, enemies can spawn inside your base. Check the blue boundary when placing blocks.
• No dedicated storage: Without labeled chests, you’ll waste time searching for materials. Set up a storage wall early.
• Making the hub too small: A 10×10 hub feels cramped once you add workbenches and decorations. Go for 15×15 if you have the materials.
• Forgetting to upgrade the Flame: The Flame’s level determines your base’s size and the number of NPCs you can have. Upgrade it whenever you have the required materials (sparks and shroud cores).
• Placing farm plots on uneven ground: Crops need flat, solid ground. Use a hoe or building blocks to level the area before planting.

Comparing Modular vs. Single-Room Bases

Some players prefer a single large room that holds everything. This can work early on, but it has drawbacks. A modular base separates functions, which reduces clutter and makes it easier to find things. A single room is faster to build and uses fewer materials, but you’ll likely have to rebuild or rearrange later.

For a starter base, modular is almost always better. The game gives you four NPCs within the first few hours, and each needs their own station. If you put them all in one room, you’ll have no space for expansion. A modular design costs only a few extra walls and doors, and it saves you from tearing down walls later.

If you’re short on materials, start with a simple 10×10 hub and add wings one at a time. You can build the farm wing first (since food is essential), then the alchemist wing, then the blacksmith and hunter wings.

Costs and Materials for a Starter Base

Here’s a rough estimate of what you’ll need for a basic modular base (hub + farm + alchemist wing). These numbers assume you’re using standard wood and stone blocks.

• Foundation and walls: About 200-300 wood logs and 100-150 stone blocks, depending on the exact size.
• Roof: 50-80 wood or stone blocks, plus support beams.
• Doors and windows: 4-6 wooden doors (each costs 4 wood logs and 2 nails) and 4-6 windows (each costs 2 glass and 2 wood).
• Furniture: 2-4 chests (each 8 wood logs and 2 nails), a workbench (5 wood logs, 2 nails), and a few torches (each 1 wood log and 1 resin).
• Farm soil: Each block costs 1 dirt and 1 plant fiber. A 10×10 plot needs 100 blocks.
• Seedbed: 10 wood logs, 5 plant fiber, and 3 nails.
• Alchemy Station: 10 wood logs, 5 stone, 3 nails, and 1 shroud core.

These are approximate—actual costs vary based on your exact design. You’ll gather most of these materials within the first hour of gameplay, especially if you chop trees and mine stone near your base.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many NPCs can I have in my base?

You can have up to five NPCs (the four crafters plus the Farmer) in a single base, but only if your Flame is upgraded to level 3 or higher. Each NPC requires a bed and a crafting station. The Flame’s upgrade menu shows the current NPC limit.

Do farm plots need water?

Yes, crops need water to grow. You can water them manually with a water skin or bucket, or place them near a water source. Rain also waters them, but not reliably. If your farm is indoors, you’ll need to water each plant manually.

Can I move my base later?

Yes, you can dismantle your base and rebuild elsewhere, but you’ll lose the materials if you don’t pick them up. The Flame altar can be moved, but you must have a new location ready. It’s often easier to build a second base and keep the first as a resource outpost.

What is the best size for a starter hub?

A 15×15 block hub is comfortable for one player. It gives you room for storage, a workbench, and a small crafting area. If you’re playing with friends, go larger—20×20 or more—to avoid crowding.

How do I unlock the alchemist NPC?

The alchemist is found in a dungeon east of the starting area, near the Ancient Spire. You’ll need to defeat a few enemies and solve a simple puzzle to free them. Once freed, they’ll return to your base automatically.

Can I build a farm on the second floor?

Yes, but you’ll need to place farm soil on top of solid blocks. The crops will grow normally, but you’ll need to ensure there’s enough headroom (at least 3 blocks) and light. Many players build rooftop farms to save ground space.

Related

• Google Hangouts Black Screen Share: Fixes
• Resident Evil Games Connected? What Carries Over
• Change Photos Backup Quality: Full Guide