Base defense setup: Portal Suppression, Shock Traps, and Tesla Coils

Field Complaint

Portal storms keep spawning enemies inside my base and I have no idea how to stop them.

Validated Response

Your first priority is upgrading the Crafting Bench with the Portal Suppression Field — this is the primary defense against portal incursions and reduces enemy spawns near your base core. Enemies beeline for your Crafting Bench during Portal Storms and Assault Events, so defending it is the core objective. Shock Traps are your best early defense: no external power needed, 30-second recharge, 6 activations kill a Security Bot, and easy to spam around doorways. Tesla Coils deal 100 Electricity damage per hit but attack indiscriminately (including you) — equip a Glow Shard or connect a Lever for on/off control, and place them so you can escape their range. Keep lights on — well-lit areas reduce spawns. Defense power must be on a separate battery branch from food storage and living utilities, because Tesla spikes will shut down shared circuits. Community consensus: Tesla Coils + Shock Traps is the most cost-efficient defense combination.

Summary

The Portal Suppression Field is your primary defense. Shock Traps are the best early option (no power, cheap, strong). Tesla Coils need their own buffered branch and a Lever for safe on/off control.

Prerequisites

• Have a powered Crafting Bench with Portal Suppression Field upgrade available.
• Identify which entrances enemies use during raids by watching one assault event first.
• Separate defense power from food storage and living utilities on different battery branches.

Recommended Loadout

• Portal Suppression Field upgrade for Crafting Bench
• Shock Traps for doorways (no external power needed)
• Tesla Coil with battery buffer and Lever control

Step-by-Step Route

1. Upgrade your Crafting Bench with the Portal Suppression Field — this is the single most important defense investment.
2. Place Shock Traps around perimeter doorways; they need no power, recharge in 30 seconds, and 6 activations kill a Security Bot.
3. Set up Tesla Coils on their own buffered battery branch with a Lever for on/off control — they deal 100 damage but hit you too.
4. Keep base lights on at night; well-lit areas reduce enemy spawn rates.
5. Repair all traps immediately after each raid while failure points are still visible.

Common Mistakes

• Building traps before upgrading the Portal Suppression Field, then watching enemies spawn inside the base anyway.
• Running Tesla Coils on the same power branch as the Refrigerator and losing all stored food during a raid.
• Placing traps in open areas where enemies can path around them instead of inside committed turns.