Factorio is the factory-building game that has ruined sleep schedules since 2016. You crash-land on an alien planet and must build increasingly complex automated factories to launch a rocket and escape. What starts as hand-mining iron ore evolves into continent-spanning logistics networks with trains, robots, and nuclear power. The 'one more belt' addiction is real — optimizing production ratios, throughput bottlenecks, and logistics creates a satisfaction loop that few games match. The 2.0 update and Space Age expansion added space platforms, new planets, and elevated rails, extending the endgame dramatically.
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 synergies |
| 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
Starting Area
Key resources: First iron/copper patches, starting base location, initial research completion Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Flamethrower Turret upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Oil Fields
Key resources: Petroleum gas (plastic, sulfur), lubricant (blue belts, robots), light oil (flamethrower fuel) Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Flamethrower Turret upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Uranium Patch
Key resources: Nuclear fuel (fastest train fuel), nuclear reactor power (160MW per pair), atomic bombs, uranium ammo Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Flamethrower Turret upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Enemy Bases
Key resources: Safe expansion territory, reduced attack frequency, alien artifacts (in modded games) Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Rocket Launcher max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Rail Network
Key resources: Bulk material transport, scalable logistics, City Block factory design Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Rocket Launcher max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Starting Area — Oil Fields)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Flamethrower Turret once accessible
Mid Game (Uranium Patch)
- Push Flamethrower Turret to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Rocket Launcher
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Enemy Bases — Rail Network)
- Max out Rocket Launcher — 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 Uranium Patch 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
- The ratio for Red Science is 1 assembler each for copper plates → gears → red science. For Green Science, you need 6 inserter assemblers per 5 belt assemblers per 1 green science assembler. Use a ratio calculator for complex recipes.
- Farm Uranium Patch 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 Factorio Guides
- Factorio Factorio Overview
- Factorio Best Builds
- Factorio Tier List
- Factorio Walkthrough
- Factorio Beginner's Guide
- Factorio Tips & Tricks
- Factorio Weapons Guide
- Factorio Combat Guide
- Factorio Boss Guide
- Factorio Maps & Locations
- Factorio Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Factorio, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Crafting Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Crafting Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Crafting Guide — simulation game with similar mechanics
