The Ultimate Enshrouded Building Guide: Mastering Resources, Construction, and Advanced Techniques

Enshrouded is an incredible survival game that gives players unparalleled freedom to construct awe-inspiring structures, from massive castles to cozy farms and hidden underground lairs. Thanks to its innovative terrain manipulation and building system, the possibilities are nearly limitless. In this ultimate build guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about gathering resources, efficient construction, and advanced building techniques to take your creations to the next level.

Gathering Resources for Building

Unlocking New Recipes

As you explore Enshrouded, collecting new resources will unlock a variety of crafting recipes. These recipes allow you to create essential items like potions, food, and most importantly—building materials. The game currently features at least 19 different types of build blocks, including fired brick, half timber, bone blocks, copper, and stone. Some of these materials are unlocked by progressing through quests, so exploration and progression are key.

Efficient Resource Collection

Building requires a vast amount of materials, and efficiency is crucial. Here’s how to gather resources effectively:

• Wood: While you can dismantle certain structures for quick logs, the best method is to craft a felling axe. The first axe can be crafted manually using 4 twigs, 1 stone, and 1 string. As you progress, better axes (like the copper felling axe) can be unlocked at the blacksmith.
• Stone & Metal: Instead of searching for scattered rocks, use a pickaxe to mine stone, brick, and copper efficiently. Similar to the felling axe, better versions like the scrappy pickaxe become available at the blacksmith.
• Clay & Special Materials: Clay is essential for making half-timber blocks and other materials. Look for it near water sources or mine it directly using a pickaxe.
• Disassembling Structures: Placing an altar in a town allows you to break down existing structures. If you’ve unlocked the corresponding recipes, you’ll receive the exact block type rather than just base materials.

Optimizing Resource Storage

As you gather materials, managing storage becomes crucial. Here’s how to keep resources organized:

• Use Magical Chests: These allow you to store vast amounts of materials while still being able to craft directly from them.
• Sort by Material Type: Create separate storage areas for wood, stone, and metal to streamline building.
• Upgrade Storage: Unlock larger storage containers as you progress for easier resource management.

Building System Breakdown

Claiming a Base Location

To start building, you need to place a Flame Altar. This marks your territory and ensures any modifications to the terrain persist when you exit the game. Without an altar, the world will reset your changes upon reloading. The Flame Altar’s range is represented by an orange boundary, and you can expand it by upgrading the altar with shroud cores. Expanding your altar also allows for multiple bases and teleportation points.

Constructing with the Build Hammer

Once you’ve gathered materials, you can start building using the build hammer. Here’s how:

• Equip the build hammer and press Tab to enter build mode.
• Hold Alt to choose a category, then use the mouse wheel to scroll through available pieces.
• Left-click to place items, and press R to rotate them.
• To fine-tune placements, press X to disable snapping for single-unit adjustments.
• For precise control, place blocks directly from the hotbar rather than using the hammer’s default build mode.
• If a piece doesn’t align properly, use a pillar piece as a temporary snap point.

Advanced Building Tips & Techniques

Maximizing Efficiency and Aesthetics

• Flatten Terrain First: Use a rake to level the ground before building. This prevents uneven terrain from interfering with construction.
• Create Roads for Stamina Boosts: Dig up dirt roads around the map and place them within your base for increased movement speed and stamina regeneration.
• Add Depth & Layering: To make structures stand out, use a mix of materials:
• Start with stone foundations.
• Layer half timber or wood walls.
• Frame windows and edges with a contrasting material for depth.
• Add roofing with different textures to create a detailed, immersive design.
• Building Underground Bases
• Many players love the idea of building underground Hobbit holes, fortresses, or dungeons. To do this:
• Place a Flame Altar outside and start digging into a cliffside.
• Expand the flame’s range to ensure all modifications are saved.
• Alternatively, excavate an area first and place the altar inside.

Be cautious—terrain outside your flame’s range will reset upon exiting the game unless you're on a dedicated server.

Comfort Rating & Its Benefits

Your base’s comfort rating determines stamina and stamina regeneration. Rather than focusing on individual buildings, the game calculates the comfort level across your entire outpost. Maximizing comfort ensures better survival in high-level zones. Some tips for increasing comfort:

• Use Furniture: Beds, chairs, and other furnishings boost comfort levels.
• Increase Lighting: Fireplaces, torches, and lanterns contribute to higher comfort.
• Create Enclosed Spaces: Buildings with enclosed walls and roofs provide better comfort than open-air structures.
• Future Updates & Wishlist Features

Enshrouded’s building system is already impressive, but players have a few wishlist items, such as utilizing building blocks stored in magical chests for construction without manually transferring them. Since the game is still in early access, future updates may refine or expand these mechanics.

Potential Future Additions:

More Building Materials: Additional block types like glass, colored stone, or decorative pieces.

Modular Roofing System: A way to create custom-shaped roofs beyond the existing snap points.

Dynamic Weather Effects: Possible integration of snow, rain, or wind that impacts structures.

For now, this guide provides everything you need to start crafting incredible structures in Enshrouded. With the right materials, an understanding of the building system, and a little creativity, you can construct anything from simple houses to massive fortresses.