There are a multitude of different bases available in the State of Decay 2. Each brings different elements and can either be a boon or a struggle for the survivors the player brings with them. Due to each being so unique, it can be a real challenge when trying to find the best base in this zombie survival game. It's imperative to have slots for beds, water, food, and high morale throughout.
Luckily, despite there being many bases, some stand out far above the rest. Certain bases will increase players' chances of survival and will undoubtedly make anyone's life a lot easier while still saving the hassle and sizeable cost of relocating.
Updated August 24, 2023, by Collins Erasmus: Since the 2018 release of the State of Decay 2, countless players have discovered entertainment in the Zombie-apocalypse video game. Even though they are not given options on where to establish their settlement or plan their defenses, a player’s location is vital to their success in the game. Prescott Fire Station: Providence Ridge, Knight’s Family Drive-In: Drucker County, Red Talon Daybreak FOB: Trumbull Valley, and Camp Kelenqua: Meagher Valley have been added to the previous list. These base locations are different from one another in their pros and cons, and they significantly affect the likelihood of survival. However, it's crucial to weigh the advantages of each base before deciding where to settle in the State of Decay 2.
14 Camp Kelenqua: Meagher Valley
Located in the heart of Meagher Valley is the camp Kelenqua. Camp Kelenqua should look attractive to players who are seeking a campground atmosphere and a less hectic environment. Camp Kelenqua has its own fence, but it will require some maintenance before it can be relied upon as a secure location again.
There is a convenient water supply on-site, allowing for the construction of a wide variety of structures and utilities. It's cheap, as all players need are five people and a thousand influences. With two large and five small facilities, this is one of the top options in the Meagher Valley area. The area is also suitable for cultivation, turning the base into a veritable paradise.
13 Red Talon Daybreak FOB: Trumbull Valley
This old Red Talon outpost can be found in Trumbull Valley, which is in the northwest corner of the map. Red Talon amenities have been built at the base, meaning that lives can be preserved without the need for extra "prestige" spending on other important amenities. Even though the swarms of zombies are unimaginable and are bound to detect people, regardless of how covert they are, this location is extremely secure against Zed's threats.
Every State of Decay 2 player has dreamed of owning a Red Talon Officer Head Quarters because of its fantastic features, and now they can. The two doors and the watch tower help to stop the zombie horde when they get out of hand inside the facility. During an assault on this base, players should bring a bottle of plague vaccine or, better yet, establish an outpost nearby so that they may quickly withdraw in case of need.
12 Knight’s Family Drive-In: Drucker County
This one is in a great spot in the southeast corner of Drucker County, making it one of the best bases in all State of Decay 2. In the hands of the appropriate individuals, the base can serve as a formidable fortification, seeming much like a contemporary castle. However, this contemporary castle is cost-effective and requires only 1,500 influences, making it a viable option for a drive-in establishment.
There are five slots in the structure, plus an entryway with its own security services. It boasts an unusual feature—a drive-in theater—that could serve as a huge lounge and provide enormous morale boosts. It's a six-man base with a well-thought-out layout, giving it a solid option for players of all skill levels in Drucker County.
11 Prescott Fire Station: Providence Ridge
Prescott Fire Station, located in the southwest corner of Providence Ridge, is a great base that is essential for any new player. The base has a level 3 workstation and utility unit with running water and power. When compared to erecting two outposts or two spaces to power the center in the State of Decay 2, this structure's efficiency is unmatched.
With the noise of the toilet and kitchen eliminated and the zombie threat mitigated by the watchtower, a huge siege is unnecessary. The armies of zombies nearby are frustrating, so make sure people around have enough incendiaries on hand. This region is very large in size and dangerous compared to most bases in the State of Decay 2, so be careful not to be caught in the center of the roadway.
10 Bridge Fort: Cascade Hills
Bridge Fort is an ideal base to grab if the player is looking to get into a more advantageous position to avoid the hordes of hungry zombies. This is primarily because it's positioned on top of a bridge and has a relatively good element of protection surrounding it, including two watchposts on the east and west points.
Unlike many of the best bases in State of Decay 2, this is a relatively cheap purchase and is therefore one that many will be able to live in near the beginning of the game. They will also easily be able to expand here due to the sizeable parking lots and many open slots.
9 Container Fort: Cascade Hills
The Container Fort is much like the Bridge Fort but upgraded. The cost of moving in forces it to be an expensive late-game relocation, but one that every player should strive for if they are exploring Cascade Hills.
This is primarily due to the fact that it has a huge amount of available slots to build, which allows for both creativity and the player to input what the community really needs without having to tear anything down. Moreover, the Container Fort base already comes with a level three workshop, which is ideal for any player looking to repair, salvage, or craft something new to destroy those creatures.
8 Squelones Brewing Company: Meagher Valley
When it comes to finding the best base in the State of Decay 2, location is everything. It's all well and good to have a well-defended and useful base, but it's just inconvenient if it's right in the corner of the map. This is one of the aspects that makes the Squelones Brewing Company such a fantastic choice; after all, it's a sizeable base that's located right in the heart of the map, meaning the player can get wherever they want with ease and speed.
However, it's likely the group won't want to ever leave the base due to its game-changing brewing capability. Essentially, this base comes with the ability to brew beer and alcohol. This can be used to make fuel, Molotov cocktails, or just for a bit of a boost in morale. If that isn't needed, then players can simply sell the beer for some extra cash.
7 Whitney Field: Meagher Valley
If players prefer to get into a larger base without needing to build too many elements, then Whitney Field is the best option. It's another end-game choice to make due to the requirements, but once the player can afford it, this one is well worth it.
There are plenty of beds, impressive fortifications, and enough parking to satisfy any hoarder of cars throughout their game. On top of that, this base has a fair amount of empty slots for a bit of personalization and will pretty much have everything the survivors may need to survive in the zombie wasteland.
6 Fortified Truck Stop: Providence Ridge
The Fortified Truck Stop is another conveniently located base that's set right in the heart of Providence Ridge. This makes it easy to trade with people, complete necessary quests, or just explore the map for loot without the fear of straying too far away from this useful base.
Unfortunately, it doesn't come with many open slots but does seem to have the majority of what players will need, including a great kitchen and a fuel tank watchtower to keep an eye on any problems that may occur. Players will need to build some beds, however, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.
5 Lumber Mill: Providence Ridge
Lumber Mill is an end-game base that many will have to work hard to get, but it's well worth having purely for the customizable nature it brings to the game. The number of open slots means players can put whatever they want in their bases without much hassle.
However, there's much more to this location than many initially see. The Lumber Mill introduces a Sawmill to the State of Decay 2 and allows players to profit greatly from its production. They can gather free building materials if it's required, which can be particularly useful for players looking to get the base to a good status.
4 Mike's Concrete: Drucker County
Typically, each map in State of Decay 2 has a starter, a mid-game, and an end-game base. It's advantageous if that endgame base is located in the middle, but even better if the mid-game version is there instead. This is primarily due to the fact that players don't need to grind out some influence or survivors before fully feeling like they have a base to stay in for a while.
Mike's Concrete is a mid-game base that's just off the heart of Drucker County and brings a variety of elements like multiple beds, a machine shop, and a vast amount of parking, along with some fuel storage to keep them going. It almost makes and sells itself, and players will need to do very little to thrive.
3 Barricaded Strip Mall: Drucker County
Typically, in most Zombie films, the characters will hide out in either a basement or a shopping mall. This is due to the endless protection surrounding them, the large parking lots, and the many items inside. This is exactly what the Barricaded Strip Mall in Drucker County brings to the State of Decay 2.
It's filled with bathrooms, a Tae-Kwon-Do gym, and even a high-end Kitchen that will greatly help with both hunger and morale. It also comes with an Urgent care center, making it the perfect base to use in Drucker County.
2 Farmland Compound: Trumbull Valley
The Farmland Compound is one of the best maps in the newer Trumbull Valley. It's extremely customizable, with up to seven available empty slots to use however the player pleases, and is positioned near the center of the map.
Luckily, they won't need to worry about inputting many necessities since this base seems to already come with them. It boasts an Infirmary, a Kitchen, and beds, allowing any survivors to thrive easily and quickly. Just be careful when protecting the base since it doesn't have many high walls or fences to keep those Zombies out.
1 Pterodactyl Ptark: Trumbull Valley
The majority of the effective bases in State of Decay 2 look cool. They're typically intimidating, have high walls, and have an almost rugged look to them. While this may be the case for the Pterodactyl Park, it does have a more silly spin on it in the form of the giant Pterodactyl head stuck on the front.
Players shouldn't let the silliness fool them; however, this base is great for a beginner and is ideal for learning how to build an effective base. This is primarily due to the five small and one large available slots. It also comes with both beds and a built-in toilet for extra morale, so players can experiment without incurring too much cost.
State Of Decay 2 is available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC