SteamWorld Build – Items And Trading Guide

SteamWorld Build offers an extensive trading system that becomes accessible once you’ve completed specific infrastructure requirements. The key to unlocking this economic feature lies in restoring the Train Station to operational status.

To activate trading capabilities, you must first repair the Train Station, which demands a workforce of 120 Workers and 4 Boards. This necessitates establishing both a Forester operation and a Lumber Mill to produce the required construction materials. Upon completion, you’ll observe trains arriving at regular five-minute intervals. Selecting the Train Station reveals its comprehensive functionality menu.

Beyond the primary trading hub, resourceful players can discover treasure chests scattered throughout the underground mines. These containers yield randomized items, including valuable blueprints for infrastructure that would otherwise remain locked.

Engaging in SteamWorld Build’s trading system requires understanding its core mechanics. Initiate trades by selecting the Train Station and clicking the plus (+) symbol within the Ongoing Trades section. The game permits up to five simultaneous trade agreements, though transactions only finalize upon the next train’s arrival, introducing strategic timing considerations.

Seasoned players quickly learn that utilizing Money for trade transactions often proves economically inefficient. Your currency reserves are essential for nearly all construction initiatives, making cash conservation paramount. The exchange rates heavily favor resource-based bartering, with basic materials like Boards costing approximately 1,000 Money each.

The most effective approach involves resource exchange trading, where you swap surplus materials for needed commodities. Exchange rates vary significantly based on item rarity and availability. For example, acquiring one Board might require 25 Sand units, five Scrap pieces, or two Ironium ore. Premium items command superior exchange values, such as obtaining two Boards for a single Robo Burger.

Strategic resource management emphasizes trading surplus materials rather than depleting financial reserves.

Advanced players should monitor their resource production cycles to identify consistent surpluses. Common trading errors include liquidating essential construction materials for short-term gains and underestimating the time delay between trade initiation and completion.

The Train Station’s item shop provides access to numerous enhancement items purchasable with Money and Rubies. This inventory refreshes every five minutes, synchronized with train arrivals, creating dynamic purchasing opportunities.

• Resource: Gold – Provides immediate currency injection to fund development projects
• Resource: Rubies – Delivers premium currency for exclusive acquisitions
• Warehouse Item: Warehouse Deliveries – Expands logistical capacity by +1 simultaneous deliveries
• Service Item: Service Income – Amplifies tax revenue generation by 75-150%
• Service Item: Service Inhabitants – Boosts residential capacity with +5 citizen bonus
• Production Item: Production Chance – Enhances output probability by 25%; superior variants accelerate production speed by 80%
• Production Item: Production Speed – Reduces manufacturing time for various goods
• Miner Equipment: Gold Scavenging – Enables Miners to periodically discover Gold deposits
• Miner Equipment: Digging Bonus – Increases excavation velocity for Miners
• Miner Equipment: Debris Bonus – Provides enhanced efficiency when clearing obstructive debris
• Miner Equipment: Bonus Miners – Automatically recruits three additional Miners to your workforce
• Prospector Equipment: Tools Scavenging – Allows Prospectors to occasionally find Tools
• Prospector Equipment: Prospector Speed – Improves movement rate for Prospectors
• Prospector Equipment: Bonus Prospectors – Instantly adds three Prospectors to your mining operations
• Mechanic Equipment: Sheet Metal Scavenging – Mechanics periodically uncover Sheet Metal resources
• Mechanic Equipment: Machine Reparation Bonus – Enhances mechanical repair capabilities
• Mechanic Equipment: Bonus Mechanics – Automatically enlists three additional Mechanics
• Guard Equipment: Flamethrower – Empowers Guards to incinerate creeping threats
• Guard Equipment: Shovel and Shield – Enables Guards to periodically taunt hostile entities
• Guard Equipment: Revolver – Provides Guards with moderate ranged combat capability
• Guard Equipment: Rifle – Equips Guards with superior long-distance engagement weapons
• Guard Equipment: Bonus Guards – Instantly recruits three additional Guards for defense

The train’s regular arrivals continuously refresh available items, creating evolving strategic opportunities.

Equipping items in SteamWorld Build involves selecting target structures and accessing their editing interface. This process enables you to apply specific buffs that enhance building performance and worker efficiency.

Understanding item categorization is crucial for effective equipment deployment. For instance, Production Chance items exclusively benefit production facilities like Moonshiners and Lumber Mills. Similarly, equipment-specific enhancements only apply to corresponding worker quarters, such as Digging Bonus for Miners’ Quarters.

Building inspection reveals compatible item enhancements, ensuring optimal equipment placement.

Strategic item placement should prioritize buildings that generate your most valuable resources. Consider creating specialized production zones where multiple enhanced structures work in concert. Equipment for mine workers should be distributed based on current excavation priorities and resource discovery needs.

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