Icarus is a session-based survival game from RocketWerkz (DayZ creator Dean Hall) where players drop from an orbital station onto a terraformed alien planet for timed prospect missions. Each drop is a race against the clock — gather resources, complete objectives, and return to your dropship before the timer expires or lose your character permanently. Between drops, you spend earned currency on Workshop gear that persists across missions. The Open World maps added permanent bases, and the game has evolved significantly since launch with biome additions and talent rework.
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
Forest Biome
Key resources: Iron, Copper, basic leather/fur, abundant wood and stone Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Compound Bow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Arctic Biome
Key resources: Platinum Ore, Arctic-exclusive fauna drops, high-value Exotics veins Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Compound Bow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Desert Biome
Key resources: Titanium, Desert fauna materials, rare mineral veins Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Compound Bow upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Riverlands
Key resources: Gold deposits, fish (reliable food), river fauna drops Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Hunting Rifle max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Styx Map
Key resources: Permanent progression, all biome resources, Open World mission board rewards Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Hunting Rifle max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Forest Biome — Arctic Biome)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Compound Bow once accessible
Mid Game (Desert Biome)
- Push Compound Bow to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Hunting Rifle
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Riverlands — Styx Map)
- Max out Hunting Rifle — 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 Desert Biome 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
- Always bring Oxite on your first drop into Arctic prospects — without it, you can freeze to death before building any shelter. Oxite provides 10 minutes of cold resistance when consumed.
- Farm Desert Biome 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 Icarus Guides
- Icarus Icarus Overview
- Icarus Best Builds
- Icarus Tier List
- Icarus Walkthrough
- Icarus Beginner's Guide
- Icarus Tips & Tricks
- Icarus Weapons Guide
- Icarus Combat Guide
- Icarus Boss Guide
- Icarus Maps & Locations
- Icarus Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Icarus, check out these related guides:
- Palworld Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- Rust Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
- ARK: Survival Evolved Crafting Guide — survival game with similar mechanics
