TL;DR
- Workshops require tile-based construction with minimum 9 tiles for initial functionality
- Extractors need discovered resource nodes, proper infrastructure, and sufficient workforce
- Different extractor types serve specific citizen needs through automated resource transport
- Strategic placement and resource chain optimization dramatically increase efficiency
- Early game extractors include Scrap, Dirty Water, and Ironium variants with unique costs
Discover enhanced methods for maximizing resource acquisition from SteamWorld Build’s underground mines. These vital systems form the backbone of your settlement’s economic growth and citizen satisfaction.
SteamWorld Build Workshops and Extractors provide the essential infrastructure for gathering substantial quantities of valuable materials. Once your mining operations become established, you’ll gain access to numerous specialized tools and mechanical devices that significantly boost material production rates. This comprehensive guide explores advanced techniques for optimizing Workshop and Extractor deployment in SteamWorld Build.
The SteamWorld Build Workshops and Extractors operate exclusively within underground mine territories. Fundamentally, their construction methodology differs substantially from how you establish surface-level buildings and residential districts. You’ll locate these structural options within the Facilities interface when transitioning to the mines management view.
Workshop Construction Mechanics
Workshops in SteamWorld Build utilize identical operational principles to Quarters (the primary mechanism for recruiting mining workforce units). Here are the critical details you must understand:
- Rather than constructing individual buildings, you must position multiple Workshop tiles. Each Workshop tile demands 300x Currency, 1x Tools, and 1x Boards for placement.
- Workshops necessitate at least nine connected tiles to activate the basic Extractor functionality.
- To deploy additional Extractors, you must expand your Workshop tile network. To monitor this capacity, activate the Workshop tool and maintain left mouse button pressure while dragging your cursor. You’ll observe a +1 indicator (or greater values) increasing proportionally with additional tile integration.
- Comparable to other structures, you can employ the Demolition tool (represented by the bulldozer symbol) to reclaim construction materials. Be aware that material reimbursement becomes unavailable if you selected the Challenging difficulty setting during game initialization.
Strategic Workshop tile placement directly impacts your Extractor capacity and overall mining efficiency.
Extractor Construction Mechanics
SteamWorld Build features multiple Extractor variations, though they adhere to consistent operational principles:
- You must initially locate specific resource deposits within the mine chambers.
- The resource node requires connectivity to the main operational zone, potentially necessitating Bridge construction to span underground crevices.
- You should maintain adequate Workshop tile coverage to support supplementary Extractor functionality. The Workshop tiles themselves don’t require direct adjacency or connection to Extractors.
- You need sufficient Prospector personnel assigned to each operational Extractor. Prospector Quarters (along with all other residential sectors) function identically to Workshops regarding tile expansion requirements for workforce augmentation.
- Finally, you must possess the necessary construction materials to finalize assembly.
Dirty Water Extractors generate the Water resource essential for maintaining citizen contentment and settlement functionality.
Extractor Variants in SteamWorld Build
Here are several examples of early-stage Workshop Extractors available in SteamWorld Build:
- Scrap Extractor – Demands 1,000x Currency, 5x Tools, and 8x Boards.
- Dirty Water Extractor – Requires 6,000x Currency, 6x Tools, and 8x Sheet Metal.
- Ironium Extractor – Needs 4,000x Currency, 10x Tools, and 6x Sheet Metal.
Once Extractors become operational, the harvested resources automatically transfer to surface-level processing facilities. These materials undergo refinement through specific manufacturing structures and serve to fulfill resident requirements. For example, Engineer-class citizens demand Spare Parts, manufactured from Ironium and Scrap resources. Water, conversely, represents a necessity for both Aristobots and Engineer population segments.
Optimizing your underground operations requires strategic planning beyond basic construction. Advanced players should consider these optimization strategies:
- Cluster Placement: Group Workshops near multiple resource nodes to minimize infrastructure costs
- Workforce Balancing: Maintain 1.5 Prospectors per active Extractor for optimal efficiency
- Progressive Expansion: Begin with Scrap Extractors before advancing to more complex Ironium operations
- Resource Chain Sequencing: Prioritize Water production to support population growth before manufacturing Spare Parts
Common Pitfalls to Avoid:
- Don’t over-invest in single resource types early game
- Avoid placing Extractors without verifying node connectivity first
- Always calculate Workshop tile requirements before committing to expansion projects
Mastering Workshop and Extractor management represents a critical progression milestone in SteamWorld Build. As you enhance your mining expertise, consider exploring trading mechanics and market acquisition, Old World technology locations, and door and mineshaft unlocking procedures to further advance your settlement capabilities.
Action Checklist
- Establish minimum 9-tile Workshop foundation in accessible mine area
- Discover and map resource nodes, building Bridges for connectivity as needed
- Deploy Scrap Extractors first to establish basic resource flow
- Expand Workshop tiles to support additional Extractors based on resource needs
- Balance Prospector workforce allocation across active Extractors
- Monitor citizen requirements and adjust Extractor types accordingly
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » SteamWorld Build – How to Use Workshops And Extractors Master underground resource extraction with advanced Workshop and Extractor strategies in SteamWorld Build
