Build 42 Base Building — Choosing, Securing & Running a Base on 42.20

A good base is the difference between a two-week run and a two-month one, and Build 42's expanded Knox Country added a whole set of exceptional sites the old map never had. This guide covers the four things a base needs (defense, water, workspace, logistics), the standout Build 42 locations in the new towns, and a step-by-step securing checklist for 42.20. It complements our basements & bunkers page, which covers underground bases specifically.

What makes a base good in Build 42

Score any candidate site on these five points before committing furniture:

1. Perimeter. Pre-existing tall fences or walls mean you barricade far less. An enclosed yard that zombies cannot path into (only the gate to defend) is worth more than an interior.
2. Water access. A river, lake or well nearby removes the entire rain-collector hunt after the water shuts off (see the water & power prep guide). Dark Wallow Lake and river towns score here.
3. Farming/animals space. B42 farming needs soil and animal husbandry needs pens — a base with yard space lets you do both without a second site (guides: farming, animals).
4. Workshop room. B42 crafting (blacksmithing, cooking, tailoring) wants indoor floorspace and nearby fuel. A garage or barn floor is a real asset.
5. Logistics. Fuel, a garage for vehicle work, and a loot-run radius that does not cross the whole city every day.

Best Build 42 base locations (new map areas)

Top candidates people consistently settle in since 42.20, with what each is good at:

"Best" is sandbox-dependent — a sprinters or high-pop server flips the ranking toward isolation (Delilah, the bunker), while a laid-back co-op group often prefers a place with amenities.

Securing a new base: the 42.20 checklist

1. Clear the perimeter. Kill every zed within view on day one — sound carries, and a quiet week starts with a clean radius.
2. Barricade windows/doors. Board up ground-floor windows; keep sheet-ropes as second exits (B42 zombies can tear sheet ropes, so keep spares).
3. Rain collectors up before the water dies. A few level-4 carpentry collectors per player cover the gap — water & power has the schedule.
4. Garden + animal pen. Plot beds and a fenced paddock early; both pay back within weeks (farming, animals).
5. Staging zone. One room for a forge/anvil, one for the cooking pots — B42 crafting spread over rooms is miserable to use.
6. Escape route. A second exit, a parked car on the far side, and a fallback house within running distance.

Base-building skills

Carpentry drives everything (levels 3–4 for rain collectors, higher for better walls) — the skill leveling guide has the fastest XP routes. Metalworking covers reinforced doors and welding, and the blacksmithing guide covers the new anvil/forge progression for tools and metal parts.

Verified on 42.20 · Last checked 2026-08-05

Base-location shortlist from community-ranked B42 base guides (GameRant and The Nerd Stash "best Build 42 base locations," December 2024; pzfans.com B42.19 base pins) and verified map names from the 42.20 release notes; securing checklist from standard PZ base-building practice consistent across those sources. Site suitability varies with sandbox settings — treat the table as candidates, not a fixed ranking.