Part 6

Don't waste time on elaborate bases in The Forest! Discover why caves are the ultimate free base and how to use the Sinkhole shortcut to bypass the Chasm Cave.

Alright, let's talk about bases in The Forest. Honestly, building a massive stronghold can feel like a huge time sink, especially when you're trying to survive. You might spend ages crafting the perfect base, only for it to be destroyed or become irrelevant as you progress. By the time you've explored enough to find the *ideal* spot, you're probably already nearing the end of the game, making the base less useful.

However, I get it – the building aspect is super fun for many players. If you're still set on building, consider these points:

• A Temporary Shelter or Hunting Shelter is quick (30-60 seconds) and gives you a crucial save and rest point.
• A Small Cabin offers protection from rain and attacks (if building destruction is off).
• A Tree Platform is fantastic because enemies can't climb ropes or destroy it, offering complete safety.
• The Tree House and Alpine Treehouse are like mini-bases. They provide save/rest points, shelter, a place for a fire, and are unreachable by enemies. They're great, but you can't build energy-regen furniture like the Wood Bench or Bone Chair up there.

Don't stress about inventory space either. Your inventory is large enough for exploration and completing the game. Plus, most items and resources respawn, so you won't run out. You don't need to build extra storage.

Here's a pro-tip: Cannibals and mutants hate deep water! It's a free, unmissable trap that offers better protection than any wall you could build. If you're near deep water, you're pretty much invincible.

But honestly, the *real* game-changer is the caves. Bases become almost pointless once you realize how good caves are. They're rich in resources, often have built-in save/rest points, and crucially, enemies *never* follow you into them. You can make all the noise you want; patrols only happen above ground. Caves are your indestructible fortress, hiding place, and resource hub, and they're already there for free!

So, if you want a base that's unfindable, indestructible, requires no building or resources, and is often already equipped with a save point, consider a cave. They're often located near other caves, making them central to exploration. Just south of the Sinkhole is a prime spot.

2.3 THE SINKHOLE SHORTCUT

You can actually bypass the Chasm Cave and reach the bottom of the Sinkhole without going through it. There are two ledges that let you drop down:

• The first ledge is on the north side of the Sinkhole, accessible from the Ledge Cave. Enter the Ledge Cave from its westernmost entrance, or find a mossy shelf above it on the Sinkhole's lip. From this shelf, you can drop to the Ledge Cave ledge, then carefully hop down rocks to the bottom.
• There's another ledge via the Dead Cave, near some dynamite. This one's on the south-east side, higher up than the Ledge Cave ledge. Dropping from the Sinkhole's lip to this ledge is possible but much trickier than the Ledge Cave route.

Be aware that dropping from the top to either of these ledges will likely cost you some health.