In Satisfactory, you’ll find both real and fictional resources to expand your factory. Caterium is one such ore that doesn’t exist in the real world but plays a major role in Satisfactory. This golden ore becomes especially relevant later in the game and is an important part of your progression. Even more exciting is its research branch in the MAM. Unlocking Caterium in the MAM grants several highly valuable features that are absolutely worth it. Today, we’ll break down what’s hidden in this research tree and what you should focus on first.
Satisfactory Caterium locations: deposits, scanner, and extraction
Caterium Ore can be found across the planet much like Iron or Copper. Its primary use is in electronics—think of it as a superior form of copper. However, Caterium is much rarer, making it harder to integrate into existing factories. Most deposits form a ring around the map and are typically isolated. Your best hotspot is the Titan Forest, which features two normal and one pure node.
You might stumble upon Caterium early, but your Resource Scanner can only search for it starting in Tier 6 with the Oil Power milestone. However, you can add it to the scanner earlier by completing the first node in the MAM research. You extract it with a standard Miner like any other ore—the better the Miner, the more ore you’ll get.
Caterium research in the MAM: all branches at a glance
Once you’ve extracted your first Caterium Ore, head to the MAM. We’ve already covered how to use this building in another article (Satisfactory MAM Guide: Research, Hard Drives & Best Alternate Recipes) . By the end of Tier 6, you should be able to complete almost every branch of the Caterium tree. That said, you can get started early and unlock the first sections right away.
Section 1: Caterium Ore, Quickwire, Zipline, and Stun Rebar
The first steps are simple: you only need 60x ore to progress. This unlocks the Caterium scanner, followed by the recipe for Caterium Ingots. You should smelt those immediately and use 50 ingots to unlock Quickwire, which is crafted from the ingots. With that, you’ve laid nearly all the groundwork you need for the rest of the tree.
From here, the research splits into three paths:
Zipline: The Zipline is an extremely practical tool that lets you traverse along power lines, making it faster to swing between factories. Unlock it with 100x Quickwire and 50x Cable. You’ll then get the crafting recipe, which requires a Xeno-Zapper and Iron Rods in addition to Quickwire and Cable.
Stun Rebar: The right path is great for defending yourself against creatures. Here you unlock Stun Rebar for the Rebar Gun. Use 50x Quickwire and 10x Iron Rebar to get the recipe. You’ll need the same items to craft it.
Progress: Spend another 100x Quickwire to unlock Section 2.
Section 2: Power Poles, High-Speed Connector, and Power Switches
Section two focuses on upgrading your power network. Since Caterium is required for many electronic recipes, it makes sense you’ll unlock them here. This section mainly lays the groundwork for recipes that follow.
Again, you’ll find three branches:
Power Poles: Follow the middle branch to unlock two new versions of power poles. You can complete Mk.2 right away, while Mk.3 requires progress in the other paths. These poles allow more connections, reducing cable clutter.
High-Speed Connector: With Quickwire and Plastic you can unlock the High-Speed Connector, a key component for advanced electronics. It’s particularly essential for later Caterium research nodes.
AI Limiter: On the other side, unlock another electronics component with Quickwire and Copper Sheets.
From the previous two unlocks, you can then access switches:
Power Switch: Use the AI Limiters you just unlocked plus Steel Beams to access this research. Power Switches help you manage distribution more effectively and allocate energy where it’s needed.
Priority Power Switch: For even finer control, invest High-Speed Connectors and Quickwire. This lets you control your grid remotely, shutting down or prioritizing entire sections.
Section 3: Smart Splitter, Homing Ammo, and Geothermal Generator
In the final section, many of the previously unlocked items and components come together. It pays to automate these ahead of time to speed up research. Here you’ll unlock four major tools that make factory life easier:
Smart Splitter: One of the most important items in Satisfactory, Smart Splitters let you filter and organize conveyor belts. Prioritize unlocking them—you can get them as early as Tier 2. Define which items, and how many, go to each output from your belts.
Programmable Smart Splitter: A step above, this gives you even more control over how you split your belts. You’ll need Computers and Heavy Modular Frames to unlock it, which become available in Tier 6.
Homing Ammo: You can upgrade the rifle from the Sulfur research tree by unlocking homing ammunition. It’s particularly useful against tougher creatures since you don’t have to aim as precisely.
Geothermal Energy: The final major unlock is the Geothermal Generator. This lets you tap geysers to produce power. In addition to High-Speed Connectors, you’ll need Motors from Tier 4, so you can unlock these generators fairly early. Your scanner can now search for geysers, giving you an alternative power source.
Conclusion: Caterium research for power, splitters, and geothermal
Caterium research unlocks many essential components for your production lines. It’s worth investing early and putting them to use. Because many upgrades build on each other, you can access a lot of them in the early game, and nearly all by Tier 6. You’ll expand your power grid, better sort conveyors, and add alternative power with Geothermal Generators.
To jump straight into Caterium research, rent a Satisfactory server from us: https://www.4netplayers.com/en-us/gameserver-hosting/satisfactory/. Don’t underestimate how many great items you can unlock in the MAM—and show your friends how quickly you can research them.
