Valve released Portal 2 in April 2011 as a first person puzzle game with no combat, no health bar and exactly one device: the portal gun. The single player campaign runs nine chapters through Aperture Science, and a separate two player campaign hands ATLAS and P-Body a portal gun each, putting four portals on the field at once. Everything you pick up is a testing element rather than a weapon, from the three paint gels to the Excursion Funnels and Hard Light Bridges.
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
Chapter 1: The Courtesy Call
Key resources: The portal gun, the basic portal rules, the GLaDOS reboot Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Repulsion Gel upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Chapter 6: The Fall
Key resources: Repulsion Gel, Propulsion Gel, the Cave Johnson and Caroline backstory Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Repulsion Gel upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Chapter 8: The Itch
Key resources: Frankenturret puzzles, the setup for the final confrontation Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Repulsion Gel upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Chapter 9: The Part Where He Kills You
Key resources: The ending, the moon portal, the payoff for everything Conversion Gel taught you Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Portal Gun max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Co-op Course 5: Mobility Gels
Key resources: Two player gel puzzles, co-op completion, entry into the free Art Therapy course Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Portal Gun max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Chapter 1: The Courtesy Call to Chapter 6: The Fall)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Repulsion Gel once accessible
Mid Game (Chapter 8: The Itch)
- Push Repulsion Gel to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Portal Gun
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Chapter 9: The Part Where He Kills You to Co-op Course 5: Mobility Gels)
- Max out Portal 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 Chapter 8: The Itch 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
- Portal 2 has no combat, no health bar and no permanent failure state. Turrets and acid simply reset you to the start of the room, so experimenting costs nothing except time.
- Farm Chapter 8: The Itch 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 Portal 2 Guides
- Portal 2 Portal 2 Overview
- Portal 2 Best Builds
- Portal 2 Tier List
- Portal 2 Walkthrough
- Portal 2 Beginner's Guide
- Portal 2 Tips & Tricks
- Portal 2 Weapons Guide
- Portal 2 Combat Guide
- Portal 2 Boss Guide
- Portal 2 Maps & Locations
- Portal 2 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Portal 2, check out these related guides:
- Escape Simulator Crafting Guide: puzzle game with similar mechanics
- Pico Park Crafting Guide: puzzle game with similar mechanics
- Portal Crafting Guide: puzzle game with similar mechanics
