Cauldron is an incremental minigame RPG from SleepyDad Games, published by Caketown Interactive and released on Steam on 21 May 2025 for 14.99 euro, with a Nintendo Switch version following on 29 October 2025. You play Nyx, a young witch with a snarky pink ghost named Blinkie, clearing a map covered in Darkness one square at a time. Every square hides either a resource minigame or a monster fight, and the resources feed upgrade trees for more than 20 heroes.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Standard
Key resources: The full upgrade tree unlock path, and the knowledge every other mode assumes you have Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Fishing upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Idle
Key resources: Overnight resource accumulation without manual minigame play Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Fishing upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Pacifist
Key resources: A genuinely different playthrough, and the achievements attached to it Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Fishing upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Double Trouble
Key resources: Wave survival practice that prepares you for EVIL Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Apple Picking max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
EVIL
Key resources: The toughest achievements in the 100 the game ships with Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Apple Picking max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Standard to Idle)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Fishing once accessible
Mid Game (Pacifist)
- Push Fishing to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Apple Picking
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Double Trouble to EVIL)
- Max out Apple Picking. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Pacifist farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Put your first upgrades into resource yield rather than hero power. Everything in Cauldron is funded by the five minigames, and a doubled yield compounds into every later purchase while a damage upgrade only helps the next fight.
- Farm Pacifist during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Cauldron Guides
- Cauldron Cauldron Overview
- Cauldron Best Builds
- Cauldron Tier List
- Cauldron Walkthrough
- Cauldron Beginner's Guide
- Cauldron Tips & Tricks
- Cauldron Weapons Guide
- Cauldron Combat Guide
- Cauldron Boss Guide
- Cauldron Maps & Locations
- Cauldron Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Cauldron, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Crafting Guide: rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Crafting Guide: rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Crafting Guide: rpg game with similar mechanics
