Solarpunk Tech Tree & Research Order
The Solarpunk research tree has 60+ nodes across 5 tiers. Most players waste hours on the wrong ones. This guide shows you the optimal research order for a solo or co-op save, so you reach mid-game automation in 6 hours instead of 12.
The 5 Research Tiers
| Tier | Key Nodes |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 (0-2 hrs) | Survival Basics · Tool Maintenance · Fire & Shelter · Basic Farming |
| Tier 2 (2-6 hrs) | Sewing Kit · Basic Sprinkler · Tier-1 Drone · Solar Panel |
| Tier 3 (6-15 hrs) | Heavy Cable · Wind Turbine · Battery Bank · Auto-Irrigation |
| Tier 4 (15-30 hrs) | Airship · Advanced Drone · Power Grid · Rare Alloys |
| Tier 5 (30+ hrs) | Mega-Factory · Weather Predictor · Trading Network · Cloud Storage |
Optimal Research Order (Solo Save)
- Survival Basics — 5 min, mandatory. Unlocks the sewing kit.
- Tool Maintenance — 8 min. Doubles tool durability.
- Fire & Shelter — 5 min. Unlocks the bed + chest.
- Basic Farming — 10 min. Unlocks the sprinkler.
- Sewing Kit — 12 min. Unlocks cloth and sails.
- Tier-1 Drone — 20 min. Unlocks the harvester.
- Solar Panel — 15 min. Unlocks the cheapest power source.
- Heavy Cable — 20 min. Unlocks the 100W cable.
- Wind Turbine — 25 min. Unlocks 24/7 power.
- Auto-Irrigation — 30 min. Unlocks full farm automation.
- Airship — 45 min. Unlocks fast island travel.
- Advanced Drone — 60 min. Unlocks 2-job drones.
Co-op Saves: Adjust for Multiplayer
In co-op, the team should split research. One player maxes the farming path, one maxes the power path, and one focuses on the airship. The fourth player (if present) is free to wander.
Research Points: How to Get Them Fast
- Quests — 10-30 points per quest, the main source.
- Discoveries — 5-15 points per named island.
- Trader trades — 1 point per 100 coins spent.
- Co-op assist — 2 points per teammate quest completed nearby.
What NOT to Research First
- Weather Predictor (Tier 5) — Sounds useful, costs 90 min, gives a 1-day warning. Skip until end-game.
- Cloud Storage (Tier 5) — Decorative chest, zero value vs. just building more chests.
- Mega-Factory (Tier 5) — Only worth it on a 4-player co-op save.
Next: Power Up
Research done? Wire it up. Read the Power & Wiring guide next.