Facepunch Studios released Garry's Mod on November 29, 2006, built on Valve's Source engine and sold with no objectives at all in its base mode. By November 2024 it had sold 25.56 million copies, which makes it the best selling PC exclusive game ever released. Almost everything people actually play in it, from Trouble in Terrorist Town to DarkRP, is Lua written by the community rather than by Facepunch.
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
gm_construct
Key resources: Flat build slabs, water testing, indoor and outdoor lighting Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Tool Gun upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
gm_flatgrass
Key resources: Unlimited flat space, long runway distance, clean physics testing Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Tool Gun upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
gm_bigcity
Key resources: Road network for vehicles, building interiors, verticality Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Tool Gun upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
rp_downtown_v4c_v2
Key resources: Rentable property, shop fronts, police and criminal spawn areas Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Physics Gun max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
ttt_minecraft_b5
Key resources: Weapon spawns, traitor traps, tester room Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Physics Gun max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (gm_construct to gm_flatgrass)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Tool Gun once accessible
Mid Game (gm_bigcity)
- Push Tool Gun to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Physics Gun
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (rp_downtown_v4c_v2 to ttt_minecraft_b5)
- Max out Physics Gun. 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 gm_bigcity 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
- Install and mount Counter-Strike: Source before you touch the Workshop. A large share of popular maps and addons reference its textures and models, and without it you get purple and black checkerboards plus floating ERROR text where props should be.
- Farm gm_bigcity 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 Garry's Mod Guides
- Garry's Mod Garry's Mod Overview
- Garry's Mod Best Builds
- Garry's Mod Tier List
- Garry's Mod Walkthrough
- Garry's Mod Beginner's Guide
- Garry's Mod Tips & Tricks
- Garry's Mod Weapons Guide
- Garry's Mod Combat Guide
- Garry's Mod Boss Guide
- Garry's Mod Maps & Locations
- Garry's Mod Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Garry's Mod, check out these related guides:
- Terraria Crafting Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- VRChat Crafting Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Tabletop Simulator Crafting Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
