Exploring Satisfactory: Gear, Combat, and Resources

Beyond your production lines, exploring the map is a core pillar of Satisfactory. Sooner or later you’ll need to head out, discover unknown areas, and find new resources. For some players exploration isn’t that exciting; for others it’s a lot of fun. Either way, you won’t be able to avoid it: many materials are scattered across the map, and you’ll need them to unlock later Milestones or MAM research. It’s best to start early and venture out regularly to discover and research more. In this guide, we’ll give you the essentials so you’re well prepared.

Gear for Satisfactory exploration: Map, Scanner, and Xeno-Basher

Don’t set out empty-handed, or you won’t get far. We recommend waiting to explore until at least Tier 3 or Tier 4 so you can unlock key items. In the end, it’s your call.

Essential items for your first expedition:

• Map: There’s no way around it — you unlock it at the end of Tier 1. Don’t explore before that, or you’ll likely get lost fast.
• Object Scanner: Unlocked alongside the Map, it lets you search for specific items in the world. Super handy for pointing you in the right direction.
• Xeno-Basher: Unlocked in Tier 3, your first real weapon. Don’t head out without it if creatures are set to Default. It’s a melee weapon with modest damage, but it’s indispensable.
• Healing items: When you take damage, you’ll want to heal. Collect Bacon Agaric, Beryl Nuts, and Paleberries to craft Inhalers later.
• Inventory slots: Unlock more slots through Milestones or MAM research.
• Concrete & Iron Plates: Keep some on you to build ramps. The Satisfactory map is quite vertical in places, which makes exploring harder.
• Ladders: An alternative to foundations and ramps if you’ve bought them in the AWESOME Shop for 3x Coupons.
• Portable Miner: You’ll find unfamiliar ores out there — mine and take them with you. No large factory needed yet.

Pro tip: Bring a few Beacons or Sign boards to mark locations. Also stock up on Fuel for vehicles or the Jetpack.

As you explore, you’ll unlock more aspects of Satisfactory, giving you access to new tools and items. The more you research, the more advantages you’ll gain.

Items you should unlock later for exploration:

• Rebar Gun: Researchable under MAM Alien Megafauna. A pistol that can use various ammo types.
• Explorer: A vehicle unlocked in the MAM via Quartz research. Perfect for long exploration runs.
• Jetpack: Unlocked in Tier 5. Lets you fly, but requires Fuel.
• Parachute: Found in the Mycelium MAM tree. Negates all fall damage when deployed.
• Blade Runners: Research in MAM Quartz. Let you jump higher, take less fall damage, and run faster.
• Dimensional Depot: Found under MAM Alien Technology. Acts as a universal inventory, similar to an Ender Chest in Minecraft.
• Gas Mask: In the Mycelium MAM tree. Effective against gas, but not radiation. Requires Filters.
• Hazmat Suit: Unlocked with Tier 7. Protects against gas and radiation, becoming crucial later.

Combat in Satisfactory: Creatures, settings, and beginner tips

We’ll cover the combat system and all creatures in detail in another post, but for your first expeditions you should master the basics. Always bring your Xeno-Basher; later you can craft the Rebar Gun for a ranged option.

If you don’t want to deal with creatures at all, use the options. Under “Gameplay”, adjust “Creature Hostility”. “Passive” means they never attack. “Retaliate” means they only attack if you strike first. On “Default” they behave normally. For arachnophobes, enable Arachnophobia Mode — you really don’t want to meet Stingers. With the mode on, they’re replaced by cute cat PNGs — much better.

Hogs and Spitters will be your first encounters. Hogs charge you, while Spitters attack from range with projectiles. The Xeno-Basher will handle them fairly quickly.

On death, you’ll respawn at your HUB. Depending on your options, you may keep your inventory (“keep inventory”) or lose it. For beginners, we recommend starting easy to avoid frustration.

Combat tip: Strafe to dodge, use elevation, and take cover against Spitters to avoid projectiles. With Blade Runners, dodging becomes easier.

Key resources and finds while exploring in Satisfactory

Now you know the basics — but what should you look for? That’s up to you, but here are important targets that help unlock items from the first section. Focus on MAM research to gear up better. That’s your primary path to unlocking new aspects of Satisfactory.

Pick up these items while exploring:

• Alien Remains: Used for Alien Megafauna in the MAM. Obtained from defeated creatures.
• Power Slug: Also used for the corresponding research. Found on walls and cliffs, and can be blue, yellow, or purple.
• Crash Sites: There are 118 scattered around. They’re key to finding Hard Drives for alternate recipes. Crash Sites open under certain conditions, such as power input or required items. Research in the MAM takes ten minutes.
• Somersloop: A strange pink crystal you can find. Needed for Alien Technology in the MAM. Hard to miss.
• Raw Quartz: Very important for later factories; early on, use it mainly for the MAM.
• Caterium Ore: Also a late-game resource that’s great for research and unlocks critical MAM items (e.g., Smart Splitter or Zipline).
• Sulfur Ore: Used much later for serious production, but worth grabbing early for explosives research.
• Mycelium: Collected from large and small mushrooms and required for its MAM research.

Navigation tip: Actively use the Object Scanner for Power Slugs, Bauxite/Quartz/Caterium, and mark special spots with Beacons. An Explorer cuts long travel times dramatically.

Conclusion: Exploration, MAM research, and multiplayer servers

Exploration is part of Satisfactory and is essential for your MAM research. The more you look around, the better gear you can craft. Combat isn’t particularly hard if you prepare well and later unlock weapons and ammo. Exploring is even more fun with friends — rent one of our Satisfactory servers to roam the vast map together and hunt for valuable resources!