Build Defense: A beginner's guide

Modified Feb 17, 2025 12:38 GMT

Build Defense is a survival Roblox experience about building your home base to defend against relentless waves of enemies and disasters. The title is all about making use of everything at your disposal to keep yourself safe, be it weapons or shields. Use the resources you earn to purchase new ways to defend yourself and continue your survival streak.

Here’s a guide to the basics of Build Defense to help you get started with this Roblox title.

Getting started with Build Defense

Overview

Official cover art for the game (Image via Roblox)

Build Defense is a base-building title where you must use your Build tool to lay down blocks and construct a structure to defend. This title is designed to keep you on your toes as you make your abode through a constant string of threats that equally affect all the bases on the map. The idea is to make your base resilient enough to withstand every threat that the game has to offer.

The Build, Delete, and Configure tools are available to you by default. These three options are the foundations upon which the entire game rests. You can position and place the different blocks with the Build tool, alter their properties with Configure, and remove them with Delete. The options these three tools give you can be expanded through unlocks facilitated by gameplay progression.

Build an impenetrable fortress and keep out monsters and disasters alike to remain alive and continue your underground mining operation.

Also read: Be a Silly Seal: A beginner's guide

Controls

Movement: W, S, A, D
Jump: Spacebar
Interact: E / Left Mouse Button
Equip Tool: Number keys 1-3
Use Tool: Left Mouse Button
Select Blocks: Q
Copy: C
Rotate: R

Gameplay mechanics

Overworld: The game features an overworld with designated building areas for all players on the server. When you're safe from monster attacks or calamity threats, you can explore others’ creations and see what they have come up with.
Monsters and disasters: Your main objective is to work around the different threats that the game randomly generates and throws at you. These include monsters like spiders and zombies or natural disasters like meteors, tornadoes, lava, and more. Since there’s no telling which type of threats you will face at any given time, you must be prepared for anything.
Blocks: The Build tool gives you access to various Block types, which, when placed, act as either building foundations, defensive implements, farming equipment, etc. In total, there are six types of Blocks: Basic, Defense, Advanced, Farming, Furniture, and Decor. The practical ones among these are Basic, Defense, Advanced, and Farming, which dictate your survivability and rate of resource gain. Blocks have unique unlock and placement conditions, which can be viewed by clicking on them. If you want to learn about a specific block, consider using the title's built-in Search function to find and check their requirements.
Save System: You can save your progress by clicking the Save button on the right-hand side of the screen. This will allow you to retain your built blocks after leaving the experience, which can be useful if you’re planning to build an elaborate fortress. The feature is also a welcome addition in the event of an unfortunate network failure or app crash, preventing you from losing too much progress.
Shop: The in-game shop includes various premium items that enhance your in-game experience. These include Gravity Coil, Speed Coil, God Mode, Builder+ membership, and more, which serve as quality-of-life upgrades. Purchasing them requires Robux, hastening your progress in the game.