Introduction
Starting in Satisfactory can feel overwhelming. With dozens of resources, machines, and upgrades, it’s easy to get lost. The HUB is your main progression tool, and understanding how to upgrade it efficiently is the first step toward building a thriving automated factory.
This guide walks you through HUB Upgrades from Tier 0 to Tier 6, explaining the resource requirements, what each upgrade unlocks, and the best strategies to stay efficient. By the end, you’ll have a fully functional starter factory running on automation the perfect foundation for your future megabase.
Tier 0: HUB Upgrade 1
Resource Requirement:
Unlocked Features:
- HUB Terminal Milestones
- Personal crafting basics
Steps & Tips:
- Mine Iron Ore by hand and craft Iron Ingots → Iron Rods.
- Deposit 10 Iron Rods into the HUB Terminal.
- Split your resources: craft both Iron Plates and Iron Rods early.
- Tip: Hold Space or Shift + Space to auto-craft without holding down the button.
Tier 1: HUB Upgrade 2
Resource Requirement:
- 20 Iron Rods
- 10 Iron Plates
Unlocked Features:
- Personal Storage Box (extra inventory)
- Equipment Workshop
Steps & Tips:
- Build the Equipment Workshop near your HUB.
- Craft Portable Miners and deploy them on Iron nodes to replace manual mining.
- Always collect ore regularly; miners stop at 100 ore capacity.
- Tip: Re-equip your Xeno-Zapper after placing miners, as creatures roam nearby.
Tier 2: HUB Upgrade 3
Resource Requirement:
- 20 Iron Plates
- 20 Iron Rods
- 50 Wire
Unlocked Features:
- Smelter (automated ingot production)
- Biomass Burner
- Copper Ore Scanning
Steps & Tips:
- Use the scanner (V) to locate Copper.
- Defeat creatures guarding the Copper node and place Portable Miners.
- Build your first Smelter, powered by the Biomass Burner.
- Smelt Iron Ingots automatically to save time.
- Tip: Store excess leaves and wood, you’ll need them as biomass fuel.
Tier 3: HUB Upgrade 4
Resource Requirement:
- 75 Iron Plates
- 20 Concrete
- 20 Reinforced Iron Plates
Unlocked Features:
- Power Poles (expand your power grid)
- Concrete crafting
Steps & Tips:
- Limestone is now critical: craft it into Concrete for building.
- Place multiple Smelters (up to 5 per Biomass Burner).
- Use Power Poles to distribute energy efficiently.
- Learn snapping tools and hotkeys to align Smelters in neat rows.
- Tip: Keep one Smelter for Copper Ingots, the rest for Iron.
Tier 4: HUB Upgrade 5
Resource Requirement:
- 150 Iron Plates
- 50 Concrete
- 50 Reinforced Iron Plates
Unlocked Features:
Steps & Tips:
- You can now automate ore delivery from miners to Smelters.
- For efficiency, continue manual feeding until you’re comfortable with power setups.
- Place Portable Miners on multiple Limestone nodes — Concrete will scale up quickly.
- Tip: Stockpile Reinforced Iron Plates; they’re needed for belts and Constructors.
Tier 5: HUB Upgrade 6
Resource Requirement:
- 200 Iron Plates
- 100 Concrete
- 100 Reinforced Iron Plates
- 50 Cable
Unlocked Features:
- Second Biomass Burner
- Constructors (automated crafting beyond Ingots)
Steps & Tips:
- Add the second Biomass Burner to expand your grid.
- Build five Constructors in front of your Smelters:
- 1 for Wire
- 1 for Iron Rods
- 3 for Iron Plates
- Connect Smelters → Constructors with Conveyor Belts.
- Use Power Poles to ensure each building has energy.
- You now have a bootstrap factory producing essentials automatically.
- Tip: Gather lots of leaves and wood to keep burners running, or upgrade to Biomass ASAP.
Multiplayer Context: Why Dedicated Servers Help
Playing Satisfactory solo is fun, but the game truly shines with friends. However, hosting peer-to-peer has drawbacks:
- Game only runs when the host is online.
- Larger factories can cause lag for the host.
- Saves and progression are tied to one person.
With a dedicated RocketNode server:
- Your world runs 24/7, even when you’re offline.
- Unlimited slots let your entire community join.
- Progression is safe, with 24/7 support and reliable hardware (AMD Ryzen 5950X).
Final Thoughts
By completing HUB Upgrades 0 through 6, you’ve laid the foundation for your future megafactory. Smelters, Constructors, and power management are the cornerstones of automation, and mastering them early will make Tier 7 and beyond much smoother.
Hosting your own Satisfactory server with RocketNode means you can expand factories, explore biomes, and progress milestones together without limits. Get started today and keep your factory running day and night.
