Space Engineers is Keen Software House's block and voxel sandbox, on Steam Early Access from 23 October 2013 and fully released on 28 February 2019. You build ships, stations and rovers from large grid blocks 2.5 metres per edge or small grid blocks at 0.5 metres, and anything you build can be ground down, shot apart or flown into a mountain. The vanilla Star System holds eight bodies, and their ore rules set the whole progression: platinum appears only on moons and asteroids, uranium only on asteroids.
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
EarthLike
Key resources: Iron, silicon, cobalt, lake ice, breathable atmosphere Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Grinder upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Moon
Key resources: Platinum for Thruster Components and Jump Drives Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Grinder upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Mars
Key resources: 4.1 percent ore coverage, the richest planetary surface in the game Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Grinder upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Pertam
Key resources: Iron and nickel in bulk, and a genuine test of a lifter design Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Hand Drill max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Triton
Key resources: The most complete single planet ore spread, plus easy surface ice Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Hand Drill max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (EarthLike to Moon)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Grinder once accessible
Mid Game (Mars)
- Push Grinder to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Hand Drill
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Pertam to Triton)
- Max out Hand Drill. 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 Mars 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
- Uranium has not spawned on planets or moons since version 1.189. Nuclear reactors, railgun sabots, artillery shells and rockets all depend on it, so a planet locked base is permanently on solar, wind and hydrogen.
- Farm Mars 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 Space Engineers Guides
- Space Engineers Space Engineers Overview
- Space Engineers Best Builds
- Space Engineers Tier List
- Space Engineers Walkthrough
- Space Engineers Beginner's Guide
- Space Engineers Tips & Tricks
- Space Engineers Weapons Guide
- Space Engineers Combat Guide
- Space Engineers Boss Guide
- Space Engineers Maps & Locations
- Space Engineers Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Space Engineers, check out these related guides:
- Terraria Crafting Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- VRChat Crafting Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Garry's Mod Crafting Guide: sandbox game with similar mechanics
