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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Hub | S | City expansion, workplace heating, all scenarios | Extends your generator's heat zone to outlying buildings. |
| Generator upgrades | A | Faith path | Solid choice. |
| Automatons | A | Automation builds, late-game optimization, Coal/Steel production | Robotic workers built at the Factory that replace human labor entirely. |
| Hunter's Huts | B | Early game food production, A New Home scenario | The primary food source early-game, sending hunters out during the night to return with raw food by morning. |
| Coal Mines | B | Mid to late game coal production, storm preparation | Advanced coal production buildings that generate far more coal than Coal Thumpers or Gathering Posts. |
S-Tier: Steam Hub
Extends your generator's heat zone to outlying buildings. Each Steam Hub heats a small radius, letting you build workplaces and housing outside the generator's direct range. Essential for expanding your city beyond the initial ring. Costs coal to operate.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | City expansion, workplace heating, all scenarios |
| Key Mechanic | generator management |
| Recommended Build | Order path |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Steam Hub: Pairs naturally with Order path thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Generator upgrades
Generator upgrades is a strong option in Frostpunk.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Faith path |
| Key Mechanic | hope and discontent system |
| Recommended Build | Faith path |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Generator upgrades: Pairs naturally with Faith path thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Automatons
Robotic workers built at the Factory that replace human labor entirely. They work 24 hours without food, housing, or heat. The initial research cost is high but each Automaton replaces 10-15 workers. Late-game cities can run on Automatons while citizens stay home.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Automation builds, late-game optimization, Coal/Steel production |
| Key Mechanic | law system |
| Recommended Build | Adaptation focus |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Automatons: Pairs naturally with Adaptation focus thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Hunter's Huts
The primary food source early-game, sending hunters out during the night to return with raw food by morning. Upgraded to Hunter's Gear for +30% production. More reliable than Hothouses early on but requires available workforce during night shifts.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Early game food production, A New Home scenario |
| Key Mechanic | scouting |
| Recommended Build | Exploration focus |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Hunter's Huts: Pairs naturally with Exploration focus thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Coal Mines
Advanced coal production buildings that generate far more coal than Coal Thumpers or Gathering Posts. Steam Coal Mines are the final upgrade. Coal is the single most important resource — running out means the generator stops and everyone freezes.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Mid to late game coal production, storm preparation |
| Key Mechanic | temperature mechanics |
| Recommended Build | Automation focus |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Coal Mines: Pairs naturally with Automation focus thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear New London (A New Home)
- Generator upgrades → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Automatons → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Steam Hub → 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 roads only where necessary — they cost wood and take up space that could hold buildings within heat zones
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Frostpunk Guides
- Frostpunk Frostpunk Overview
- Frostpunk Best Builds
- Frostpunk Tier List
- Frostpunk Walkthrough
- Frostpunk Beginner's Guide
- Frostpunk Tips & Tricks
- Frostpunk Combat Guide
- Frostpunk Boss Guide
- Frostpunk Maps & Locations
- Frostpunk Crafting Guide
- Frostpunk Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Frostpunk, check out these related guides:
- Cities: Skylines Weapons Guide — city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Manor Lords Weapons Guide — city-builder game with similar mechanics
- Timberborn Weapons Guide — city-builder game with similar mechanics
