Few things sting like logging into Conan Exiles to find your base gone to decay. This guide explains how the decay system works, the decay states, how to refresh your base, building stability, and the server settings that control it all.
The decay states
| State | What it means | Who can touch it |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Timer above zero, owned | Only the owning clan |
| Abandoned | Timer hit zero, ownership cleared | Anyone — loot & demolish |
| Destroyed | ~24h grace after abandoned | Despawns entirely |
How decay works
Every structure has a decay timer that ticks down while the owning clan is offline. When a clan member logs in or interacts with the structure, the timer resets to maximum. If a base is left untouched past its decay time, it becomes abandoned — and once abandoned, anyone can loot and demolish it, or it crumbles on its own after the grace period. Connecting more and higher-quality pieces increases the total timer, up to the server’s cap.
Keeping your base alive
- Log in regularly — simply being near your base and interacting refreshes its decay timer.
- Check the timer — look at a foundation or piece to see its remaining decay time.
- Consolidate — scattered outposts each decay on their own timer; fewer, well-visited bases are far safer than a sprawl of mini-bases.
- Tell your clan — on a clan base, any member interacting refreshes it, so coordinate logins if people take breaks.
Building stability
Separate from decay, stability governs how far you can build outward. Foundations have full stability; each piece placed away from support loses some, and when stability hits zero, pieces collapse. Use pillars, ceilings and fences to extend stability for big builds and overhangs — a common beginner frustration is walls collapsing because they’re built too far from support.
Control decay on your server
As an admin you set the decay multiplier and abandonment rules — longer for casual servers so people can take breaks (a DecayTimeMultiplier of 2.0 doubles every timer), shorter to keep the map tidy on an active server. See the server settings guide, and plan big builds with the Conan Building Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long until my base decays in Conan Exiles?
It depends on size and tier — bigger, higher-quality builds carry longer timers, up to around 10 days on official settings (stonebrick and above last well over a week). The timer resets every time a clan member logs in near it, so regular play keeps a base safe indefinitely.
Can other players refresh or stop my base decaying?
Only your own clan can refresh the timer. A non-clan player standing near your base does nothing — that’s intentional, so PvP raiders can’t keep an enemy base from decaying. Once it goes abandoned, though, anyone can loot and demolish it.
How do I stop my base decaying while on holiday?
On your own server, raise the DecayTimeMultiplier (e.g. to 2.0, which doubles all timers) so a hardened-brick base survives weeks. On official/community servers, ask a clanmate to log in near the base periodically, or consolidate to one well-visited base before you leave.
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