Claiming Your Territory: The Ultimate State of Decay 2 Outpost Guide
Choosing the right outpost in State of Decay 2 is crucial for survival and thriving. It’s not just about finding a safe place to sleep; it’s about strategically leveraging resources, defending against hordes, and building a sustainable community.
So, what outpost should you claim in State of Decay 2? The definitive answer is: it depends. Your ideal outpost is determined by your current needs, your long-term goals, and your current community composition. However, here’s a framework to help you decide:
- Early Game Survival (Day 1-10): Focus on Basic Needs. Prioritize outposts with beds, medical facilities (or potential for one), and proximity to resources. The corner office is valuable for creating sleeping bag spaces. Avoid anything requiring large initial investment if your resources are low.
- Mid-Game Consolidation (Day 10-30): Resource Production and Defense. Look for outposts with built-in resource generation (food, fuel, ammo). Secure outposts that provide strategic advantages like high ground for sniper towers or easily defensible perimeters.
- Late-Game Dominance (Day 30+): Specialization and Expansion. Consider outposts with unique benefits like built-in workshops, trade depots, or proximity to plague hearts. At this point, your outpost choice is about optimizing your community’s strengths and addressing any remaining weaknesses.
Therefore, there’s no single “best” outpost. It’s a dynamic choice that adapts to your evolving circumstances.
Understanding Outpost Types and Features
Before diving into specific recommendations, let’s dissect the different types of outposts and what makes them valuable.
Essential Outpost Features
These are the features you should prioritize when choosing an outpost:
- Beds: A fundamental requirement. Insufficient beds lead to morale penalties and increased risk of conflicts.
- Resource Generation: Food, medicine, fuel, and ammo are vital. Outposts that automatically generate these resources are invaluable.
- Defensibility: Easily defendable locations minimize the risk of sieges and zombie incursions. Look for high ground, chokepoints, and clear lines of sight.
- Utility Mods: Some outposts allow you to install special mods like solar arrays or white noise machines, providing unique benefits.
Map-Specific Considerations
Each map in State of Decay 2 presents different outpost options and strategic considerations:
- Cascade Hills: Known for its diverse terrain and resource availability. The Squelones Brewing Company is a popular early-game option.
- Meagher Valley: A more open map with larger fields and farms. Prioritize outposts near farms for food production.
- Drucker County: A challenging map with dense urban areas and numerous infestations. Focus on fortified outposts with good visibility.
- Providence Ridge: Features a central mountainous region, offering strong defensive positions. The Fire Station offers a good mid-game option.
- Trumbull Valley: Brings back familiar locations from State of Decay 1. Consider its unique story missions when choosing outposts.
Special Outposts
These outposts provide unique benefits beyond the standard resource generation and defensibility:
- Cell Towers: Allow you to call in artillery strikes.
- Power Stations: Provide power to your base and nearby outposts.
- Water Towers: Provide water to your base and nearby outposts.
- Landmark Outposts: Offer passive bonuses, such as influence gain.
Outpost Claiming Strategies
Effective outpost management is about more than just claiming the first available spot. Here are some strategies to consider:
- Early Expansion: Claim outposts strategically to secure vital resources and create a safe zone around your base.
- Networked Outposts: Connect outposts to extend their benefits. For example, placing an outpost near a power station can provide power to your base, even if the power station is far away.
- Specialization: Dedicate outposts to specific functions, such as food production, medical treatment, or security.
- Dynamic Adaptation: Be prepared to abandon and reclaim outposts as your needs change.
The goal isn’t just to survive, but to thrive and build a powerful community. By choosing the right outposts and managing them effectively, you can dominate the zombie apocalypse.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Outposts
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about outposts in State of Decay 2, designed to address common concerns and clarify key mechanics.
1. How many outposts can I claim?
You can claim a maximum of eight outposts at any given time.
2. How do I claim an outpost?
Clear the area of zombies, then approach the claim marker (usually a flag or sign) and interact with it. You’ll need to spend influence to claim the outpost.
3. What happens when I claim an outpost?
Claiming an outpost establishes a safe zone, provides passive bonuses based on the outpost type, and allows you to use the Outpost Actions menu.
4. How do I use the Outpost Actions menu?
The Outpost Actions menu allows you to reinforce the outpost, clear infestations, and access other outpost-specific options. Access this menu by approaching the outpost marker.
5. Can outposts be attacked?
Yes, outposts can be attacked by zombie hordes and hostile humans. Ensure your outposts are adequately defended.
6. How do I defend my outposts?
Install defenses like traps and barricades. Position survivors with ranged weapons strategically. Use the Outpost Actions menu to reinforce the outpost during an attack.
7. What happens if an outpost is overrun?
If an outpost is overrun, you lose control of it, and any benefits it provided are lost. You’ll need to reclaim it.
8. How do I reclaim an outpost?
Clear the area of zombies and interact with the claim marker again, spending influence as you did initially.
9. Can I upgrade my outposts?
No, you cannot directly upgrade outposts. However, you can choose different outposts with better features as your needs evolve.
10. What are outpost utility mods?
Outpost utility mods are special items that can be installed at specific outposts to provide unique benefits, such as improved resource generation or defense.
11. How do I get outpost utility mods?
Outpost utility mods can be found as loot, purchased from traders, or earned as rewards for completing missions.
12. Can I move my base to an outpost?
No, you cannot move your base to a regular outpost. You must move to a designated base location.
13. How do I determine which outposts are the closest to the resource icons?
The best way to determine which outposts are closest to resource icons is to use the Survey Car. Drive around the map and survey the area. This will reveal resource locations and help you plan your outpost strategy.
14. Are there any outposts which offer morale bonuses?
Yes, some outposts, such as the Brewery, can provide morale bonuses to your community. These are particularly helpful in managing survivor stress.
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