Order is the plan
Tiers unlock in a chain. Chase them in sequence so every machine you need is available when the recipe calls.
Don’t over-build early
Early tiers are small. Build only enough, then move on; the late base replaces it, so do not over-invest now.
Unlock alternates too
Hard-drive alternates count as much as tiers. Grab them when you explore, because they reshape the chain.
Plan the endgame
Know the final parts you want. Work back through tiers so each one feeds the goal instead of a dead branch.
Read the list
The item database tags every item with its tier. Check it before you commit a build to a footprint.
Avoid the skip
Skipping a tier leaves a missing machine that blocks a later step. Build in order and the path stays open.
Keys to the next layer
Each milestone is a key to the next layer of the game. Chase them in order and the build always has the machine the next recipe demands.
Items by research tier
- Beacon (tier Tier 1 - Field Research, stack 100)
- Chainsaw
- Bacon Agaric
- Copper Powder
- Automated Wiring
- Concrete
- Cooling System
- Aluminum Ingot
- Coal
- Blade Runners
- Aluminum Casing
- Copper Ore
- AI Limiter
- Alien Protein
- Assembly Director System
- Compacted Coal
- Caterium Ore
- Caterium Ingot
- Adaptive Control Unit
- Aluminum Scrap
Buildings each tier unlocks
- Equipment Workshop (width 10, length 7)
- Conveyor Lifts (width 2, length 2)
- Biomass Burner (width 8, length 8)
- Foundry (width 10, length 10)
- Fuel-Powered Generator (width 20, length 20)
- Blender (width 18, length 16)
- Geothermal Generator (width 19, length 20)
- Conveyor Belts (width 2, length 1–56)
- Beams (width 0.8, length 1–40)
- Blueprint Designer (width 40, length 40)
- Conveyor Poles (width 2, length 1)
- Buildings
- Assembler (width 9, length 16)
- Drone Port (width 24, length 24)
- AWESOME Sink (width 16, length 13)
- Coal-Powered Generator (width 10, length 26)
- Fluid Buffer (width 6, length 6)
- Crafting Bench