Forging Your Path in Derez: The Ultimate Metal Gear Survive Crafting Station Upgrade Guide
Welcome, Survivor. You've stepped through the Derez wormhole, and now you're stranded in a harsh, dusty world filled with the constant threat of the Wanderers and a mysterious biological contamination known as the Dust. Your base camp, the only semblance of safety, is your key to not just surviving, but eventually thriving. And at the heart of your base camp are your crafting stations.
Upgrading these stations isn't just a suggestion; it's the absolute core of your progression in Metal Gear Survive. A higher-tier station doesn't just make better items; it unlocks entirely new blueprints, conserves precious resources, and dramatically increases your efficiency. This guide is your one-stop shop for understanding everything about Crafting Station Upgrades, from the initial grind to the final, end-game constructions. We'll break down the material costs, the strategic benefits, and the best ways to gather what you need without losing your mind.
Let's start with the big picture. Your base camp has several key facilities:
- Workshop: Your primary hub for weapons, tools, and equipment.
- Medical Bay: For healing items, remedies, and later, crucial buffs.
- Food Kitchen: The source of your hunger-sating and stat-boosting meals.
- Base Development Unit: Not a crafting station per se, but vital for defense and resource generation.
We will focus on the first three, as their upgrade paths are critical for personal advancement.
The Foundational Grind: Upgrading to Level 2
The jump from Level 1 to Level 2 is your first major hurdle. It's where the game teaches you the importance of exploration and resource management.
Workshop Level 2 Upgrade Costs:
- Food Supply: 1,000
- Material Container: 1,000
- Iron: 500
- Sturdy Stick: 200
- Torn Book: 10
Medical Bay Level 2 Upgrade Costs:
- Food Supply: 1,000
- Material Container: 1,000
- Iron: 500
- Sturdy Stick: 200
- Torn Book: 10
Food Kitchen Level 2 Upgrade Costs:
- Food Supply: 1,500
- Material Container: 1,000
- Iron: 500
- Sturdy Stick: 200
- Torn Book: 10
Analysis and Strategy for Early Game Upgrades: At this stage, Food Supply and Material Containers are your biggest bottlenecks. You get these primarily from completing story missions, side ops, and by diligently sending out your Exploration Teams from your Base Camp. Don't neglect this feature! Even a low-level team can bring back these essential base-building resources.
Iron and Sturdy Sticks are found everywhere in the early areas. Focus on harvesting small mineral deposits and trees in the first map region. The Torn Book is a common find in wreckage sites and containers scattered around the world. This upgrade tier is all about establishing a routine of gathering and managing your Exploration Teams effectively.
The Mid-Game Leap: Upgrading to Level 3
This is where things get serious. Level 3 stations unlock high-tier weapons, advanced medicines, and complex recipes that are essential for tackling the game's greater challenges, including the hard difficulty co-op missions.
Workshop Level 3 Upgrade Costs:
- Food Supply: 3,000
- Material Container: 3,000
- Titanium: 500
- Electronic Parts: 200
- Sturdy Cloth: 100
- Intact Book: 20
Medical Bay Level 3 Upgrade Costs:
- Food Supply: 3,000
- Material Container: 3,000
- Titanium: 500
- Electronic Parts: 200
- Sturdy Cloth: 100
- Intact Book: 20
Food Kitchen Level 3 Upgrade Costs:
- Food Supply: 4,500
- Material Container: 3,000
- Titanium: 500
- Electronic Parts: 200
- Sturdy Cloth: 100
- Intact Book: 20
Analysis and Strategy for Mid-Game Resource Gathering: The material costs here represent a significant jump. You'll need a steady, automated income of Food Supply and Material Containers. By now, you should have multiple Exploration Teams active and be consistently upgrading their rank to improve their yields.
Titanium is the new Iron. You'll find it in the later, more dangerous areas of the map, particularly in rocky outcrops and specific mining zones. Be prepared to fight. Electronic Parts are often scavenged from downed drones, certain machinery, and containers in high-tech areas or wrecked vehicles. This is a key component for many advanced projects, so always pick them up.
Sturdy Cloth replaces regular cloth and is found in containers or by defeating certain enemy types. The Intact Book is a rarer version of the Torn Book. Your best bet is to thoroughly explore buildings and hidden caches in the more advanced regions. This is also the point where you must engage with the co-op mode. Many of these materials, especially in the quantities required, are far more efficiently farmed in the co-op missions, particularly on standard or hard difficulty.
Mastering the Endgame: The Final Crafting Station Upgrades
Reaching Level 4 for your crafting stations is the ultimate goal. It unlocks the best gear in the game, including legendary weapons and armor, top-tier consumables, and the most powerful stat-boosting food. The Crafting Station Upgrade Guide for this tier is all about dedication and high-level farming.
Workshop Level 4 Upgrade Costs:
- Food Supply: 6,000
- Material Container: 6,000
- Tungsten: 1,000
- Circuit Board: 300
- Clean Water: 200
- Technical Manual: 30
Medical Bay Level 4 Upgrade Costs:
- Food Supply: 6,000
- Material Container: 6,000
- Tungsten: 1,000
- Circuit Board: 300
- Clean Water: 200
- Technical Manual: 30
Food Kitchen Level 4 Upgrade Costs:
- Food Supply: 9,000
- Material Container: 6,000
- Tungsten: 1,000
- Circuit Board: 300
- Clean Water: 200
- Technical Manual: 30
Analysis and Strategy for Endgame Material Farming: The numbers are staggering. Your base camp's resource generation is no longer a nice-to-have; it's a necessity. Maximize your Exploration Team efficiency to keep a flow of Food Supply and Material Containers coming in.
Tungsten is the pinnacle ore. It's found in the deepest, most infected zones and requires a powerful pickaxe to harvest. Be prepared for heavy resistance. Circuit Boards are a rare drop from high-tier enemies and specific co-op mission rewards. Farming these will require you to master the combat loop and participate actively in the endgame co-op content.
Clean Water can be a tricky resource. It's found in certain clean areas of the map or as a reward from missions. The Technical Manual is the rarest book-type item. Your primary sources will be completing all single-player side ops, exploring every nook and cranny of the world map, and achieving high ranks in co-op missions. This is the true test of your Metal Gear Survive resource management skills.
Pro-Tips for Efficient Material Gathering:
- Exploration Teams are Non-Negotiable: Always have them running. Upgrade their capacity and success rate whenever possible. They are your passive income stream for the vital Food Supply and Material Container resources.
- Embrace Co-op (Salvage Missions): This is the fastest way to gather large quantities of specific high-end materials like Circuit Boards and Tungsten. The rewards scale with your performance, so learn the maps and objectives.
- Map Marking is Your Friend: When you find a rich node of Titanium or Tungsten, mark it on your map. These resources respawn after a time, allowing you to create efficient farming routes.
- Don't Hoard, Invest: It can be tempting to save all your best materials. However, using them to upgrade your stations is the best investment you can make. A Level 4 Workshop will let you create a powerful weapon that makes farming more materials much easier.
- Balance Your Play: Split your time between single-player exploration, base management, and co-op missions. Each activity feeds into the other, creating a productive cycle of gathering and upgrading.
Upgrading your crafting stations in Metal Gear Survive is a marathon, not a sprint. It demands patience, strategy, and a willingness to engage with all the game's systems. By understanding these material costs and following the strategies outlined in this Ultimate Crafting Station Upgrade Guide, you'll transform your base from a makeshift shelter into a powerhouse of production, perfectly equipping you to conquer the dangers of Derez and uncover its secrets. Now go on, Survivor. Your forge awaits.
