Kenshi Crafting and Research Guide

If you’ve spent any time wandering the world of Kenshi, you’ll know it’s not just swordplay and survival that keep your squad alive—it’s what you can build, make, and invent along the way. From patching together your first set of makeshift armor to eventually setting up a well-stocked base with self-sufficient workshops, crafting and research end up shaping the kind of journey you’ll have. Figuring out where to start, what to focus on, and how to avoid wasting precious time and resources can make all the difference, especially in a world that isn’t shy about punishing mistakes. Getting to grips with these systems turns a ragtag bunch of survivors into something a lot more durable—and maybe even a bit comfortable, if you plan things right.

Research Guide

Research plays a huge part in Kenshi—if you’re looking to upgrade your outpost from scrap shack to a real fortress, you’ll need to progress through the tech tree. Research lets you access stronger buildings, better crafting stations, advanced gear, and even life-saving medical upgrades. It doesn’t take long before you realize that your knowledge (and what you unlock) is just as important as the weapons you swing. Here’s how to get started and make the most of Kenshi’s research system.

How Research Works

Before anything else, you need a Research Bench. This is your central hub for unlocking new tech. You’ll find it under the “Tech” tab in the building menu. The first version, Research Bench 1, can be built almost anywhere—indoors or outdoors—but higher levels will require actual enclosed spaces.

Once it’s set up, assign a character (or two) with Science skill to the bench. They’ll need the appropriate books or materials for each project, plus some free time. Progress depends on their Science stat, so try to give this job to someone you don’t mind sitting still for a while.

Research Materials Explained

Kenshi has several types of books you’ll need for all stages of research:

• Books: The basic currency for most early and mid-game research. Usually sold at tech and travel shops, sometimes found in ruins or as loot.
• Ancient Science Books: Much rarer, these open the door to high-tech projects. You’ll find them rarely in ancient labs or challenging ruins.
• Engineering Research: Some of the rarest, needed for the most advanced base and item upgrades.
• AI Cores: Top-tier, extremely rare materials that unlock endgame stuff.

If you’re just building your first base, focus on collecting regular Books. Save ancient tomes and engineering research for bigger ambitions later.

Tech Tree Basics

Research is split into a bunch of categories: core upgrades (like power and buildings), crafting (weapons, armor, medical supplies), farming, and industry (building materials, mining improvements, etc.). Early on, concentrate on essentials:

• Core: Upgrading your Research Bench increases research speed and opens up new tiers.
• Power: Wind generators or solar panels to keep things running.
• Storage: Helps keep your base organized.
• Defenses: Walls, gates, and turrets are vital once you start making noise.

After those basics, adapt based on your playstyle. Farmers will want wells, crops, and cooking. Crafters should unlock new stations and blueprints.

Early Game Research Priorities

Early on, some projects are more useful than others:

• Tech Level 2/3: Prioritize unlocking higher Research Benches first. Each one grants access to bigger projects.
• Basic Medical Workbench: Makes healing way easier (and cheaper).
• Stone Processing & Building Materials: Lets you produce your own materials, which is huge for expanding your base.
• Power Generation: No power, no progress—get generators running before your electric needs outpace supply.

Don’t forget beds! Basic beds and medical beds speed up healing.

How to Find More Research Materials

• Shops: Check bars, tech shops, and traveling merchants in cities (especially World's End, Black Desert City, Mongrel).
• Ruins: Dangerous but lucrative. Ancient labs and workshops sometimes hold rare books and research.
• Bandit Raids: Occasionally, attacking certain bandit bases can give you loot, including something useful to science.

Try to hit ruins with a squad tough enough to handle security spiders and turrets.

Optimizing Your Research Game

Assign the right people: Look for someone with a higher Science skill. The higher it is, the faster they’ll complete projects. While anyone can research, a smart recruit shaves hours—or days—off big upgrades.

Balance your needs: Don’t get sidetracked by flashy upgrades if you’re short on food or security. Unlock just enough new tech to keep your squad safe and fed, then branch out.

Watch your materials: Later research demands rare items. Don’t spend Ancient Science Books on vanity tech if you still need critical upgrades for survival.

Multiple Benches: You can build multiple Research Benches, but only one will be active for research at a time. Higher-level benches take over the function when present, so you don’t need to keep every bench around.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I queue research?

Yes! Set multiple projects to line up back-to-back so you don’t have to micromanage.

What if I can’t find rare books?

Buy them every chance you get. Some shops restock frequently, so check back often. Consider sending out scavenger teams specifically to hunt ruins and old labs.

Do I need more than one researcher?

Extra researchers don’t speed up a single project, but if you swap between projects, you can have multiple folks ready to jump in.

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Understanding research is the difference between barely scraping by and building something impressive in Kenshi. Don’t rush it—plan your upgrades, hoard those precious books, and always have a project on the go. With the right focus, your knowledge will make your ragtag survivors a force to be reckoned with.

Building Materials Guide

Building Materials are the backbone of every Kenshi settlement. Whether you’re slapping down your first shack or upgrading a walled fortress, these bricks are what stand between you and the desert’s harsh realities. Knowing how to get, store, and use Building Materials smoothly will save you time and a load of frustration, especially early in the game when every resource counts.

What Are Building Materials Used For?

Almost every structure in Kenshi needs Building Materials—homes, storage boxes, crafting benches, turrets, and especially defensive walls or gates. Here are common uses:

• Setting up your first safe house
• Expanding with farms or workbenches
• Building automated defenses like gates and walls
• Upgrading facilities (like higher-level research benches)

No matter your strategy, you’re going to chew through these rapidly, so locking down a steady supply chain is essential.

Where to Get Building Materials

Purchasing

For fresh characters or nomad runs, the easiest way is to buy from vendors. Construction Traders and General Shops in major towns like Squin, Blister Hill, or Mongrel keep Building Materials in stock. Expect to pay about 120 cats each. This works fine in the beginning, but it gets expensive quickly when scaling up.

Crafting Your Own

The real game changer is making Building Materials yourself. Here’s how:

1. Research Stone Processing Unlock this tech early—it's a priority. It gives you access to the Stone Processor building, which is your first step towards base self-sufficiency.
2. Build a Stone Mine Place a Stone Mine somewhere with decent stone output (hover over terrain to check percentages). Assign a worker, and they'll dig up raw stone.
3. Set Up a Stone Processor Haul that stone to the processor. It turns raw stone into Building Materials over time, up to a limit based on its storage capacity.
4. Upgrade Later As you unlock higher tiers, upgrade to Stone Processor II or III. These crank out Building Materials faster and more efficiently—you’ll need “Iron Plates” for the upgrades, so try to get metal production going when possible.

Looting and Salvaging

Sometimes, you’ll stumble on Building Materials as loot—usually in abandoned villages, ruined outposts, or after bandit attacks on your base. It’s not reliable for ongoing needs, but great for topping off small projects.

Managing Production and Storage

Automation

Assign steady workers to both the Stone Mine and Processor. Using job queues (right-click the processor with your worker selected), you can keep the process running with little babysitting.

• Tip: Keep an eye on the processor’s output storage. If it fills up with finished Building Materials, production stops until someone hauls the materials to storage.

Storage Solutions

Building a dedicated Building Materials Storage bin means you can stockpile materials without gumming up your processor. Assign characters to auto-haul between machines and storage, and your production will flow smoothly even if you step away.

Scaling Up: Late Game Considerations

As your base grows, so will your demands. Walls, higher-level research, and massive farms all add up fast. Plan ahead:

• Stone Processing III: Unlocks faster, more efficient production.
• Multiple Mines/Processors: If you’re aiming for a mega-fort, consider running several setups at once.
• Protect Your Production: Place processors and storage inside walls to shield from raids. Losing a stash of materials to a Dust Bandit attack hurts.

Tips for Efficient Use

• Don’t Overbuild: Only build what you can defend and maintain. Extra, unused buildings just eat up resources.
• Balance Labor: Assign enough workers to keep both the mine and processor active, but avoid overstaffing when you need hands elsewhere.
• Upgrade Wisely: The jump from Stone Processor I to II or III is huge, but comes with its own research and resource needs. Time these upgrades so you’re not caught short.

Troubleshooting Production Bottlenecks

Ran out, or production stalled?

• Processor Full? Idle materials mean clogged machinery—haul to storage!
• Low Stone Yield? Move your mine if you’re only hitting poor-quality rocks (check the output meters).
• Short on workers? If possible, set up a simple hauling queue with your idle characters to keep the chain moving.
• Under attack? Prioritize repairs: damaged processors won’t produce, and destroyed ones take a lot of materials to fix.

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A strong, steady flow of Building Materials keeps projects rolling and your base growing. Master your supply line early, and you’ll have the backbone to survive, expand, and fend off whatever Kenshi’s brutal world throws at you next.

Weapon Crafting Guide

Weapon crafting sits at the heart of Kenshi’s self-sufficiency dream—a way to arm your squad without relying on overpriced vendor stock or chance loot. Producing swords and polearms that match or outclass shop gear is a serious asset, but it takes planning, resources, and a little patience. Here’s how to start smithing, what you’ll need, and some tips to get real value out of your creations.

Getting Started with Weapon Crafting

Before cranking out legendary blades, you’ll need to set up the basics. Here’s a checklist:

• Research Weapon Smithing: Open the research window (hit “T”). Look for “Weapon Smithing” and unlock it using Books at your Research Bench. This grants access to your first Weapon Smith.

• Build a Weapon Smith: After researching, place a Weapon Smith I workbench somewhere secure at your base. Early options work with basic resources and produce low-tier blades. Later upgrades unlock advanced smithing.

• Stock Up on Raw Materials: For almost all weapon production, the core ingredient is Iron Plates. Higher quality or more complex weapons may require Steel Bars, and eventually, Ancient Science Books for late-game upgrades.

• Assign a Skilled Worker: Select a character with a decent Smithing stat, or one you want to train (ideally, their stats should start going up as they craft). Only one character works per bench at a time.

Understanding the Weapon Smith Bench

Weapon Smiths come in three main tiers:

• Weapon Smith I: Basic swords and staves; slow, but all you need for starter gear.
• Weapon Smith II: Unlocks intermediate weapons and slightly faster crafting. Needs Tech II and extra resources to build.
• Weapon Smith III: Highest-end bench for advanced weapons with best stats. Researching this takes more books and rare items.

Each upgrade improves not just what you can craft, but the crafting speed and quality ceiling.

Crafting Process

1. Select the Weapon

Interact with the bench. The crafting menu lets you pick from a list of available weapon types, from basic sabres to nodachis and fragment axes. More open as you research.

2. Queue Up Production

You can queue several weapons at once. The smith works through this order, spending Iron Plates (and other resources as required) for each.

3. Wait It Out

Each weapon takes in-game hours to complete, depending on the bench’s tier and the worker’s skill. Don’t forget to have enough storage for finished weapons nearby, or production halts when the bench fills up.

Weapon Grades Explained

Weapons aren’t just about type: every blade comes in one of several quality grades:

1. Rusty Junk: Poor damage and speed. Automatic for unskilled smiths.
2. Standard Grade: Default shop quality.
3. High Grade
4. Specialist Grade
5. Masterwork: The best—rare in shops and only crafted by masters.

A smith’s Weapon Smithing Skill determines the grade. Level this by continuous crafting. Push for High Grade or better before mass-producing for your squad. Masterwork is a long-term goal, requiring patience and a dedicated smith.

Materials Management

Iron Plates

Your main limiting ingredient. Set up an Iron Refinery or buy plates in bulk from vendors. As demand grows, consider automating plate production and hauling.

Steel Bars

Needed for advanced weapons and higher smith benches. Steel needs both iron resources and coal (harvested from coal mines or bought as fuel).

Storage

Build Weapon Storage containers near your production area. They auto-collect finished weapons and keep benches clear for ongoing jobs.

Picking the Right Weapons

Not every squad needs the same blades:

• Sabres offer good defense for front-liners.
• Hacker weapons like Fragment Axes shut down armored targets.
• Katanas are fast for Dex training or light units.
• Polearms help poke at big monsters or mounted enemies safely.

Research the full weapon tech tree to unlock all options, then outfit your squad based on their jobs and stats.

Training Your Smith

• Early Levels: Quality is low. Craft lots of cheap weapons. Sell the extras in town shops for bonus cash and experience.
• Skill Gains: Each weapon built gives Weapon Smithing XP. Train on quick recipes before attempting high-grade weapons.
• Dedicated Crafters: Leave one character focused on smithing for faster skill growth.

Where to Sell or Use Crafted Weapons

Finished weapons are either equipped by your team or sold for income. Note that low-grade gear won’t fetch much cash—but high-quality masterwork blades can outprice vendor stock, boosting your budget for research or base upgrades.

Advanced Weapon Smithing

Upgrading Benches

Don't hesitate to upgrade your Weapon Smith as soon as new techs are available. Each tier means better output and more weapon types.

Special Blueprints

Some unique weapons (like the Falling Sun or Heavy Jitte) require blueprints only found in certain towns or from rare vendors. Hunt these down for premium upgrades.

Protect Your Smith

Weapon benches are a prime target during raids. Keep your workshop indoors and behind strong defenses to avoid catastrophic losses.

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Weapon crafting in Kenshi isn’t just about making sharp sticks—it shapes your squad’s power, boosts your economy, and lets you fine-tune each fighter’s toolkit. With careful research, material management, and a dedicated smith, you can roll out top-tier gear, even in the middle of the wasteland. Sharpen those hammers and watch your skill (and sword collection) grow.

Armor Crafting Guide

Armor isn’t just about tanking hits in Kenshi—it’s how your squad shrugs off the game’s notorious limb-chopping blows and acid storms. While weapon crafting is often your first stop, armor crafting quickly follows for any serious outpost. Outfitting your team with self-made protection saves fortunes and gives you control over who wears what, letting you counter the threats that lurk beyond your gate.

Getting Started with Armor Crafting

To kick things off, research Armor Smithing at a Research Bench. This unlocks the basic Armor Smithy I workstation, your entry point for all things armor. Higher tiers require additional research, often needing books like Ancient Science Books for late-game upgrades.

• Armor Smithy I: Crafts basic clothing and low-end armor—good for learning the ropes.
• Armor Smithy II: Lets you make better armor, including some heavy and specialist pieces.
• Armor Smithy III: Reserved for advanced gear with top resistance stats; needs rare resources.

Each smithy level boosts the range, speed, and quality of what you can craft.

Essential Resources for Armor Production

Fabrics

• Fabric: Used for basic shirts and some light armors. Buy from town shops or set up a Cotton Farm and Fabric Loom.
• Leather: Found in loot or tanned from animal skins (with a Leather Tanning Bench).
• Chainmail Sheets: Required for mid and late-game armor. Crafted at a Chainmail Sheet Fabrication Bench using plates.
• Plates: Both Iron Plates and Plate Beating (made at the Plate Beating Station) are needed for heavy pieces.

Never let your supply dry up—armor creation grinds to a halt without these core parts.

The Crafting Workflow

1. Assign Your Armorsmith

Pick a worker with a high Armour Smith stat, or one you’re ready to grind up. You can only assign one person per Armor Smithy—the more time they spend crafting, the better they get.

2. Select Armor to Craft

Use the workstation menu to select from the unlocked list. The range depends on your research, smithy tier, and gathered blueprints. Each armor piece previews the material cost.

3. Queue & Monitor Production

Armorsmiths work their way through the build order. Each item draws from storage nearby for required materials. More complex pieces naturally take longer. Early on, keep recipes simple and inventory light for faster skill gains.

4. Storage Solutions

Armor items take up storage space and clutter fast. Install Armor Storage containers near your smithies so gear is stashed automatically, letting you produce batch after batch without blocking the station.

Quality Grades & Armor Stats

Like weapons, armor comes in different quality grades:

• Shoddy: Poor stats, common for rookies.
• Standard: Normal shop quality.
• High Grade
• Specialist
• Masterwork: Rare, with superior protection and bonuses.

A crafter’s Armour Smith skill plus smithy tier sets the highest grade they can produce. The more gear you craft, the quicker your stat rises, unlocking better armor down the line. Don’t expect Masterwork right away—it’s the grind for late-game perfection.

Armor stats include blunt/cut resistance and specific resistances (like acid, burn, or duststorm). Some pieces slow movement or reduce combat stats, so always check downsides before suiting up your squad.

Unlocking New Armor Types

Most unique armors require blueprints bought from tech shops, armorers, or found at rare vendors:

• Visit armor shops in cities such as Mongrel, Black Desert City, or Worlds End.
• Some blueprints are only sold by particular factions, like the Shek or Tech Hunters.
• Legendary armor (e.g., Samurai Armor, Dustcoat) always requires special blueprints—make a habit of checking vendors for new tech every visit.

Having a full chest of blueprints lets you outfit your fighters for any situation, from acid rain to heavy combat.

Training Your Crafter

Skill gains for Armour Smith come fastest from rapidly crafting lightweight or basic shirts at early levels. Sell excess to shops, recycle them for materials, or give them to recruits and secondary squads. As the armorsmith levels up, swap to more challenging recipes for better results.

To focus on skill growth, park your crafter at the smithy, queue up bulk orders, and let time pass. More production = more skill.

The Best Armor Types for Your Squad

Choosing armor isn’t one-size-fits-all. Consider each fighter’s job and stat balance:

• Frontline Fighters: Heavy Plate for maximum protection, even with mobility penalties.
• Ranged/Support: Light or medium gear to keep them fast and safe from arrows.
• Scouts/Thieves: Stealth gear with few penalties to athletics or sneak.

Some armors, like the Dustcoat, provide environment protection for ash storms or acid rain—key for desert or endgame zones.

Advanced Smithing Tips

• Upgrade ASAP: Move to higher-tier Armor Smithies as soon as you research them. Faster production and higher max item grade means better protection, sooner.
• Special Materials: For late-game gear, stockpile Ancient Science Books and rare resources from ruins.
• Defensive Workspaces: Your smithies attract attention from raiders. Keep workshops behind walls and assign guards during risky periods.

Selling or Equipping Crafted Armor

Decide early: is your armor for sale or squad use? Only top-end, high-quality armor earns meaningful profit at shops—shoddy gear won’t help your wallet. Outfitting your crew with high-grade gear boosts survival and lets you take on riskier fights for loot.

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Crafting your own armor in Kenshi means safer squads and stronger outposts. With the right research, resource flow, and a dedicated smith, you control your crew’s defense right down to the last plate. Whether you’re eyeing bulky samurai armor or nimble dust protection, the smithy is your ticket to custom-built survival. Keep those hammers swinging—your crew will thank you when the next beak thing attack comes crashing through the gates. Medical Supplies are a constant lifeline in Kenshi. Whether you’re patching up after a skirmish or treating wounds from acid rain, being prepared keeps your squad moving. Here’s a guide on what counts as medical supplies, how to get or make them, and some practical tips for handling injuries in rough territory.

Understanding Medical Supplies

Kenshi has three main types of healing kits:

• First Aid Kits (Standard/Advanced): General healing for all wounds. Advanced kits work faster and last longer.
• Splint Kits: Setting broken limbs so your guys aren’t forced to crawl back to base.
• Skeleton Repair Kits: Needed for robot characters like Skeletons or anyone with prosthetics. Organic first aid won’t heal them.

These kits don’t just heal you back to full instantly. Instead, they gradually patch up wounds, so you’ll need to keep a few on hand, especially for longer trips.

How to Get Medical Supplies

Buying From Shops

Early on, the fastest way is to buy kits from bar vendors, travel shops, and general stores. Towns like Squin, Mongrel, or any tech hub usually carry at least Standard-grade kits. Prices aren't cheap if you're constantly fighting, so invest in other sources when you can.

Crafting Medical Supplies

Moving past the newbie stage, you’ll want to make your own:

What You’ll Need

1. First Aid Station: The main bench to craft medicine. Unlock it via early research in the Tech tree.
2. Research: First Aid kits and Skeleton Repair Kits both require research projects. Basic kits unlock sooner; advanced versions come with more tech investment.
3. Materials:
   • Fabric: Harvest from Cotton Farms or buy from shops.
   • Synthesizing Medicine (Optional, Late-Game): Later tech lets you make biofuel and then medicine from crops if you’re deep into self-sufficiency.

Which Kits Can You Craft?

• Basic First Aid Kits: Easy to make, just fabric (1 fabric = 1 kit).
• Splint Kits: Crafted with fabric, good to have a handful per squad but rarely need tons.
• Skeleton Repair Kits: Require Electrical Components, Iron Plates, and sometimes rare materials—be sure to check the recipe at the bench.
• Advanced First Aid Kits: Unlockable with higher tech tiers; require additional resources but much better return.

Crafting Process

1. Assign a Medic (any skill level works, but higher Medical skills mean less wasted resources).
2. Make sure medicine and fabric are in storage nearby.
3. Queue up production for the kits you need—set to repeat for steady supply.

Medical Storage and Usage

Smart Storage

• Medical Storage Boxes: Place these near your medical crafting stations and at beds or recovery areas around your base.
• Squad Inventory: Every squad member should have at least one first aid kit and, if possible, a splint kit.
• Field Medics: Set one squad member’s job to “MEDIC” so they automatically heal injured friends after each battle.

Healing Workflow

1. After Combat: Medics first patch bleeding or critical wounds, then treat less-serious injuries.
2. Splint Broken Limbs: If someone’s crawling or moving one-legged, use a splint kit.
3. Skeletons/Prosthetics: Organic kits won’t work—assign robot medics or keep Skeleton Repair Kits equipped.

Sleeping in beds speeds healing, but for field care, depend on your kits.

Managing Supply in Dangerous Territory

• Always Overpack: Every journey should start with more kits than you think you’ll need. Wandering acid storms, bandit attacks, or beak thing maulings happen when you least expect them.
• Loot Enemies: Many bandits, especially tech factions, carry first aid supplies. Some early-game players sustain themselves for days just off looted medkits.
• Bases in Harsh Zones: Acid rain zones demand plenty of medical supplies and almost daily patch-ups.

Tips for Keeping Your Squad Alive

• Skill Up Your Medics: Healing others trains the Medical skill. Let your top healer do all the patching for faster gains.
• Rest Over Rush: For serious injuries (especially stomach, chest, or head wounds), send the hurt character to a bed. Don’t force them back into battle—risking death or permanent injuries isn’t worth it.
• Keep a Skeleton in the Squad: Robots never bleed and patch up fast with their own kits, making them reliable medics for emergency healing.

Conclusion

A reliable stash of medical supplies keeps your fighters alive and kicking in Kenshi. Buy what you need until you have stable production, equip everyone to handle emergencies, and always expect the worst in the field. A well-supplied squad can bounce back from nearly anything the wasteland throws at them.