Base defense upgrade path: from first bench to powered defense network

The core principle: the bench is the target

During Assault Events, enemies are targeting your Crafting Bench. Your defense infrastructure exists to intercept enemies before they reach it. Every placement decision should be evaluated against this question: does this device intercept enemies on their approach path to the bench?

Defense placed to cover the room generally is less effective than defense placed to cover the 1-2 chokepoints between the room entrance and the bench.

Tier 1: Portal Suppression Field (get this first)

Before placing any physical defense devices, upgrade your Crafting Bench with the Portal Suppression Field. This is the most important base defense upgrade. It actively suppresses enemy spawning in the bench radius during events, reducing the number of enemies that reach your physical defenses.

Cost: Crafting Bench upgrade materials (check your bench for requirements) Priority: Before Order Assaults unlock (before meeting the Blacksmith)

Tier 2: Chopinator network (midgame)

The Chopinator is a spinning-blade automated defense device. It activates when enemies enter its range and deals continuous damage.

Placement rules:

• Place at chokepoints, not in open areas: a Chopinator in the middle of a room covers less than one in a doorway
• Cover all approach vectors to the bench: identify every path an enemy can take from the room entrance to your bench, place one Chopinator per path
• Ensure Chopinators are powered: they require electricity to function

How many you need: One per approach vector. If your base has one door, two Chopinators covering that door is usually sufficient. Multiple doors require one coverage point per door.

Tier 3: Tesla Coil and Laser Tripmine supplement

Once the base has stable power and known approach lanes, add a second defense layer. Use Tesla Coils where the base layout can keep players out of the danger zone. Use Laser Tripmines where a single high-damage trigger is acceptable and where an accidental detonation will not destroy the normal movement route.

Placement:

• Keep Tesla Coils away from normal player traffic because their threat zone is part of the cost.
• Put Laser Tripmines on deliberate thresholds, not beside a shared crafting aisle.
• Keep one low-tech fallback path so a power or trap failure does not trap the player near the bench.

Do not add late defense devices until repair materials, replacement parts, and power capacity are stable. A bigger defense network that cannot be maintained is less reliable than a smaller one with a clean repair routine.

Defense upgrade sequence summary

Device selection matrix

This matrix prevents a common base-defense mistake: adding more of the same device when the failure mode has changed. If enemies are spawning near the bench, more doorway traps may not fix the problem. If enemies are walking through an open door, a safer choke may matter more than a stronger device.

Post-event recovery checklist

After surviving an Assault Event, run through this before your next session:

1. Check all Chopinator durability: damaged devices defend less effectively
2. Replace any spent Laser Tripmines
3. Verify bench is still powered and Portal Suppression Field is active
4. Repair any damaged approach corridors or structural changes from the event
5. Restock healing items used during the event before the next run

Defense infrastructure cost planning

Upgrade only after observing the path

Before adding a new defense tier, watch one event or one enemy approach and mark the route enemies actually take. Do not defend the room you imagined. Defend the path that exists.

Use three observations:

1. Where the enemy first becomes visible.
2. Where the enemy must turn or slow down.
3. Where the enemy would reach the bench if no device stopped it.

The best defense position is usually the second point, not the first. Placing too far forward can waste power or trigger range. Placing too far back lets the enemy damage the work area before the device matters.

Do not place defense devices you cannot maintain. A Chopinator with no repair materials available is a liability because you'll be tempted to keep a damaged one rather than rebuilding, which degrades your defense over time.

What to do between events

Use the time between events to:

• Verify all defense devices are powered and functional
• Check that Item Transporter has repair materials in accessible crates
• Identify any new approach vectors created by base expansion
• Confirm Portal Suppression Field upgrade is still active after any bench changes

Events are predictable in their trigger conditions. Players who check their defense infrastructure between events survive more consistently than players who react only when an event starts.

See also

• Assault Event Defense Guide
• Chopinator, Tesla Coil, and Laser Tripmine Placement
• Power Grid Basics