Fallout 76 Workshops and CAMP base building explained
How to perform base building at CAMP and Workshop locations.
Fallout 76 Workshops are essentially fixed CAMPs you can build out in the world at one of many locations.
Claiming a Workshop allows you to receive specific resources for as long as you control it, until it's taken over by enemy waves and other players (or you go offline). Thankfully, you can use Fallout 76 base building mechanics to defend it.
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How to claim Workshops in Fallout 76
Workshops are public spaces within buildings and settlements that need to be claimed by clearing out the enemies there. You can tell there is one closeby by the following round 'tools' icon in your compass at the bottom of the screen:
Once you arrive, assuming it's already unclaimed, you need to clear it of enemies. Some advice with this:
- Objective markers for the enemy locations you need to clear should appear on screen automatically. If not, then enter your mission logs and select it manually, disabling any other Workshop objectives at the same time.
- The enemies that appear there are randomly selected based on the level zone you are in - so in the Forest area it could be anything from Mole Rats to Scortched to higher-level Super Mutants. If you are struggling, then you can exit to the menu then load back to spawn close by with a different set of enemies.
- Sometimes you don't need to clear enemies at all and the Workshop is ready to be claimed - this is likely because another player has beaten you to the punch!
- You get a decent amount of Caps for clearing out the enemies (20-40 in early game areas). This is so you can afford to claim the Workshop (which costs Caps) but you can always decide not to do it to get some easy money. You can even clear enemies, quit to menu and re-enter the game to respawn nearby with the enemies returning to claim the camp, giving you another set of Caps.
Once claimed, the Workshop is claimed and all yours. Just go up to it (it'll be an objective marker) and pay the caps.
There are multiple reasons to do this:
- You can start base building at that location - turrets are recommended to help you defend it, but you can also customise it how you would a CAMP.
- Each claimed Workshop provides you materials from that location, if you interact with the various machines or mining tools specific to that location.
- Defending each Workshop from enemy waves (you'll be alerted when this happens) is a useful source of XP, items and plans.
- While the Workshop is claimed, each workshop location acts as a free fast travel point.
It should be noted that if you lose the Workshop - which occurs when it's overwhelmed by enemies, is taken over by another player, or you quit the game - you can no longer fast travel to the Workshop. As such, we highly recommend adding a nearby location to your map when you find a Workshop, so in later sessions you can fast travel to it easier.
Need more help? If you are following the main storyline, then you'll come across the Type-T Fuse location and Fire Breathers exam answers quests. If you're after online activities, there is Fallout 76 Workshops and base building and how to unlock PvP. If you're after higher-level goals, then we recommend observing the level zones map, unlocking Atom Challenges, plus how to join the Enclave and launching nukes with launch codes.
How to base build at Workshops in Fallout 76
After claiming a Workshop, you have to defend it while it claims resources for you. Modifying the Workshop uses the same Fallout 76 base building mechanics as the portable CAMP. This has a few differences to Fallout 4, as explained in the below video, such as:
- The area to build is much smaller
- Turrets take up a large chunk of your budget
- You may need to have certain perks for certain defense types
However, the good news is Workshops will give you a tonne of resources to help you get started - no need to scour the wilderness as with your CAMP.
But, unlike the CAMP, it is not persistent between sessions, meaning when you log off, it'll disappear.
Thankfully you can save your efforts creating a bespoke Workshop as a Blueprint (in the editor, switch to Modify then press left bumper / L1, then press Square (or X on Xbox) to save it. That way, when you return to that specific location, you can create it all again quickly.
The Blueprint system isn't perfect, so don't expect it to plant everything perfectly when you return, but it can save you a little bit of time.