Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, community sites named in the text and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Base Types: Underground, Skybases and Size
Big bases hold more people and supplies but are easier to spot and harder to guard; small ones are easy to demolish. minecraft.wiki's PvP guide describes two strong types: deep underground bases that take days to find, and skybases that attackers must build up to while archers shoot them down.
Should a base be big or small?
The guide's trade-off: a large visible structure gets noticed and leaves more space unguarded, but suits many players working together and holds more supplies; a small base is easily demolished. Pick for your group size.
Underground or sky?
- Deep underground: enemies may take days to find you while you farm and branch-mine.
- Skybase: far above the world, so attackers must build up to it and can be shot down. The guide's key rule: leave no spot out of your archers' line of sight, for example with a multiple-ring bottom floor.
What is the factions water-shell trick?
On servers with the Factions plugin, the guide describes digging along the inside border of your claim down to bedrock and covering the base, sides and roof, with flowing water, with no blocks connecting to the wilderness. The water stops TNT, and the guide says the counter is a sand or gravel cannon. See TNT and water and hybrid cannons.
Should you keep a secret base?
The guide says yes: if your faction collapses mid-war you could be left with nothing, so keep a private base with a home set there. It also suggests not building near spawn, where spawn campers and griefers pass. See protecting valuables.
How do modern factions bases differ?
Big factions servers such as CosmicPE describe obsidian shells, watered wraps and buffers with size rules; see base building and server rules. Game mode overview: Factions.
Frequently asked questions
Is an underground base safe in PvP?
minecraft.wiki's PvP guide says a deep base can take enemies days to find.
What is a skybase?
A base built high above the world, so attackers must build up to it while defenders shoot them.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.