Frostpunk is 11 bit studios' city-survival game where you lead the last city on Earth through a volcanic winter apocalypse. Building around a central steam generator, you manage heat, resources, workforce, and the moral direction of your society through a book of laws. The game forces genuinely difficult ethical decisions — child labor, 24-hour shifts, organ harvesting, and authoritarian control are all tools available when survival demands it. Five scenarios plus Endless Mode offer distinct challenges, from preserving seed vaults to managing refugees. The final storm in A New Home is one of gaming's most intense survival experiences.
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
New London (A New Home)
Key resources: Full mechanics tutorial, complete story arc, most replayable scenario Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Generator upgrades upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Arks
Key resources: Automaton mastery, efficiency-focused gameplay, unique story Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Generator upgrades upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Refugees
Key resources: Population management skills, moral dilemma focus, faction dynamics Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Generator upgrades upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Fall of Winterhome
Key resources: City rebuilding skills, time pressure experience, lore reveals Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Steam Hub max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
On the Edge
Key resources: Trade mechanics, political storyline, advanced resource management Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Steam Hub max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (New London (A New Home) — The Arks)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Generator upgrades once accessible
Mid Game (The Refugees)
- Push Generator upgrades to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Steam Hub
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (The Fall of Winterhome — On the Edge)
- Max out Steam Hub — 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 The Refugees 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
- Build roads only where necessary — they cost wood and take up space that could hold buildings within heat zones
- Farm The Refugees 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 Frostpunk Guides
- Frostpunk Frostpunk Overview
- Frostpunk Best Builds
- Frostpunk Tier List
- Frostpunk Walkthrough
- Frostpunk Beginner's Guide
- Frostpunk Tips & Tricks
- Frostpunk Weapons Guide
- Frostpunk Combat Guide
- Frostpunk Boss Guide
- Frostpunk Maps & Locations
- Frostpunk Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Frostpunk, check out these related guides:
- Cities: Skylines Crafting Guide — city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Manor Lords Crafting Guide — city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Timberborn Crafting Guide — city-builder game with similar mechanics
