Shelter

Shelter is a basic need for all beavers in Timberborn, representing the requirement for a dedicated place to live. It decays at 30 points per day, with a maximum of 80 and a minimum of -20. Shelter is satisfied simply by having an allocated housing building assigned to the beaver. Without Shelter, beavers suffer a -25% Sleep restoration penalty, making it much harder for them to recover from fatigue. Additionally, unsheltered Folktails cannot reproduce, meaning population growth stalls entirely without adequate housing. For Iron Teeth, Breeding Pods handle reproduction separately, but Shelter still matters for Sleep efficiency and Well-Being.

Housing buildings that satisfy the Shelter need vary by faction. Folktails build Lodges (housing 2 beavers), Double Lodges (4 beavers), and Triple Lodges (6 beavers), offering flexible options for growing colonies. Iron Teeth construct Barracks (housing 4 beavers), Rowhouses, and Large Rowhouses, which support denser populations per building footprint. Both factions can also use the District Center as emergency shelter for a limited number of beavers when dedicated housing is not yet available. Each housing building also serves as a sleeping location, tying the Shelter and Sleep needs closely together.

Strategically, Shelter should be one of the first needs addressed in any new district. Building housing before increasing population through breeding ensures every beaver has a home, maintaining Sleep restoration efficiency and enabling Folktails reproduction. Players should plan housing districts near workplaces to reduce commute times, and they should build surplus housing capacity before ramping up Breeding Pod output. Upgrading from basic housing to larger variants (Double or Triple Lodges, Large Rowhouses) saves land space as the colony grows. Satisfied Shelter contributes positively to Well-Being, while homeless beavers suffer both the direct Sleep penalty and reduced overall Well-Being, creating a downward spiral that can weaken the entire colony if left unchecked.