Building — Fences

Overview

Fences are the foundational building block for base construction in DayZ, serving as the primary barrier to protect your loot from raiders and wildlife. Properly fortified fences convert existing structures or open fields into defensible shelters, allowing you to secure your progression.

How It Works

A fence begins as a wooden fence kit placed on the ground. You build a frame using two vertical wooden logs and two short wooden sticks, then attach wooden planks to build the wall. Once the frame is built, you can attach materials to create the lower and upper sections, finally adding a gate by using pliers on a wire attached to the frame.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Combine a Wooden Log with a Short Wooden Stick to craft a Fence Kit, then place it on the ground.
2. Attach two Wooden Logs to the kit and use a Sledgehammer or Hatchet to build the frame.
3. Attach 18 Wooden Planks to the frame and use a Hammer or Hatchet with Nails to build the lower and upper wall sections.
4. Use Pliers to attach Metal Wire to the frame to convert the fence into a Gate.
5. Attach a Combination Lock to the gate by interacting with the frame's gate mechanism.
6. Reinforce the wall sections by attaching Metal Plates to the exterior using a Hammer and Nails.

Tips

• Always build your fence frames on flat terrain to avoid visual gaps that players can crouch-peek through.
• Use a 4-dial Combination Lock instead of a 3-dial lock to increase the time raiders spend brute-forcing your entrance.
• Building in pre-existing structures like sheds or houses saves resources, as you only need to barricade the doorways.
• Keep your Hammer or Hatchet in your inventory at all times; you cannot disassemble or repair walls without one.
• Build "airlocks" by placing two gates in a row so you can close the outer gate before opening the inner one.

Common Mistakes

• Building walls without Metal Plates, which makes your base vulnerable to melee weapons and basic firearms.
• Forgetting to lock your gate immediately after installation, allowing anyone to simply walk into your base.
• Building too close to high-traffic spawn points or military zones, which guarantees your base will be found and raided quickly.
• Neglecting to maintain your base; walls will decay over time if you do not interact with them, eventually leading to structural collapse.

Related Items

• Nail
• Nail Box
• Metal Plate
• Flag CHEL
• Flag Bear
• Flag NSahrani

Related Guides

• Base Fortification
• Combination Locks
• Tool Management