SANDUSTRYFIELD GUIDE
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Research desk

Sandustry Research Guide: Tiers, Costs, and Priorities

Treat research as a route through production problems: first move materials, then recover waste, control fluids, and finally build an energy economy.

Field guideUpdated August 22, 2026
The Sandustry research panel showing connected unlock tiers

This guide reorganizes the official research snapshot around the factory problem each unlock solves. It records 46 visible unlock entries across Tiers 1–6, but it does not pretend every purchase has equal value for every factory.

The official Research page is marked WIP. Costs below match the snapshot last edited August 12, 2026; check the current in-game Research tab before spending. The Wall Light price is intentionally listed as unknown.

How research works

The Research tab unlocks buildings, tools, movement abilities, and factory systems by spending resources such as Gold. Early choices should remove the bottleneck you already have: Logistics moves outputs, the Shaker creates the first production loop, and the Kinetic Press turns a waste stream into another source of Gold and Seed.

Tier 1: establish flow

UnlockSnapshot costWhat it opens
Shaker20 GoldSeparates Wet Sand into Residue, with a chance to produce Gold.
Logistics30 GoldUnlocks the Conveyor Belt and Launcher.
Hover50 GoldLets you hover and phase through structures; toggle with Space.
Map100 GoldUnlocks the Map and Minimap.
Flare Gun150 GoldLights dark areas.
Sprint Boost200 GoldTemporary speed boost while holding Shift.
Filter250 GoldAllows a selected element to pass.
Wall LightUnknownWall-mounted light; the source snapshot omits the number.

Tier 2: recover waste

UnlockSnapshot costWhat it opens
Flamethrower400 GoldBurns Residue, melts Ice, and vaporizes Water.
Kinetic Press500 GoldProcesses Burnt Residue into Gold and Seed.
Burner Belt500 GoldIgnites flammable material when supplied with heat.
Flashlight600 GoldProjects light toward your aim direction.
Conveyor Portal750 GoldCarries elements across production lines without mixing.
Sweeper Drones800 GoldCollect loose materials from the ground.
Thermal Buffer1,000 GoldStores and distributes heat to nearby machines.
Cryoblaster1,000 GoldProduces Snow, freezes Water, and solidifies Lava.

Tier 3: add fluids and growth

UnlockSnapshot costWhat it opens
Activity Heatmap700 GoldAdds the Activity Heatmap to the Map.
Clearing Frame1,000 GoldMoves loose matter slowly while clearing static surfaces.
Fluids1,250 GoldUnlocks Pipe, Pump, and Liquid Vent.
Gun1,500 GoldDigs at a distance.
Aerokinetic Fan1,500 GoldMoves petals and powders through the air.
Planter Box2,000 GoldGrows Wet Seed into Flower.
Pyro Dispenser2,000 GoldFires flame bursts when supplied by a Thermal Buffer.
Vacuum2,000 GoldCollects materials in a tank.
Digger Drone2,500 GoldDigs autonomously.

Tier 4: increase control

UnlockSnapshot costWhat it opens
Corraller1,250 GoldCaptures critters.
Advanced Filter1,500 GoldFilters multiple element types, including liquids and gases.
Rocket Launcher2,000 GoldUnlocks the Rocket Launcher.
Drying & Condensing2,500 GoldUnlocks the Steam Dryer and Condenser.
Logistics Mk.22,500 GoldUnlocks Conveyor Belt Mk.2 and Launcher Mk.2.
Recon Drone2,500 GoldProvides scouting.
Hauler Drone3,000 GoldAutomates material transport.

Tiers 5 and 6: energy and conversion

Late research stops being a simple belt upgrade. Florinol becomes stored Energy, powered tools reach hard materials, thermal machines refine Copper, and void systems open specialized conversion and exploration.

UnlockSnapshot costFunction or prerequisite
Snowmaker2,500 GoldConverts Water into Snow using Energy.
Florinol Battery1,500 GoldStores Florinol as Energy for machinery and tools.
Drill2,500 GoldBreaks hard material; requires Energy, Rocket Launcher, and Florinol Battery.
Smelter3,000 GoldSmelts elements using a Thermal Buffer or Lava as heat.
Energy Siphon / Connector1,000 Gold eachMoves Energy between power structures.
Flux Emanator2,000 GoldConverts Voidbloom into Fluxite.
Copper Mold2,000 GoldCasts a Power Brick from Liquid Copper; source lists Smelter and Battery prerequisites.
Void Rift3,000 GoldProduces Void Seeds.
Steam Turbine3,000 GoldAutomates power generation.
Laser5,000 GoldSustained excavation through hard materials.
Recall Shard4,000 GoldReturns you to a portal powered by Voidbloom.
Locator3,000 GoldConsumes Void Juice to scan for hidden alien artifacts.
Synthesizer (Tier 6)7,500 GoldUses Energy to convert one material into another.

A practical research route

  1. Secure production: Shaker and Logistics make the first Gold line repeatable.
  2. Close the Residue loop: Flamethrower plus Kinetic Press turns by-product into Gold and Seed.
  3. Add control: Filter, Thermal Buffer, Cryoblaster, and Fluids prevent mixed or temperature-sensitive lines from becoming dead ends.
  4. Open growth and power: Planter Box, Drying & Condensing, and Florinol Battery connect plants to Energy.
  5. Specialize: choose drones, advanced logistics, hard-material tools, or void research according to the next region and resource you need.

Sandustry

Search the journal

Sandustry Flux Emanator Guide: Setup and TroubleshootingOperate a Sandustry Flux Emanator with top-fed Voidbloom, open growth space, and a repeatable Fluxite harvest route.Sandustry Kinetic Press Guide: Setup and TroubleshootingBuild a Sandustry Kinetic Press drop shaft that converts Burnt Residue into guaranteed Gold and Seed.Sandustry Pipe Guide: Setup and TroubleshootingPlan Sandustry Pipe networks between Pumps and Liquid Vents without mixed-fluid outputs or hidden removal problems.Sandustry Planter Box Guide: Setup and TroubleshootingUse the Sandustry Planter Box to grow Wet Seed into Flowers and route Gold and Amethelis outputs.Sandustry Pump Guide: Setup and TroubleshootingTroubleshoot the Sandustry Pump pickup area, mixed liquids, solid blockages, Pipes, and Liquid Vents.Sandustry Shaker Guide: Setup and TroubleshootingDesign and troubleshoot a Sandustry Shaker line for Wet Sand, Gold, and Residue without blocked outputs.Sandustry Beginner Guide: From Sand to a Stable FactoryA practical Sandustry beginner route covering the first Gold, Shaker setup, Wet Sand production, logistics, research order, and common line failures.Sandustry Buildings: Categories, Costs, and Research TiersCompare Sandustry building categories and the key Tier 1-6 research unlocks for logistics, fluids, thermal systems, energy, and production.Sandustry Drones: Sweeper, Digger, Recon, and HaulerCompare all four confirmed Sandustry drones by function, research tier, snapshot cost, and the manual factory work each one can replace.Sandustry Early Water Guide: Find, Contain, and Supply WaterGet a dependable early Water supply in Sandustry, stop droplets evaporating or leaking, and feed Wet Sand production without flooding the factory.Sandustry Element Reactions: Six Production ChainsTrace Sandustry's water, gold, plant, Florin, lava, and void chains with a compact reaction table and practical factory notes.Sandustry Energy Guide: Build the Florinol Production ChainFollow the confirmed Sandustry Energy chain from Seed and Flowers through Amethelis, Florin, Florinol, and the Florinol Battery.Sandustry Gold Production Guide: Wet Sand to CollectorBuild a Sandustry Gold line from Sand and Water, route Shaker outputs correctly, recover Residue, and make sure Gold reaches a Collector.Sandustry GuidesBrowse practical Sandustry guides for starting a factory, understanding element reactions, choosing buildings, and scaling automation.Sandustry Liquid Network Guide: Pumps, Pipes, and VentsSet up and troubleshoot Sandustry Pumps, Pipes, and Liquid Vents, including dry outputs, hidden solids, mixed liquids, and the Lava exception.Sandustry Production Chains and RecipesFollow Sandustry production chains for Gold, plants, Florinol Energy, Water, Lava, and void materials without treating approximate ratios as fixed recipes.Sandustry Research Guide: Tiers, Costs, and PrioritiesPlan the Sandustry research tree from Tier 1 to Tier 6 with snapshot Gold costs, unlock functions, prerequisites, and practical priority notes.SandustryPlan your first Sandustry production line, understand element reactions, compare buildings, and build a factory that keeps moving.Sandustry Amethelis: Uses, Production, and GuideCollect, contain, and dry Sandustry Amethelis petals as the first step toward Florin gas and Florinol Energy.Sandustry Burnt Residue: Uses, Production, and GuideProcess Sandustry Burnt Residue through a Kinetic Press with the required drop height to obtain guaranteed Gold and Seed.Sandustry Cinder: Uses, Production, and GuideTransport Sandustry Cinder as the solid form used to relocate Lava, then restore it with direct flame.Sandustry Dry Amethelis: Uses, Production, and GuideBurn Sandustry Dry Amethelis into Florin gas while managing Wisp movement, approximate yield, and heat containment.Sandustry Florin: Uses, Production, and GuideCapture and condense Sandustry Florin gas into Florinol and Gold instead of letting it escape into the sky.Sandustry Florinol: Uses, Production, and GuideUse Sandustry Florinol from condensed Florin to unlock Energy production and later Synthesizer recipes.Sandustry Flower: Uses, Production, and GuideGrow and harvest Sandustry Flowers for Gold and Amethelis while protecting the plant line from uncontrolled fire.Sandustry Fluxite: Uses, Production, and GuideFind, produce, and harvest Sandustry Fluxite for upgrades to tools, weapons, and drones.Sandustry Gold: Uses, Production, and GuideLearn how Sandustry Gold is produced, collected, separated, and converted to Liquid Gold for research and compact storage.Sandustry Materials: Complete Element IndexBrowse 53 confirmed Sandustry materials by terrain, solid, liquid, and gas, with high-value production roles and state-change links.Sandustry Lava: Uses, Production, and GuideMove and use Sandustry Lava safely by freezing it to Scoria and Cinder, then reigniting it at the destination.Sandustry Residue: Uses, Production, and GuideTurn Sandustry Residue from a Shaker by-product into Burnt Residue without losing control of heat or output flow.Sandustry Seed: Uses, Production, and GuideUse Sandustry Seed from the Kinetic Press to make Wet Seed and grow Flowers without mixing the plant and Gold outputs.Sandustry Voidbloom: Uses, Production, and GuideFeed Sandustry Voidbloom into a Flux Emanator correctly to grow Fluxite at a confirmed one-to-one conversion.Sandustry Water: Uses, Production, and GuideUnderstand Sandustry Water sources, Wet Sand and Wet Seed reactions, evaporation, pumps, and temperature changes.Sandustry Wet Sand: Uses, Production, and GuideBuild a reliable Sandustry Wet Sand line with the correct 1:1 input reaction, Shaker outputs, yield limits, and blockage checks.Sandustry Tools: Excavation, Utility, and Building IndexCompare 25 named Sandustry tools by excavation, utility, and construction roles, including confirmed functions and energy requirements.