Returnal is Housemarque's third-person roguelike shooter where astronaut Selene crash-lands on the alien planet Atropos and is trapped in a time loop. Each death resets the procedurally generated world, but permanent unlocks like weapon traits, ether currency, and traversal abilities carry between runs. The combat blends bullet-hell patterns with responsive third-person shooting, and the DualSense-inspired mechanics (adaptive triggers for alt-fire) translate well to PC. Two distinct acts with three biomes each offer a complete story that rewards repeated playthroughs with cryptic narrative reveals.
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
Overgrown Ruins
Key resources: Atropian Blade (melee), Phrike boss key, early weapon unlocks Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Electropylon Driver upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Crimson Wastes
Key resources: Grapple Hook, Ixion boss key, mid-tier weapon traits Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Electropylon Driver upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Derelict Citadel
Key resources: Act 1 completion, Nemesis boss key, access to Act 2 Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Electropylon Driver upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Echoing Ruins
Key resources: Act 2 weapon traits, higher proficiency weapons, Hyperion boss key Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Hollowseeker max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Fractured Wastes
Key resources: Underwater Suit, final boss access, endgame weapon traits Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Hollowseeker max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Overgrown Ruins — Crimson Wastes)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Electropylon Driver once accessible
Mid Game (Derelict Citadel)
- Push Electropylon Driver to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Hollowseeker
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Echoing Ruins — Fractured Wastes)
- Max out Hollowseeker — 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 Derelict Citadel 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
- Adrenaline Level 3+ increases proficiency gain — maintaining adrenaline means finding higher-level weapons faster
- Farm Derelict Citadel 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 Returnal Guides
- Returnal Returnal Overview
- Returnal Best Builds
- Returnal Tier List
- Returnal Walkthrough
- Returnal Beginner's Guide
- Returnal Tips & Tricks
- Returnal Weapons Guide
- Returnal Combat Guide
- Returnal Boss Guide
- Returnal Maps & Locations
- Returnal Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Returnal, 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
