Satisfactory guide: best starting area for beginners and veterans

When you begin a new save in Satisfactory, you can choose between four starting areas. In the end, you are on the same map with the same resources, but especially early on it can be hard to travel long distances. That makes the choice of starting area important, helping you get comfortable with the mechanics in the first hours and set up your first small factories. We take a detailed look at all four areas, what you will find there, and which hurdles you might face. As a veteran, we suggest you try them all or discover new spots that make a great base!

Satisfactory starting area Grass Fields: flat terrain and few pure nodes

The Grass Fields are found in the south of the map and look ideal for beginners at first glance. They are very flat and pleasant. However, this idyllic start is a little deceptive, as there are fewer high-quality resource nodes here, especially for the late game.

• Terrain: The flat terrain is probably the biggest advantage of this biome. You can build almost anywhere without having to work around mountains or hills. The Grass Fields also look great. It feels peaceful.

• Nature: You will easily find enough biomass here to run your first generators.

• Resource nodes: This region falls short here, as almost all ore nodes are impure or normal. That means lower outputs per miner. You will still find all the essentials, just less per node. Things become trickier once you need coal and oil. There is hardly any water, and coal only in the southern part of the biome.

• Neighbouring areas: You can offset this by expanding. North along the coast you will find plenty of oil, and the Blue Crater to the east of the Grass Fields is a fantastic area for all kinds of factories. From Tier 3 to 5, you should push into the neighbouring regions.

Satisfactory starting area Rocky Desert: lots of space and strong resource density

The Rocky Desert in the north-west looks less inviting at first, but it is arguably the best starting area in Satisfactory. You have plenty of room to build, there are hardly any drawbacks to slow you down, and you get access to lots of resources.

• Terrain: The terrain is somewhat rocky and hilly, but overall you have more than enough space to set up production lines. Place your first factories between the rocky outcrops. It might seem a bit monotonous with fewer green stretches, but the biome is more varied than you might expect.

• Nature: Despite being a desert, you have enough sources for biomass. Forests with trees can be found around the edges of the biome and are easy to harvest. The desert is less barren than it looks, making it perfect for a strong start.

• Resource nodes: This is where the true advantage shows: most nodes are normal or pure. You will also find enough deposits of each material, many of them close together. There is water, and coal lies to the north of the area. Late-game resources like Quartz, Bauxite and Nitrogen Gas are available too.

• Neighbouring areas: The Rocky Desert is also strong in terms of neighbours. The craters to the east offer lots of coal and geysers. You will find oil on coasts to the south and further along the northern shoreline.

Satisfactory starting area Northern Forest: rich resources and tough terrain

The Northern Forest impresses with a beautiful atmosphere and dense woodland, but its tricky terrain makes building quite a chore. If you can handle it, you will benefit from rich deposits and a strategically favourable location.

• Terrain: The uneven ground makes this area less appealing for many, especially beginners. Veterans should give it a try and build a solid first factory here.

• Nature: There is no shortage of nature. The area is densely vegetated, so you can produce plenty of biomass.

• Resource nodes: This region shines here, with many pure nodes that make life much easier. They are centred around the middle of the biome. Geysers can be used early, providing an alternative power source. You do need to leave the area for coal and oil, but the trip is not far.

• Neighbouring areas: Strategically, the Northern Forest is excellent, with almost every other resource around it. To the north there is a coast with oil, and to the south an area with coal, Quartz and Sulphur.

Satisfactory starting area Dune Desert: lots of space and early coal

In the Dune Desert in the north-east, you start in a surprisingly flat and comfortable biome. You will have to deal with a few creatures, but the advantages outweigh this. There are plentiful resources, you are close to water, and you can expand flexibly.

• Terrain: Space is no issue: the desert is expansive and flat. You can build anywhere, even a huge megafactory. This area is therefore better suited to experienced players or the mid and late game.

• Nature: In the desert itself there is little natural biomass, but outside you will find bushes and trees near oases. You just need to handle the alpha creatures, which is very doable.

• Resource nodes: There are plenty of ore nodes. Deposits are well distributed and a mix of impure, normal and pure. Unlike other starting areas, you have coal and sulphur right away. Water and oil are available along the western coast.

• Neighbouring areas: You can push especially to the south-east, where you can secure key resources. The coast is perfect for oil production, while the Titan Forest and the Swamp provide Quartz, Bauxite and Uranium.

Conclusion: Satisfactory starting areas compared and our recommendation

With four starting areas, Satisfactory gives you plenty of variety to begin each run with a different setup. For beginners we recommend the Rocky Desert, as it offers a good balance between resources and terrain. The Grass Fields are good too, but they lack pure nodes. For experienced players, the sprawling Dune Desert or the tricky Northern Forest provide more challenge.

To choose the perfect starting biome, rent your own server with us and get started with Satisfactory. Of course, you can build anywhere else you find a beautiful region during your exploration. Invite friends to join and play together.