Exploring the alien planet in Satisfactory is essential for unlocking key items and achievements. It also lets you research some later ores earlier, even before you discover them in milestones. Just as important is studying the local flora and fauna. The planet is home to strange plants and creatures that will pose a few puzzles. Whether oddly shaped flowers or unknown monsters, you’ll need to deal with them too. The Molecular Analysis Machine (MAM) helps you decipher and make use of them. Today we’ll look at three of these MAM research trees.
Satisfactory MAM Nutrients research: craft the Inhaler and heal quickly
This research path is very short and should be completed early on to improve your healing. You need to find three plants: Paleberries, Beryl Nuts, and Bacon Agarics. You should recognize and collect them without much trouble.
Where to find them:
- Paleberry: In forested areas (not in dry regions)
- Beryl Nut: Common in desert biomes (not in forests or jungles)
- Bacon Agaric: Less common, primarily in forests (slightly in deserts)
You can also eat these plants directly to heal 5 to 20 HP, but that’s of limited use and more of an emergency option. Instead, focus on unlocking the Inhaler.
To unlock it, you need:
- 25x Modular Frame
- 50x Steel Pipe
- 500x Wire
After that, invest a few more of the three plants and you can get the Medical Inhaler. It fully restores your health, no matter how much you’ve lost. There are multiple crafting recipes, which also reappear in the next two research paths.
Satisfactory MAM Alien fauna research: Alien DNA Capsules, Rebar Gun, and inventory slots
If you prefer to jump straight into combat, check out this branch. We already have a complete guide to the combat system if you need an overview (Satisfactory combat system: weapons, monsters & tips) . This research focuses on processing alien remains. You can convert them into Proteins and use them for various purposes.
This research unlocks:
- Alien Protein: From the meat of all four regular enemies (Hatcher, Hog, Spitter, Stinger) you can produce Alien Protein. It’s used for DNA Capsules, alternative Biomass, and Inhalers.
- Alien DNA Capsule: Made from the Alien Protein mentioned above and not usually needed directly. However, they’re perfect for Coupons and points in the AWESOME Sink (Satisfactory AWESOME Sink & Shop: How to farm coupons fast) . Each grants 1,000 points.
- Inhaler: Thanks to Proteins you can unlock another Inhaler recipe by combining them with Beryl Nuts.
- Rebar Gun: The Rebar Gun is likely the first ranged weapon you can unlock. You can research it in Tier 2, and you should. You also get standard Rebar, and with further research you can unlock additional types (Explosive, Shatter, Stun).
- Inventory slots: On the other side of the tree, you can expand your inventory. Unlock six extra slots plus an additional hand slot. Always useful for carrying more.
- Creature Scanner: The last unlock in the alien fauna tree is the creature scanner. You can only unlock it in Tier 7, as it requires Quartz Oscillators and High-Speed Connectors. Alternatively, you can obtain both via the Quartz and Caterium research. The scanner lets you detect nearby creatures.
Satisfactory MAM Mycelia research: craft Fabric, Parachute, Gas Nobelisk, and Gas Mask
Researching Mycelia in Satisfactory is important, especially for later milestones. You unlock some very cool gadgets based on processing the mushrooms you find. The starting point is crafting Fabric, which you need for further recipes.
The basis is Mycelia, which you can find in various places in Satisfactory. To collect it, pick up small mushrooms on the ground or in caves, or use a Chainsaw to cut down larger mushrooms. You can also obtain Mycelia from other plants and corals.
With Mycelia, you can unlock:
- Biomass from Mycelia: Biomass is an early fuel you can burn in the appropriate generator. Here you unlock an alternative recipe using Mycelia that can simplify production. Later you can turn it into Solid Biofuel, the following Gas Nobelisks, coal, and Jelly Pads.
- Fabric: Fabric is a key material available only in this research. Normally you produce it from Mycelia and Biomass, but as you progress you’ll unlock an alternative recipe using Polymer Resin and Water (Synthetic Fabric).
- Gas Nobelisk: In Sulfur research (Satisfactory Sulfur Research: Locations, Nobelisk, Fuel, and Weapons) you can unlock explosive weapons. In this branch, you learn to craft Gas Nobelisks from Biomass. They’re very effective in combat, creating a gas cloud that deals continuous damage.
- Parachute: Using Cable and Fabric, this recipe lets you craft a Parachute to negate fall damage. Press the jump key while falling to deploy it.
- Gas Mask + Filters (+ Hazmat Suit): Fabric is arguably the most important unlock here because protective gear becomes essential when you venture into radioactive areas. In the MAM you unlock the Gas Mask and Filters. You also need Fabric for the Hazmat Suit recipe obtained in Tier 7. Once you can produce both, wear them for safety.
- Inhaler: Finally, Mycelia also unlocks two additional Inhaler recipes. One combines it with Paleberries, the other with Alien Protein and Bacon Agarics. This lets you turn all plants into effective healing items.
Conclusion: Make use of Satisfactory’s MAM research on flora and fauna
The MAM research on plants and creatures is crucial to gear up for the game. It unlocks various recipes for Medical Inhalers, as well as handy equipment like the Parachute, the Rebar Gun, and the Gas Mask. You can also process alien remains into DNA Capsules and feed them into the AWESOME Sink to farm points for Coupons.
Rent your own Satisfactory server from us and explore the rich flora and fauna of the alien world. It’s even more fun with friends, and you can delve into the deepest parts of the map to push your research forward.
