Solo Base Building Tips for Rust
Practical tips for choosing and building solo bases in Rust — what features matter, how to manage upkeep, and common mistakes to avoid.
Solo play in Rust is tough. You farm alone, defend alone, and every resource counts. Your base design has to work harder than anyone else's. Here's what to focus on.
Keep the footprint small
As a solo player, your biggest enemy isn't raiders — it's upkeep. A huge base looks cool. But you'll farm the entire session just to keep it standing. Stick to compact footprints:
- 2x1 — the bare minimum for a starter base
- 2x2 — the solo sweet spot, enough room for the basics
- 1x2 with airlock — tight but works well early wipe
Anything bigger than a 3x3 will eat into your play time with upkeep farming.
Focus on these features
Not all base features are equal for solos. Here's what gives you the most value:
| Feature | Solo value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bunker | Must-have | Free protection layer with no extra upkeep |
| Airlock | Must-have | Stops door campers from walking into your base |
| Shooting floor | Useful | Lets you defend without exposing yourself |
| Open core | Depends | Quick loot access, but risky if breached |
The bunker is the most important feature for solo players. It gives you a free armored wall with no extra upkeep.
Manage your upkeep
Upkeep can make or break a solo wipe. A few rules of thumb:
- Stone upkeep under 5,000 is fine for daily solo farming
- Metal upkeep under 1,500 works without mining outposts
- HQM upkeep above 25 means you'll be recycling all the time
Check the build cost before you start building. A base that costs 30,000 stone with 2,000 daily upkeep beats one that costs 20,000 stone with 4,000 daily upkeep. The first one is cheaper over time.
Common mistakes
Building too big too early — that 4x4 looks great. But if you can't fill it with loot and keep up the upkeep, it's wasted.
Skipping the airlock — door campers are a real threat for solos. Without an airlock, one wrong open and your base is gone.
Ignoring the location — the best design won't help if you build next to a clan. For solo play, build in quiet areas where you can farm in peace.
Find solo bases on RustBases
Browse solo base designs on the home page. Select the Solo filter. Combine it with footprint and feature filters to find your next build.
Happy building!