Base layout has a real effect on defensive performance in games like this, even though it's easy to treat as a purely cosmetic decision when you're first placing buildings.
Protect your most critical buildings
Your Furnace and other core progression buildings should generally be positioned toward the center of your base, behind defensive structures, rather than on the exposed perimeter — the goal is making key buildings harder to reach quickly, not just filling space efficiently.
Don't neglect defensive structures for economic ones
It's tempting to prioritize every available build slot toward economic buildings since they visibly speed up progress, but defensive structures directly reduce how costly an attack against you actually is — treat them as part of your economy, not separate from it, since a costly raid is itself an economic loss.
Revisit your layout as your base grows
A layout that made sense at a low Furnace level may leave newer, more valuable buildings exposed once you've expanded. Periodically reassessing your layout — not just building outward by default — is worth the occasional few minutes it takes.
Balance aesthetics against function
There's nothing wrong with a base layout you like the look of, but if defense matters to your playstyle, be honest about whether your current layout actually reflects that priority, or whether it evolved by accident as you added buildings over time.
When layout matters most
Layout optimization matters most once you're a visible target for rallies — earlier on, when you're rarely attacked, it's a lower priority than build order and research. Revisit it seriously once you notice you're being targeted more often.
