Solarpunk Survival Guide

Recipe Overview

The crafting system is one of Solarpunk's core gameplay pillars. Almost every item in the game must be obtained through crafting, from the most basic Stone Axe to complex Airship Engine Cores — each item has its specific crafting recipe. The recipe system is divided into four stages by tech tier, and as you unlock more advanced research, the pool of available recipes grows progressively larger. Understanding how the crafting system works helps you plan resource gathering and base development more efficiently.

In Solarpunk, crafting requires three conditions: having the corresponding recipe unlocked, gathering all required materials, and using the correct workbench. Different tiers of items require different levels of workbenches: basic items can be crafted by hand or at the Basic Workbench, intermediate items require Electronics or Mechanical Workbenches, and advanced items need specialized assembly stations. This page collects the most commonly used and important recipes in the game, categorized by function and tech tier for easy lookup. All material quantities are community estimates; actual in-game recipes may adjust with version updates.

Each tier features significant jumps in technology and materials. Moving from Tier 1 to Tier 2 primarily involves introducing metal processing and basic electricity — you'll need to establish cross-island logistics to acquire copper and iron ore. Tier 2 to Tier 3 marks your base entering the industrial phase, where automated production begins replacing manual operation. Tier 4 represents the game's ultimate goal — only by establishing complete automated production chains and cross-island logistics networks can you reliably produce these top-tier items.

Tech Tier Guide

Tier 1 — Basic Tech

Default unlock or obtainable through basic research. Crafted using a Basic Workbench or by hand with resources available on the starting island.

Tier 2 — Intermediate Tech

Requires completing intermediate research; some materials require cross-island gathering. Workbench upgrades to Electronics/Mechanical Workbench; products begin involving automation components.

Tier 3 — Advanced Tech

Requires advanced research unlock, involving multi-island resource chains. Uses Advanced or specialized workbenches; products are typically used for building automation systems and advanced facilities.

Tier 4 — Ultimate Tech

Late-game unlock requiring rare materials and cross-island collaborative production. Products are the most powerful equipment and components in the game, such as Airship Engine Cores and advanced energy systems.

Recipe Quick Reference

Item	Materials	Station	Unlock	Tier
Basic WorkbenchBasic	Wood x10 + Stone x5	Hand Crafting	Default Unlock	1
Stone AxeTool	Wood x4 + Stone x3 + Fiber x2	Basic Workbench	Default Unlock	1
Stone PickaxeTool	Wood x4 + Stone x4 + Fiber x2	Basic Workbench	Default Unlock	1
CampfireSurvival	Stone x5 + Wood x8	Hand Crafting	Default Unlock	1
Wood WallBuilding	Wood x6 + Fiber x2	Basic Workbench	Default Unlock	1
BedSurvival	Wood x8 + Fiber x6 + Cloth x4	Basic Workbench	Default Unlock	1
Rain CollectorSurvival	Wood x12 + Iron Ingot x2 + Cloth x3	Basic Workbench	Basic Water Source Research	2
Solar PanelEnergy	Silicon Wafer x4 + Copper Wire x8 + Glass x2	Electronics Workbench	Basic Power Research	2
Wind TurbineEnergy	Iron Ingot x8 + Copper Wire x6 + Gear x3	Mechanical Workbench	Wind Tech Research	2
Research StationTech	Wood x15 + Iron Ingot x5 + Copper Wire x3	Basic Workbench	Basic Science	1
FurnaceProduction	Stone x20 + Iron Ingot x4	Basic Workbench	Basic Smelting	1
Auto Watering SystemFarming	Iron Pipe x6 + Water Pump x1 + Circuit Board x2	Advanced Workbench	Auto Farming Research	3
Conveyor BeltAutomation	Iron Ingot x4 + Gear x2 + Rubber x1	Mechanical Workbench	Basic Automation	2
Industrial FurnaceProduction	Steel Ingot x15 + Fire Brick x8 + Temp Sensor x2	Advanced Workbench	Industrial Smelting	3
Airship Engine CoreAirship	Titanium Alloy x20 + Energy Core x1 + Advanced Circuit x5	Airship Assembly Station	Engine Tech III	4

* Material quantities are community estimates; actual in-game data may vary with version updates

Material Gathering Guide

The various materials involved in crafting recipes are distributed across different floating islands. Basic materials like wood, stone, and fiber can be gathered on all islands. Metal ores (iron, copper, gold, etc.) are concentrated in specific mining islands, typically only reachable after unlocking airship travel. Rare materials like titanium alloy and energy cores are needed in smaller quantities but are harder to obtain, often requiring collaborative production across multiple islands and complex processing steps. After establishing your basic base, prioritize building your cross-island transport network to ensure a stable material supply chain. For more material details, refer to the Resource Gathering page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I unlock more crafting recipes?

Crafting recipes are unlocked by conducting research at the Research Station. After building a Research Station, follow the tech tree to progressively research each technology to unlock corresponding recipes. We recommend prioritizing "Basic Power" and "Basic Automation" research — these two branches unlock a large number of intermediate recipes. As the game progresses, you'll discover unique research materials on higher-tier islands used to unlock advanced and ultimate tech recipes.

Why are some recipes grayed out and can't be crafted?

There are three possible reasons: the recipe hasn't been unlocked yet, the current workbench tier is insufficient, or required materials are missing. First, confirm you've unlocked the recipe through the Research Station, then check if your current workbench matches the type required by the recipe. If both conditions are met, check whether all materials are present in the correct types and quantities. Some advanced recipes also require specific intermediate products like circuit boards and alloy ingots.

Can I use substitute materials when I don't have enough?

The game's crafting recipes have fixed material requirements and do not currently support substitute materials. However, certain intermediate products in advanced recipes (such as iron and steel ingots) can be obtained through multiple methods: manual smelting, automated production lines, or trading with other islands. When resources are tight, it's recommended to prioritize building a cross-island trading system, exchanging surplus resources for the materials you lack rather than wasting time on inefficient manual gathering.