Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSurvival game bases get raided because something inside them is worth taking or controlling. The attacker might be another player after loot or a strategic advantage, or a game-controlled event with its own trigger and objective. Prevention depends on which of those you face, so the useful starting point is the specific game and server type, not a general formula.
What makes a base a target
Raids follow incentives. A base attracts attacks when it holds stored loot, displays visible wealth, or contains a component that controls building rights, upkeep, or access. The exact motive changes by game and by raid type, so the same defensive habit will not necessarily stop every kind of attack.
Two official examples show the pattern. In Conan Exiles’ redesigned Purge, Funcom’s September 12, 2023 deep dive says attackers aim to steal treasure from the hoard, and a larger proclaimed hoard makes the event harder. In Rust, the Tool Cupboard is a strategic target because it controls building privilege and upkeep, and Facepunch’s official Rust Wiki advises keeping it secure because raiders look for it.
Prevention principles that carry over, with limits
The following principles appear across the official material, but none of them is a guarantee. Treat each as a design option to test on your own server.
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- Reduce the reward in one place. Avoid keeping every valuable item in one obvious, easily reached spot when the game allows safer storage. This is an inference from how attackers target Rust’s Tool Cupboard and Conan Exiles’ hoard. The sources do not show that spreading loot defeats a determined player raid.
- Secure the control point. Find the object that governs upkeep, building access, or ownership in your game, then protect it first. In Rust, that is the Tool Cupboard.
- Add time and defensive pressure. Layered routes, narrow chokepoints, traps, and active defenders all increase the time and effort an attacker needs. Funcom recommends strong walls, funnels, traps, parapets, and thralls posted at gates for the Purge, but these are recommendations, not tested results.
- Keep upkeep current. Decay and building restrictions only work while the controlling object has what it needs. Check that resources are stocked before you need them.
- Check the server rules first. PvP schedules, structure damage, mods, and admin settings differ between servers. Advice that works on one server may not apply to another.
Rust: protect the Tool Cupboard and its upkeep
Rust is a player-versus-player raid game, so the main threat is other players. The official Rust Wiki describes the Tool Cupboard, often called the “TC,” as the item that prevents decay and blocks unauthorized players from building on your base and near it. Upkeep is paid from the materials stored inside the cupboard.
How upkeep and cupboard placement work
- A separate structure needs its own Tool Cupboard, unless it is connected to the protected base through foundations.
- External cupboards can also limit unauthorized building around external walls.
- If a cupboard with resources is destroyed, the wiki says it consumes up to 24 hours of upkeep to delay decay. This buffer protects against immediate decay only. It does not stop a raider from entering or taking what is inside.
The Rust Wiki page says it was last updated “A Long Time Ago,” so confirm current live behavior before relying on any numerical decay time or other patch-sensitive detail. Facepunch’s 2017 developer post explains the reasoning behind upkeep: larger buildings cost more to maintain, decay moves from the outside inward, and traps and triggers were meant to matter alongside structural strength. The numeric rates in that post are historical and configurable, so they should not be treated as current server defaults.
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Conan Exiles: the Purge is a scripted event, not a player raid
Conan Exiles’ revamped Purge is triggered by the player, who proclaims their wealth to start it. Funcom’s deep dive says the post’s own author line identifies the writer only as “marcush,” so attribute the description to the official post rather than to a named role. The deep dive quotes the design intent directly: “Your personal trove serves as the centerpiece to the purge.”
How the Purge works
- Trigger: You start it manually. A larger hoard raises the difficulty.
- Path requirement: According to the Age of War Chapter 2 patch notes, the Purge needs a valid path from outside the base to the hoard and coffer. If that path is blocked or destroyed, the Purge retreats. The patch notes do not give a date beyond the chapter itself, so check later patch notes before treating fine details as current.
- Attacker behavior: Attackers target the hoard, can carry treasure away, and may use battering rams.
- Placement: The base needs enough room for the nearby Stygian camp. Plan the layout around that space before you build.
Defenses Funcom recommends
Funcom’s deep dive recommends strong walls, funnels, parapets, traps, and thralls assigned to guard doors or gates. Because the Purge is scripted, these are preparation steps rather than a counter to other players. Prepare the defenses before you start the event.
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Battle Standard and PvP zones are not base protection
Funcom’s Battle Standard guide says the item creates a PvP zone. Combat is optional for players who are not otherwise PvP-eligible. On timed-PvP servers, the zone can be used outside the regular PvP window. NPCs and wildlife still deal damage inside it. The guide does not describe the Battle Standard as a land claim or a way to protect a base from raids, and it should not be read that way. Whether a zone matters to your base depends on the server’s PvP setup.
Comparing the two threat models
| Factor | Rust (player raids) | Conan Exiles (Purge) |
|---|---|---|
| Who attacks | Other players | Scripted Purge enemies, started by the player |
| Primary target | Tool Cupboard, which controls upkeep and building privilege | The hoard and coffer, which hold treasure |
| Trigger | Players choose to raid | Player proclaims wealth; hoard size sets difficulty |
| Route requirement | Not stated in the Rust Wiki page consulted | A valid path from outside the base to the hoard and coffer; the Purge retreats if it is blocked |
| Main defensive levers | Secure the Tool Cupboard, keep upkeep stocked, control building around the base | Walls, funnels, parapets, traps, thralls at doors or gates, sufficient space for the Stygian camp |
| Source | Facepunch Rust Wiki; 2017 developer post | Funcom Purge deep dive, September 12, 2023; Age of War Chapter 2 patch notes |
Checking your server before you build
Read the server’s actual rules before choosing a layout. The points to confirm are:
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- Whether raids are enabled, and during what hours.
- Whether structures can take damage from players.
- Whether the server runs timed-PvP or PvP zones outside normal hours.
- Which mods and admin settings apply, since these can change upkeep, decay, and raid rules.
If you rent or host your own server, these settings are usually visible to the admin. If you play on someone else’s server, ask the admin directly rather than assuming the game’s default rules apply.
Official sources do not establish a benchmark for raid frequency, prevention success, or average loss, so the advice here is about mechanics and layered defense rather than measured outcomes.
The Bottom Line
Start by identifying whether your threat is another player or a scripted event, then protect the object that controls that threat, whether that is the Tool Cupboard in Rust or the hoard and its route in Conan Exiles. Confirm the server rules before you commit to a layout.
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