Abiotic Factor is a survival crafting game set inside a massive underground research facility where a containment breach has released alien creatures. You play as a scientist trapped in the labs, crafting weapons and tools from office supplies and lab equipment to survive. The Half-Life meets Subnautica premise is executed with humor — your first weapons are staplers and fire extinguishers, and your base is built from office furniture barricades. Co-op for up to 6 players adds chaos to the already absurd premise. The game entered Early Access in 2024 and quickly gained popularity for its unique setting and creative crafting system.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staple Gun | S | Early game all builds | Your first ranged weapon, crafted from an office stapler and rubber bands. |
| Fire Extinguisher | A | Security (early game) | Repurposed as a short-range spray weapon that slows and damages aliens. |
| Makeshift Blade | A | Security, IT Specialist | A sharpened piece of lab equipment turned into a melee weapon. |
| Tesla Coil | B | Engineer | An electrical trap placed on the ground that zaps aliens walking over it. |
| Chemical Sprayer | B | Security (late game) | Late-game weapon spraying corrosive chemicals that dissolve alien armor. |
S-Tier: Staple Gun
Your first ranged weapon, crafted from an office stapler and rubber bands. Low damage but infinite craftable ammo from staple boxes found in every office. Effective against small aliens and as a distraction tool.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Early game all builds |
| Key Mechanic | office survival |
| Recommended Build | Scientist |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Staple Gun: Pairs naturally with Scientist thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Fire Extinguisher
Repurposed as a short-range spray weapon that slows and damages aliens. The CO2 cloud obscures vision, useful for retreating from tough encounters. Found in hallway emergency stations throughout the facility.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Security (early game) |
| Key Mechanic | science crafting |
| Recommended Build | Engineer |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Fire Extinguisher: Pairs naturally with Engineer thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Makeshift Blade
A sharpened piece of lab equipment turned into a melee weapon. Higher damage than the staple gun but requires close range. Stealth attacks from behind deal 3x damage, rewarding careful approach.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Security, IT Specialist |
| Key Mechanic | alien encounters |
| Recommended Build | Security |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Makeshift Blade: Pairs naturally with Security thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Tesla Coil
An electrical trap placed on the ground that zaps aliens walking over it. Crafted from lab electrical components. Multiple coils create kill corridors that clear aliens without ammo expenditure. The Engineer's signature weapon.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Engineer |
| Key Mechanic | base building |
| Recommended Build | IT Specialist |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Tesla Coil: Pairs naturally with IT Specialist thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Chemical Sprayer
Late-game weapon spraying corrosive chemicals that dissolve alien armor. Requires rare chemistry lab components to craft and refill. The highest DPS weapon in the game but ammo is expensive and limited.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Security (late game) |
| Key Mechanic | co-op research |
| Recommended Build | Custodian |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Chemical Sprayer: Pairs naturally with Custodian thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Office Floor
- Fire Extinguisher → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Makeshift Blade → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Staple Gun → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Build a science station before anything else. Research unlocks exponentially better equipment — 30 minutes of research is worth more than an hour of scavenging.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Abiotic Factor Guides
- Abiotic Factor Abiotic Factor Overview
- Abiotic Factor Best Builds
- Abiotic Factor Tier List
- Abiotic Factor Walkthrough
- Abiotic Factor Beginner's Guide
- Abiotic Factor Tips & Tricks
- Abiotic Factor Combat Guide
- Abiotic Factor Boss Guide
- Abiotic Factor Maps & Locations
- Abiotic Factor Crafting Guide
- Abiotic Factor Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Abiotic Factor, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Weapons Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
