Subset Games, meaning Justin Ma and Matthew Davis, shipped this on 14 September 2012 after a Kickstarter that asked for 10,000 dollars and collected roughly twenty times that. You run a Federation ship through eight sectors with a Rebel fleet closing behind you, spending scrap on systems and weapons, and the run ends against a three phase Rebel Flagship in Sector 8. The free Advanced Edition update in April 2014 added the Lanius, hacking, mind control, the Clone Bay and the Backup Battery, and it is on by default now. Nothing is randomised in your favour, and a good run is mostly a sequence of decisions about what not to buy.
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
Civilian Sector
Key resources: Stores, low risk events, fuel and drone parts Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Halberd Beam upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Nebula Sector
Key resources: Slower rebel pursuit, hidden beacons, ion storm hazards Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Halberd Beam upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Mantis Homeworlds
Key resources: High scrap rewards, Mantis crew recruits, heavy boarding risk Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Halberd Beam upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Abandoned Sector
Key resources: Lanius crew, derelict salvage, unusual system rewards Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Burst Laser Mark II max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Last Stand
Key resources: Run completion, ship unlocks, achievement progress Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Burst Laser Mark II max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Civilian Sector to Nebula Sector)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Halberd Beam once accessible
Mid Game (Mantis Homeworlds)
- Push Halberd Beam to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Burst Laser Mark II
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Abandoned Sector to The Last Stand)
- Max out Burst Laser Mark II. 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 Mantis Homeworlds 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
- Pause and stagger. Charging three weapons and firing them in one instant strips three shield layers at once, where firing them as they finish charging lets shields regenerate between shots.
- Farm Mantis Homeworlds 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 FTL: Faster Than Light Guides
- FTL: Faster Than Light FTL: Faster Than Light Overview
- FTL: Faster Than Light Best Builds
- FTL: Faster Than Light Tier List
- FTL: Faster Than Light Walkthrough
- FTL: Faster Than Light Beginner's Guide
- FTL: Faster Than Light Tips & Tricks
- FTL: Faster Than Light Weapons Guide
- FTL: Faster Than Light Combat Guide
- FTL: Faster Than Light Boss Guide
- FTL: Faster Than Light Maps & Locations
- FTL: Faster Than Light Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy FTL: Faster Than Light, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Crafting Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Hades Crafting Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Crafting Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
