The Border Zone is one of the most popular areas for setting up your first base in Kenshi. Its central location, moderate danger level, and proximity to major cities make it an ideal training ground for new players. But many make the mistake of settling too early—before they’re ready to support and defend a base. This guide walks you through everything you need to prepare, build, defend, and grow your settlement into a sustainable powerhouse.
Step 1: When to Settle — Avoid Premature Base Building
Many players rush into building without the manpower or resources to support it. Don’t be one of them. Wait until you:
- Have at least 10 characters, with 5–6 of them around Combat Level 30.
- Have stockpiled sufficient materials.
- Have researched core technologies.
Without these, your base will likely fall to the harsh reality of Kenshi’s world.
Step 2: Preparation Before Breaking Ground
Before building anything, you should:
A. Research Technology (Goal: Tech Level 3)
Use a purchased building in a major city with a general store for this, such as:
- Hang, Stoat, Stack, Squin
- Advanced players can also use Mongrel
Prioritize techs related to:
- Power generation and storage
- Crafting building materials and iron plates
- Expanded building options
This phase requires around 75 books (≈23,000 cats). Gradually collect them through looting, caravans, and stores.
B. Gather Materials
Focus on collecting:
- Building Materials
- Iron Plates
- Electrical Components, Copper, Fabrics, Food, Sleeping Bags
- Hemp, Cactus, Greenfruit, or Riceweed (depending on fertility)
Use a pack animal (e.g., Garu or Bull) to carry large quantities.
Step 3: Establishing Your First Structures
Once ready, head to Eastern Border Zone—a great starter base location. Hire mercenaries for protection during the first few days.
Start with:
- Stormhouse: Core of your base for beds, storage, turrets, crafting
- Wind Generator: Early power supply
- Iron Refinery + Stone Processor: Start self-sufficient production
Build a miniature defense by using the stormhouse door as a basic choke point. Most animals can’t enter buildings, so this setup also protects from wildlife.
Step 4: Surviving Early Attacks
Your first visitors might be Dust Bandits, Black Dragon Ninjas, or Goats.
If attacked early:
- Consider evacuating and returning later if unprepared
- Or—improvise turrets using dismantled structures to mount crossbows
- Position trained characters to block on ground level, buying time for turrets
Mercenaries are crucial in these early battles. Even a half-defended base with a stormhouse and crossbows can survive if tactics are applied.
Step 5: Healing, Reinforcement, and Rebuilding
Post-battle:
- Build beds in the stormhouse for fast healing
- Loot enemies and sell gear for extra funds (e.g., Ninja swords = 10,000 cats)
- Consider aggressive animal farming (e.g., attacking Garu) for meat, hides, and leather
Send scavenger parties to nearby ruins for free iron plates and building materials.
Step 6: Expand Your Base
Now that you’ve survived the first 2–3 days, it’s time to expand:
- Build a second stormhouse for crafting
- Start building walls and a second gate
- Grow cactus farms for food, or bread production with wheat
- Build research benches, leather crafting, armor crafting, and electrical benches
Visit nearby waystations to recruit more characters.
Step 7: Managing Factions and Prayer Day
Eventually, the Holy Nation will visit for Prayer Day. If you have skeletons or prosthetics:
- Hide them in the basement
- Send a white Greenlander to greet the prayer group
- Make sure you have a Holy Flame book at your base (they’ll give you one if you don’t)
Cooperating will keep them pacified and away for another week.
Step 8: Why Base Building Pays Off Long-Term
Benefits of a Border Zone base:
- Combat XP from constant attacks
- Leather, meat, hides from Goats and Garu
- Training from passive enemy encounters
- Sustainable food production
- Income from surplus gear, leather, or rum
These passively stack while you manage other base tasks.
Step 9: Finalizing Your Base
Evolve your design in phases:
- Compact core: Just what you need (walls + 2 stormhouses)
- Expanded layout: Larger area, 2-gate defense
- Final layout: Maximize structures, optimize farm space
Convert Cactus into Rum for sale in Swamp towns—safer and more efficient than hemp.
Equip characters with:
- Mercenary Leather Armor
- Drifter’s Leather Pants
Now, your team is well-armored, productive, and ready.
Step 10: What Comes Next
You’ve got options:
- Stay and expand into a Rum Empire
- Invest in heavier armor and declare war on Holy Nation
- Leave a crew to manage the base and send others to explore ancient ruins
- Or pack up and relocate—Border Zone’s central location makes it easy
By taking a slow and structured approach, you’ve gone from fragile vagrants to self-sustaining settlers. With this base in the Border Zone, your squad now has the springboard they need to take on Kenshi’s toughest challenges—or shape the world however you see fit.
Thanks for reading, and may your crops grow fast and your turrets shoot true.
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