Tier 6 is a major milestone in Satisfactory and gives you a wealth of new recipes and upgrades to prepare your factories for the next stage of the Space Elevator. This is also where trains come into play, one of the most important transport options for long distances. In another article, we’ve already covered where to find resources (Satisfactory map: Best locations for every resource) . Trains help you bring those production lines together. That makes Tier 6 essential for scaling your various building blocks in Satisfactory. We’ll look at the items you need to complete each category and exactly what you unlock.
Satisfactory Tier 6 Industrial Manufacturing: Crafting with the Manufacturer and producing Computers
Industrial Manufacturing is one of the most important milestones in this tier, as it unlocks the ability to combine three or four components at once. This becomes especially important for the remaining Space Elevator project parts you’ll need to advance beyond Tier 6.
Completion requires:
200x Motor
200x Modular Frame
400x Plastic
1000x Cable
Completing it unlocks the Manufacturer, a machine that can now use up to four items simultaneously and process them into new components. This enables even more complex production lines, which you’ll soon need.
You’ll also unlock key recipes that matter in Satisfactory’s mid and late game. For example, you can now produce Computers, one of the essential ingredients in later builds. You’ll need Plastic, Cable and Circuit Boards, which you craft from Plastic and Copper Sheet. For the Space Elevator, you also unlock two further recipes, Modular Engines and Adaptive Control Units, which likewise must be made in the Manufacturer. The latter requires Heavy Modular Frames.
All in all, this milestone is crucial and sets you up for the challenges of upcoming production chains. You’ll also need some of these recipes for other Tier 6 categories.
Satisfactory Trains and Monorail: Optimising long-distance transport
Alongside the new recipes, unlocking the Monorail is what you should focus on next. You can even finish it earlier, as it doesn’t require new materials. Trains are a highly complex part of Satisfactory, and it’s worth getting to grips with them early.
Completion requires:
250x Motor
500x Encased Industrial Beam
1000x Steel Beam
1000x Steel Pipe
After sending these parts, you’ll unlock most of what you need for your railway: stations, tracks, and of course the trains themselves. At first glance it can be a lot to take in if you’ve only worked with conveyor belts or trucks so far. But locomotives and freight cars become increasingly important as your production scales, and they can cover long distances quickly and efficiently.
We’ll dive deeper into trains in a separate article, but fundamentally they can transport every solid item. For fluids you’ll need to wait until Tier 8, when a dedicated fluid freight option comes into play. From Tier 6 onwards, however, you can move all other components across the map by train. You can set up automatic loading and dispatch, which is extremely convenient.
Satisfactory Rail Signals: Setting up Block Signals and Path Signals
To make your railway even more capable and efficient, you should use signals. These are unlocked via a separate milestone, but they’re essential for anyone who enjoys working with trains in Satisfactory. You’ll need Industrial Manufacturing to produce the Computers required.
Completion requires:
50x Computer
400x Steel Pipe
1000x Copper Sheet
The Block Signals and Path Signals you unlock here are key to expanding and logically structuring your rail network. Block Signals are the simpler option and ensure only one train can occupy a given block. This lets you, for example, stop trains for loading. Path Signals are more complex and can govern bi‑directional traffic and junctions. They allow you to use fewer tracks overall, but you’ll need to plan your signalling.
Signals become important in large rail networks that cross or split across multiple switches. They let you control where and how trains run so they don’t block each other. For straightforward lines they aren’t strictly necessary, but they can still be helpful.
Satisfactory Pipeline Mk. 2: Higher-throughput pipes and stronger pumps
With the new options from Tier 5 and producing Fuel from oil, laying pipes has become far more important. Now you can expand that system and improve efficiency.
Completion requires:
50x Heavy Modular Frame
1000x Plastic
1000x Rubber
At first glance, this Tier 6 milestone might not seem exciting, but the new pipes are extremely helpful for future projects, especially for Fuel production. It’s also the only pipeline upgrade you’ll get. Throughput increases from 300 to 600 cubic metres per minute, effectively doubling capacity. You also gain access to more powerful pumps that can lift fluids vertically more effectively.
FICSIT Blueprints Mk. 2: Larger blueprints for the mid game
Finally, Tier 6 also unlocks an improved version of Blueprints. These give you more space to save and replicate your designs.
Completion requires:
100x Heavy Modular Frame
100x Computer
400x Rubber
1500x Concrete
Because you need both Heavy Modular Frames and Computers, this category will likely be one of the last things you unlock. It isn’t essential for every player, but if you enjoy working with Blueprints, the larger canvas is a lifesaver. You now have 40 metres in every direction instead of just 32 metres with Mk. 1 to lay out your prefabs.
Conclusion on Satisfactory Tier 6: Focus on trains, pipelines and blueprints
Whether it’s the new trains or vital components for the upcoming Space Elevator upgrade, Tier 6 brings many additions that transform Satisfactory’s gameplay. There are also two great upgrades: one for pipelines and one for blueprints. Once you’ve mastered Tier 6, you’re firmly in the mid game and can focus on larger factories.
If you rent one of our Satisfactory servers, you can wrap up Tier 6 in no time and implement the improved features straight into your factories. Or play with friends and test trains or new blueprints together.
