State of Decay 2: Best Facilities for Survival

You’ve probably been in this situation before: your base is under attack, zombies are breaching the perimeter, and you realize that your facilities aren’t equipped to handle the chaos. The heart of State of Decay 2 is survival, and your base facilities play a crucial role in how well you can outlast the apocalypse. But which facilities are the best for your survival, and how do you optimize them for different playstyles? Let’s dive into the most effective ones to keep your community safe, healthy, and thriving.

Imagine this: your community is about to collapse. Morale is low, resources are depleting fast, and the last zombie siege nearly wiped out your entire group. It’s moments like these when having the right facilities can make all the difference. The key to surviving in State of Decay 2 lies in careful planning and facility optimization, and here’s how you can do it.

Workshop:

At the top of the list is the Workshop, a crucial facility for maintaining your weapons and crafting explosives. Without it, you’re at a severe disadvantage, especially as your weapons degrade over time. This facility allows you to repair weapons, craft ammunition, and build explosives. Whether you’re planning for a large-scale zombie siege or just daily scavenging, a well-maintained Workshop ensures that you’re never outgunned.

Additionally, a level 3 Workshop unlocks automatic repairs for your weapons, saving time and resources, something that becomes invaluable during tough battles. For any playstyle, whether you're an aggressive fighter or a cautious scavenger, the Workshop is non-negotiable.

Infirmary:

Your survivors are the backbone of your community, and keeping them healthy is a priority. The Infirmary helps you treat injuries, recover health, and fight off infections from the deadly Blood Plague. Without it, a single infected survivor can doom your entire base. The Infirmary is also vital for healing injuries sustained during combat, meaning that your best fighters can quickly recover and get back to defending the base.

A level 2 Infirmary enables Blood Plague treatment, turning a potentially catastrophic situation into a manageable one. For those looking to maximize efficiency, upgrading the Infirmary to the highest level provides even more benefits, like increased recovery speed and more treatment slots.

Command Center:

Every successful community needs strong leadership, and the Command Center is where your strategic decisions are made. This facility allows you to manage outposts, which provide essential resources like food, medicine, or materials. By upgrading the Command Center, you unlock more outpost slots, giving your community access to more external resources, which significantly enhances your long-term survival.

The Command Center also opens up the ability to install mods like Signal Boosters, further extending your outpost capacity and boosting your influence gain. It’s the nerve center of your community, and neglecting it can result in resource shortages or missed strategic opportunities.

Garden or Hydroponics:

Food scarcity is a real challenge in State of Decay 2, and having a Garden or Hydroponics setup can alleviate this problem. Gardens are relatively easy to build and provide a steady stream of food. However, upgrading to Hydroponics (with a water source) vastly improves food production efficiency.

Hydroponics is the go-to for players who have a water system in place, as it maximizes food output with minimal space. You’ll need this facility if you want to avoid constant scavenging trips, which can put your survivors at risk. A well-managed food supply means happier survivors and less time worrying about the next meal.

Watchtower:

If you’ve ever been overwhelmed by a zombie siege, you’ll know why a Watchtower is essential. Not only does it provide a defensive bonus by allowing your survivors to spot and take out zombies from a distance, but it also increases morale by giving your community a sense of security.

Upgrading the Watchtower to its maximum level turns it into a powerhouse for defense, allowing survivors to fend off hordes more effectively. For bases in high-risk areas or with lower population numbers, the Watchtower is a must-have, providing peace of mind and protection when your community needs it most.

Staging Area:

When you’re constantly building or upgrading, the Staging Area becomes a game-changer. This facility reduces the material costs of building and upgrading your other facilities, which can save you a tremendous amount of resources over time. If you plan on frequently upgrading your base, the Staging Area helps conserve resources that are otherwise difficult to come by.

Moreover, a fully upgraded Staging Area allows you to pause maintenance costs, which means your facilities won’t require constant material inputs to stay operational. This can be a lifesaver when resources are tight.

Solar Array or Power Station:

Power is another critical aspect of managing a successful base. Having electricity enables key facilities like the Infirmary or Hydroponics to function at their full potential. A Solar Array provides free, sustainable energy, while a Power Station gives more flexibility if you can’t build a Solar Array.

While both have their benefits, the Solar Array edges out because it doesn’t require fuel, making it a greener, longer-term solution for your base. Energy independence is crucial, especially in the late game, where resources can be scarce, and maintaining an external Power Station can be costly.

Trade Depot:

Want to become a trading powerhouse? The Trade Depot allows you to call in various traders who provide valuable resources or buy excess items from your base. This facility becomes especially useful when you have an abundance of certain resources and want to trade them for something more urgently needed.

The Trade Depot is also excellent for influence farming, as it provides a reliable way to gain influence by trading with visiting merchants. More influence means more outposts, which further secures your community’s long-term survival.

Conclusion:

Building the right facilities is about prioritizing the needs of your community based on your playstyle. If you're constantly battling zombies, a Workshop and Watchtower are essential. If you’re focused on long-term sustainability, investing in Hydroponics and a Solar Array might be more beneficial. The key is balance, and finding the right combination of facilities ensures that you’re always prepared, no matter what the apocalypse throws at you.

To wrap it up, here’s a quick breakdown of what these facilities offer and when they’re most useful:

Facility	Functionality	Priority Level
Workshop	Weapon repairs, ammo crafting, explosives	High
Infirmary	Healing, Blood Plague treatment	High
Command Center	Outpost management, strategic mods	High
Garden/Hydroponics	Food production, sustainability	Medium
Watchtower	Defense, morale boost	Medium
Staging Area	Reduced building costs, resource efficiency	Medium
Solar Array	Energy independence, powers key facilities	High
Trade Depot	Trading, influence farming	Medium

Optimize your base to survive longer, defend better, and thrive in the post-apocalyptic world of State of Decay 2.