Tier 6 is a major milestone in Satisfactory, bringing new recipes and upgrades that prepare your factories for the next phase of the Space Elevator. This is also where trains enter the picture—one of the most important transport methods 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’s why Tier 6 is essential for expanding your various building blocks in Satisfactory. Let’s look at the items required to complete each category and exactly what you unlock.
Satisfactory Tier 6 Industrial Manufacturing: Build a Manufacturer and craft Computers
Industrial Manufacturing is one of the most important steps here because it unlocks the ability to combine three or four parts at once. This becomes especially important for the remaining modules of the Space Elevator, which you’ll continue after Tier 6.
Complete with:
200x Motor
200x Modular Frame
400x Plastic
1000x Cable
Completing this unlocks the Manufacturer, a machine that can use up to four inputs at once to craft advanced parts. That enables more complex production lines, which you’ll need moving forward.
You’ll also unlock key recipes that matter in the mid and late game. For example, you can now craft Computers, one of the essential components for later builds. You’ll need Plastic, Cable, and Circuit Boards, which you make from Plastic and Copper Sheet. For the Space Elevator, you unlock two additional recipes—Modular Engines and Adaptive Control Units—both crafted in the Manufacturer. The latter requires Heavy Modular Frames.
All in all, this section is very important and introduces new challenges for your upcoming production chains. You’ll also need several of these recipes for other categories in this tier.
Satisfactory Trains and Monorail: Optimize long-distance transport
Beyond the new recipes, unlocking the Monorail should be your next focus. You can even complete it earlier since it doesn’t require new materials. Trains are a complex system in Satisfactory, and it pays to get familiar with them early.
Complete with:
250x Motor
500x Encased Industrial Beam
1000x Steel Beam
1000x Steel Pipe
After sending these items, you’ll unlock most of the essentials for your rail system. This includes Train Stations, Railway (track), and, of course, the trains themselves. At first glance, it can feel overwhelming if you’ve only used conveyor belts or trucks. But trains with freight cars become increasingly important as you scale, and they can cover long distances quickly and efficiently.
We’ll dive deeper into trains in a separate post, but fundamentally they can transport any solid item. For fluids, you’ll need to wait until Tier 8, when the Fluid Freight components become available. Everything else can be moved across the map starting in Tier 6 with trains. You can automatically load trains and dispatch them, which is incredibly convenient.
Satisfactory Rail Signals: Set up Block Signals and Path Signals
To make your rail system more robust and efficient, you should use signals. They’re unlocked separately, but they’re essential for anyone who wants to work seriously with trains in Satisfactory. You’ll need Industrial Manufacturing to craft Computers.
Complete with:
50x Computer
400x Steel Pipe
1000x Copper Sheet
The Block Signals and Path Signals you unlock here are crucial for expanding and organizing your rail network. Block Signals are the simpler option, ensuring only one train occupies a given block at a time. This lets you, for example, stop cars to load them. Path Signals are more advanced and can coordinate bidirectional traffic on the same track. They reduce the amount of track you need, but require proper signal setup.
Signals become important in large rail networks with crossings or multiple lines split by junctions. They let you control where and how trains move so they don’t block each other. For simple, single-line routes, signals aren’t strictly necessary, but they can still help.
Satisfactory Pipeline Mk. 2: Higher-throughput pipes and stronger pumps
With the additions from Tier 5 and producing Fuel from Oil, laying pipelines becomes much more important. Now you can expand that system and improve efficiency.
Complete with:
50x Heavy Modular Frame
1000x Plastic
1000x Rubber
At first glance, this part of Tier 6 may not seem exciting, but the new pipes are extremely helpful for future projects, especially for Fuel production. It’s also the only upgrade your pipelines get. Throughput doubles from 300 to 600 m³/min, making them twice as efficient. You also gain access to stronger pumps that can move fluids uphill over greater vertical distances.
FICSIT Blueprints Mk. 2: Use larger blueprints in the mid game
Finally, Tier 6 unlocks an improved version of Blueprints. You’ll now have more space to save and replicate your designs.
Complete with:
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’s not necessary for everyone, but if you enjoy working with blueprints, the larger area is a lifesaver. You now have 40 meters in each direction instead of only 32 meters with Mk. 1 to lay out your prefabs.
Conclusion for Satisfactory Tier 6: Focus on trains, pipelines, and blueprints
Whether it’s trains or key parts for the upcoming Space Elevator upgrade, Tier 6 brings many changes that reshape Satisfactory’s gameplay. You also get 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 scaling up your factories.
If you rent one of our servers for Satisfactory, you can wrap up Tier 6 in no time and integrate the new features into your factories right away. Or team up with friends to test trains and new blueprints together.
