Techtonica Tech Tree Guide

Last Update: July 18, 2023 1:35 PM

By:Isaac Todd

This Techtonica Tech Tree Guide will go over the basics of the game's sprawling tech tree, along with how to unlock new tiers and scan specific items.

You'll unlock a lot of useful buildings as you make your way through each tier, including Shiverthorn Processing and Cooling Systems. It's worth automating your supply lines to make sure you always have all of the required materials needed for unlocked buildings.

The tech tree in Techtonica is split into a number of tiers, each of which unlocked at production terminals. The player starts at production terminal Lima, before moving onto terminal Victor after progressing through a few tiers.

Each tier requires a number of materials to be given to the relevant production terminal, with the requirements becoming ever more elaborate as you continue. The requirements for each tier are:

Unlocking a tier will only give you a few new items to work with. The rest must be unlocked using Research Cores. Purple Research Cores become available after unlocking the Basic Science tier, and are used for most upgrades up to the Shiverthorn Processing tier.

Once a core is crafted and placed, it is added to your total at the bottom of the Tech Tree and can then be spent on available upgrades. Note that removing a core from the world will also reduce the amount you can spend too.

Tech Tree upgrades from Cooling Systems tier onwards will also have a power requirement. Power is stored in Accumulators, which must be built on Power Floors connected to a power source (like Crank Generators).

Your current available power is shown at the bottom left of the Tech Tree. Unlike Research Cores, the power you use to unlock upgrades will not be permanently used up.

Some items cannot be unlocked with Research Cores until you've scanned enough related fragments in the world. The Scanner is introduced early in the game, letting you scan items.

The items needed to unlock new Tech Tree nodes come in 2 forms:

Below is a list of the items you'll need to scan to unlock more parts of the Tech Tree:

The Mining Drill fragments can be found at the start next to production terminal Lima.

The Smelter fragments can be found at the start next to production terminal Lima.

Fast Inserter fragments can be found at the start next to production terminal Lima, near the Mining Drills.

Long Inserter fragments are lying around on the ground near terminal Victor.

Toolbelt II is next to production terminal Lima.

SuitSpeed II is lying on the storage containers at Lima.

Inside the base where you find Sparks.

Inside the base where you find Sparks next to the M.O.L.E.

Multiple Assembler fragments can be found in the cave housing terminal Victor.

This upgrade is lying on the floor right next to Victor.

Accumulator fragments can be found in the cave to the west of Victor. Must dig through the wall.

A single HVC fragment can be found in the cave to the west of Victor. More are found further west, lying across the river.

A Blue Research Core fragment can be found at each of the main discoverable locations. This includes the cave to the west of Victor, and the row of Water Wheel Fragments to the north.

Found in the cave to the west of Victor. Must dig through the wall.

Found in the cave to the west of Victor. Must dig through the wall.

Found in the cave to the southwest of Victor. Door must be powered with a Crank Generator.

Outside the cave with the unpowered door to the southwest of Victor.

Found in the cave to the southwest of Victor. Door must be powered with a Crank Generator.

Found in the cave to the southwest of Victor. Door must be powered with a Crank Generator.

Found in the cave to the southwest of Victor. Door must be powered with a Crank Generator.

Follow the river up from Victor. Near the row of Water Wheels.

Follow the river up from Victor. Also contains a Blue Research Core nearby.

Inside the locked building requiring Processor Units, at the top of the cave with the unpowered door.

Inside the locked building requiring Processor Units, at the top of the cave with the unpowered door.

East of Victor, next to an abandoned mining elevator.

At the bottom of the large waterfall. Fall all the way down, past the buildings suspended above the drop.

Inside the fallen base to the northeast of Victor.

Inside the fallen base to the northeast of Victor.

Inside the fallen base to the northeast of Victor.

Inside the building suspended above the large waterfall.

Inside the building suspended above the large waterfall.

Inside the building suspended above the large waterfall.

Inside the building suspended above the large waterfall.

Inside the building suspended above the large waterfall.

Inside the locked building by the line of Water Wheels. Can enter the building from above without unlocking the door.

Inside the locked building by the line of Water Wheels. Can enter the building from above without unlocking the door.

And that's everything for our Techtonica Tech Tree Guide! We'll update the guide with more information as we progress and more patches are released during Early Access.

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