Where To Build Your Home Island In Aloft

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The Humble Starter Island

Aloft gives you the opportunity to take to the skies and start your own journey to fight against the corruption plaguing the floating islands. Each island is different, and you won’t get very far without claiming one as your home. However, it’s a big decision not to be made lightly.

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While you can change your home island at any time, it’s important to choose the right one. You’ll be stuck with it for a while, and transferring everything between islands is a hassle. Thankfully, we’ve noted the best types of islands to stake out as your own! From a starter island to custom builds, here’s everything you need to know!

Aloft is in early access, so content is subject to change. We’ll update our guides as needed to give you up-to-date information!

The Humble Starter Island

Using a spyglass on a starter island to look around.

Your first home island is likely to be one of the starter islands right after you craft a glider. Though they vary in size, they are about the same when it comes to resource diversity. Some have water and others have livestock, but rarely will you find your forever home island at the start.

Keep track of the environment you’re in, as harvesting from your home too much can lead to unhealthy conditions.

Regardless, they are a great first start when you begin your journey. You’re sure to find a better home later, but until then, the Emerald Isles starter islands will be your rock.

Below are the pros and cons to this type of island.

Pros	Cons
Easy to set up. Perfect for experimenting with design. Few environmental concerns depending on size.	Will be outgrown in time. Could be missing vital resources. Potential for unhealthy environment rises.

The Pirate Ship Island

Less of an island and more of a build, the basis of the pirate ship style is finding the smallest island you possibly can and building off of it. Since structures need only be attached to something that touches the island, you can build around the small platform to create a mighty vessel.

The smallest islands have only a single tree on them and are barely big enough to hold the avatar. Finding one can be tricky, but it offers the most possibilities for creativity and expression. Plus, who wouldn’t love to soar through the sky in a ship of their own design?

Be sure to include a dock or plank to dive off of for ease of access!

Below are the benefits of this type of island and the drawbacks:

Pros	Cons
Minimal environmental concerns. Maximum customization for building. Streamlined travel experience. Easier to store materials and travel with them.	Less open space. No room for animals. Requires careful planning for storage. More traveling is required if you set up a ‘home’ elsewhere.

The Animal Farm Island

Who doesn’t love those fluffy faces? If you find an island with a large population of animals, you may want to make it your home for the carrying capacity. It will allow you to carry a variety of animals and repopulate unhealthy environments when you travel.

The tricky part is finding an island that meets these requirements. Few islands will have an animal capacity for seven or more furry friends, and gathering that many animals will be difficult at first. However, once accomplished, your home will become a thriving paradise to travel on.

Below are the pros and cons for this type of home island:

Pros	Cons
More animals to care for. Often more space to decorate. An abundance of animal products.	Less flexibility with environment. Often a much larger (and slower) island. Lots and lots of manure. Everywhere.

The Forest Island

Crafting materials are essential in Aloft, and having a personal forest is a great way to ensure you have a steady supply of wood. The trees are often in abundance, so you can chop down as many as you’d like.

Be wary of the logs rolling off the edge! Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

A forest is scenic for a homemade cabin, if that’s your preference. You can design your home around the overgrowth and store excess wood for crafting in stockpiles. Just be sure to plant more trees to replace the ones you’ve used to maintain the environment!

Below are the pros and cons for this type of home island:

Pros	Cons
An excess of wood readily available. A cozier feeling when at home. Often a larger island with more opportunities.	Trees can block the view while sailing. Environmental demands can be draining. Constant need to replant trees when used.

The Waterfall Island

Aloft Two waterfalls pouring into each other.

Having water on an island is practical. It’s good for watering crops and staying hydrated. So long as you have a supply of charcoal on hand, you can purify the water to enjoy a crisp, fresh drink whenever you’d like.

Drinking clean water increases your attack speed for a short time!

Additionally, building your home around a gushing waterfall can be quite scenic. It’s a stylistic choice above all else. If you have your heart set on building a home that you can be proud of–and one that’s easy on the eyes–then hold out until you find the perfect spot.

Below are the pros and cons for this type of home island:

Pros	Cons
An abundance of water is readily available. Better for growing crops and staying hydrated. Waterfalls are scenic, especially when trailing behind the island.	Water cannot be moved or destroyed. Constant noise on the island.

The Fortress Island

Sheep crawling around an ancient structure.

These islands tend to have massive structures on them already, like towers or arches that can’t be moved. A fortress type is perfect if you need lots of space and don’t want to decorate much, though it will be a hefty island to steer.

Despite that, it’s a good idea to set up a sturdy base with everything you need. A larger island enables you to explore freely while coming back to a home filled with supplies and materials.

Below are the pros and cons for this type of home island:

Pros	Cons
Lots of room to build. Often a variety of resources for crafting. The potential for caves at home.	More difficult to control when sailing. Environment may have high demands. Changing islands afterwards can involve a lot of back and forth, Immovable structures around the island.