Satisfactory Beginner’s Guide: 15 Essential Tips to Build the Perfect Factory
Satisfactory doesn’t punish mistakes—it rewards inefficiency with bottlenecks, spaghetti conveyors, and power grids that collapse at the worst possible moment. If you’re staring at your first resource node wondering whether to automate or hand-craft, you’re about to make decisions that will haunt you for 50 hours. This guide cuts through the overwhelm with 15 battle-tested tips that separate clean, scalable factories from chaotic rebuilds. From hotbar management to power planning, we’re covering what experienced players wish they knew on day one.
TL;DR
- Build everything on foundations using the world grid—future you will thank present you
- Unlock Blade Runners, parachute, and rebar gun immediately—mobility saves hours
- Multiple portable miners on one node = instant production boost (early game only)
- Coal power unlocks at Tier 3—rush it to escape biomass burner hell
- The AWESOME Sink turns waste into coupons—use it from day one
- There’s no time limit and you can’t fail—experiment without fear
Table of Contents
Getting Started: Your First Hour
1. Choose Your Starting Location Wisely
You’ll spawn in one of four biomes. For beginners, the Grass Fields offers the best balance:
- Grass Fields: Gentle terrain, nearby resources, minimal hostile creatures (recommended)
- Rocky Desert: Flat building space but limited water access
- Northern Forest: Beautiful but challenging terrain and aggressive wildlife
- Dune Desert: Expert-tier start with extreme terrain challenges
Don’t stress too much—you can always relocate later. The game has no time pressure.
2. Hand-Craft Only What’s Necessary
Your first 30 minutes will involve manual crafting. Prioritize:
- Portable Miner (×3-4): Your first automation step
- Smelter (×2-3): Convert ore to ingots automatically
- Storage Container (×2): Prevent inventory overflow
- Biomass Burners (×4-6): Early power generation
Everything else should be automated as quickly as possible. Hand-crafting is the enemy of progress.
3. The Portable Miner Stacking Trick
Here’s an early-game secret that drastically accelerates progression:
- You can place multiple portable miners on a single resource node
- Each miner extracts independently—double or triple your output instantly
- This only works until you unlock Miner Mk.1 (which prohibits stacking)
- Use this window to stockpile iron ore and copper ore aggressively
Pro Tip: Place 2-3 portable miners on your nearest pure iron node and let them run overnight. Wake up to thousands of ore.
Early Automation and Resource Management
4. Automate Smelting Before Anything Else
Your first real factory step:
- Place Miner Mk.1 on iron node
- Connect conveyor belt to smelters (at least 2)
- Smelters output to storage containers
- Storage connects to Constructor for basic parts
This simple chain eliminates 90% of early-game hand-crafting tedium.
5. Don’t Hoard Resources—Use the AWESOME Sink
The AWESOME Sink is unlocked early and is criminally underutilized:
- Converts excess items into “FICSIT Coupons”
- Coupons unlock useful items, statues, and cosmetics
- Prevents storage overflow and production bottlenecks
- Connect overflow from production lines directly to the Sink
If you’re producing more than you need, sink it. Storage space is valuable.
6. Conveyor Belt Basics: Speed Matters
Conveyor belts have speed tiers:
- Mk.1: 60 items/min (early game)
- Mk.2: 120 items/min (unlocked Tier 2)
- Mk.3: 270 items/min (mid-game)
- Mk.4+: Late-game speeds
Match your belt speed to your production rate. A Miner Mk.1 at 100% purity produces 60/min—a Mk.1 belt is perfect. Upgrading belts too early wastes resources; upgrading too late creates bottlenecks.
For the latest belt tiers and miner outputs, check the Satisfactory Wiki.
7. One Task at a Time—Seriously
Satisfactory’s scope is overwhelming. Combat this by:
- Finishing one production line completely before starting another
- Completing one Milestone before tackling the next
- Ignoring exploration urges until your base power is stable
Players who juggle multiple projects simultaneously end up with half-finished spaghetti messes.
Building and Organization Strategies
8. Always Build on Foundations Using the World Grid
This is the single most important tip in this entire guide:
- Foundations snap to a global 8×8 meter grid
- Machines placed on foundations align perfectly
- Belts, pipes, and power lines become dramatically easier to organize
- Expanding your factory becomes trivial instead of nightmarish
How to enable world grid alignment:
- Open settings → Gameplay
- Enable “Build Grid Snapping”
- Place your first foundation—all subsequent foundations will align to the world grid
Players who ignore this advice spend 20+ hours rebuilding their entire base later. Don’t be that player.
9. Master the Hotbar System
Satisfactory’s hotbar is more powerful than it appears:
- You have 10 hotbars (not just one)
- Hold Alt + Scroll Wheel to switch between them
- Organize by build phase: one hotbar for production, one for power, one for logistics
- Assign frequently-used buildings to number keys
Example hotbar setup:
- Hotbar 1: Foundations, walls, ramps
- Hotbar 2: Miners, smelters, constructors
- Hotbar 3: Belts, splitters, mergers
- Hotbar 4: Power poles, biomass burners
10. Leave Space—Then Leave More Space
Every beginner builds too compactly. Follow these spacing rules:
- Between production rows: Minimum 3 foundations width (for walkways and belts)
- Factory floors: 4 meters vertical clearance (two wall segments high)
- Around resource nodes: 10×10 foundation area reserved for future upgrades
You’ll expand every production line at least three times. Plan for it now.
Power Management and Coal Transition
11. Rush Coal Power at Tier 3—Biomass Is a Trap
Biomass burners are:
- Manual (you must constantly refuel them)
- Inefficient (low power output per fuel)
- Time-consuming (gathering leaves/wood interrupts factory work)
Coal power, unlocked at Tier 3, is:
- Automatic (self-sustaining with miners and water extractors)
- Scalable (easily add more generators)
- Reliable (no manual intervention needed)
Goal: Reach Tier 3 within your first 4-6 hours and immediately transition to coal. This unlocks the real game.
12. Overestimate Power Needs by 30%
Power math:
- Coal Generator = 75 MW
- Early base consumption = 50-100 MW
- Mid-game consumption = 300-500 MW
Always build 30% more power capacity than you currently need. Running at 95% capacity means your next machine addition causes a grid collapse.
13. Water Ratios for Coal Power
Optimal coal power setup:
- 3 Water Extractors = 8 Coal Generators (perfect ratio)
- One Coal Miner Mk.1 (at normal purity) = 8 Coal Generators
- Result: 8 generators = 600 MW power
Build in sets of 8 for maximum efficiency and easy mental math.
Essential Research and Unlocks
14. Prioritize These MAM Research Trees
The MAM (Molecular Analysis Machine) unlocks critical quality-of-life items. Research in this order:
- Quartz → Blade Runners: 200% movement speed on foundations (game-changing)
- Mycelia → Fabric → Parachute: Survive falls, explore safely
- Caterium → Power Storage: Buffer your power grid against spikes
- Nutrients → Rebar Gun: Defend against hostile creatures
Most players regret not getting Blade Runners immediately. The movement speed boost is addictive and saves hundreds of hours of walking.
15. Hard Drive Hunting: Worth It or Not?
Crash sites contain Hard Drives that unlock alternate recipes. Priorities:
- Early game: Skip them unless one is directly on your path
- Mid-game: Collect systematically during exploration
- Late-game: Essential for optimizing complex production chains
Don’t obsess over alternate recipes initially—solid fundamentals matter more than recipe optimization.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Building Before Planning
Spend 5 minutes planning your production line layout before placing machines. Sketching on graph paper (or using the Satisfactory Calculator website) prevents costly rebuilds.
Ignoring Milestones
Milestones gate progression. Don’t get distracted by exploration or megabase dreams—focus on completing the next Milestone first.
Overcomplicating Early Designs
Your first factory doesn’t need to be perfect. Build functional first, optimize later. Tiers 1-3 are tutorials—you’ll rebuild everything anyway.
Not Labeling Production Lines
Use signs and rename storage containers. “Iron Ingots” is clearer than “Storage Container #7.” Future you (and your multiplayer teammates) will appreciate the labels.
Multiplayer and Server Considerations
For Server Owners
- Specs: 4GB RAM minimum for 2-4 players; 8GB for 4-8 players; 16GB for larger groups
- Autosave Frequency: Enable autosaves every 5-10 minutes—Satisfactory can crash
- World Sync: First player to join creates the world; everyone else joins that world
- Performance: Dedicated servers outperform player-hosted for 3+ players
For Multiplayer Players
- Communication is key: Use Discord or in-game chat to coordinate building
- Divide responsibilities: One player on power, one on production, one on exploration
- Shared inventory: All players share Milestones and research—progress together
- Building etiquette: Don’t demolish others’ work without asking; label your builds
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a time limit or way to lose in Satisfactory?
No. Satisfactory has no time pressure, no fail states, and no enemies that can destroy your base. Take as long as you want. This is a sandbox factory builder, not a survival game.
Should I restart my save when I unlock new tiers?
Almost never. Satisfactory is designed for continuous progression. Rebuilding sections of your factory is normal and expected—you don’t need a fresh save.
How many miners can I place on one resource node?
Only one permanent miner (Miner Mk.1, Mk.2, or Mk.3). However, you can stack multiple portable miners early on (see Tip #3). Once you place a Mk.1 miner, you can’t stack anymore.
What’s the best way to transport resources long distances?
Conveyor belts for solids, pipes for liquids. Later, you’ll unlock trains (Tier 6) and drones (Tier 7) for ultra-long-distance logistics. Early game, just use belts—they’re free to extend.
Should I build vertically or horizontally?
Both. Horizontal is easier to manage early on. Vertical (multi-floor factories) saves ground space and looks impressive but requires more planning. Most players start horizontal and go vertical in mid-game.
How do I deal with hostile creatures?
Build the Rebar Gun (MAM research) and carry healing inhalers. Most creatures are stationary or patrol small areas—you can avoid them. Later, the Rifle and nobelisks trivialize combat.
Can I play Satisfactory solo or is multiplayer better?
Solo is perfectly viable and arguably better for learning. Multiplayer is more fun socially but requires coordination. Choose based on preference—both work great.
What server specs do I need to host Satisfactory?
Minimum: 4GB RAM, quad-core CPU, SSD storage. Recommended for 4+ players: 8GB RAM, 6-core CPU @ 3.0+ GHz, NVMe SSD. The game is CPU-intensive during autosaves and world loading.
Does Satisfactory have mod support?
Yes! The Satisfactory Mod Manager (SMM) provides easy mod installation. Popular mods include Smart!, Refined Power, and Farming. Mods work in multiplayer if all players have the same mods installed.
When should I start exploring the map?
After establishing coal power and Tier 4 completion. Early exploration without Blade Runners, parachute, and decent equipment is frustrating. Stabilize your base first, then explore systematically.
Conclusion: Build, Break, Rebuild—That’s the Game
Satisfactory rewards planning but forgives mistakes. Your first factory will be ugly. Your tenth might still have spaghetti conveyors. That’s not failure—that’s iteration. Every inefficiency teaches you something. Every bottleneck reveals a better solution.
The tips in this guide compress dozens of hours of trial-and-error into actionable strategies. Use foundations and the world grid. Rush coal power. Unlock Blade Runners immediately. Build with future expansion in mind. Do these things, and you’ll skip the most frustrating early-game pitfalls.
Most importantly: Satisfactory has no time limit and no wrong way to play. If your factory works and you’re having fun, you’re doing it right. Efficiency comes with experience. Enjoy the chaos, embrace the rebuilds, and remember—every conveyor belt tells a story.
Ready to host your Satisfactory server? The game’s dedicated server software is rock-solid and supports seamless multiplayer. With proper planning and these tips shared among your group, you’ll build a factory empire that would make FICSIT proud.
Bring your whole group into a shared save with Satisfactory server hosting and keep your factory running 24/7.