Raw Materials in Alchemy Factory

What Are Raw Materials?

In Alchemy Factory, raw materials are items that meet at least one of the following conditions:

• Collected directly from the environment
• Require little or no processing before use
• Serve as inputs for multiple production chains

Raw materials are rarely sold directly. Instead, their value comes from how efficiently they are converted into components, solids, or liquids used later in the game.

Why Raw Materials Matter Early

During the early stages of the game:

• Production lines are short and fragile
• Automation options are limited
• Shortages quickly halt progress

Because of this, raw material supply often becomes the first bottleneck new players encounter. Most early factory setups rely on continuous raw material input, simple routing (belts, basic transport), and stable stockpiles rather than just-in-time flow.

Common Raw Material Types

Below are the most common types of raw materials encountered early in the game. Exact item names and availability may vary as the game evolves, but their roles remain consistent.

Wood-Based Materials

Wood-based resources are among the first materials players interact with.

Typical characteristics:

• Easy to obtain
• High usage frequency
• Required for early components and structures

Common uses include crafting basic components, supporting early machine construction, and feeding initial automation chains. Wood resources often form the backbone of early production layouts.

Stone and Mineral Resources

Stone and mineral materials introduce more structured production requirements.

Key features:

• Often gathered from fixed resource nodes
• Used in both construction and processing
• Required for durability-focused items

These materials are commonly routed into solid processing or combined with other raw inputs to create intermediate products.

Ores

Ores are raw mineral resources used in metal-related production.

General traits:

• Slower to collect compared to wood or stone
• Often processed before use
• Required for mechanical or reinforced components

Ore supply becomes increasingly important as factories scale beyond basic setups.

Plant-Based Materials

Plant-based raw materials introduce organic production chains.

Common sources:

• Harvestable plants
• Growable resources (via seeds)
• Natural resource nodes

These materials are often used in components, liquids, and early alchemy recipes. Plant-based materials connect raw material systems with farming and potion-related mechanics.

Basic Liquids

Liquids are sometimes introduced earlier than players expect.

Typical properties:

• Required for specific recipes
• Used in processing or alchemy systems
• Transported differently from solids

Even basic liquids can become bottlenecks if not planned properly.

How Raw Materials Flow Into Production Chains

Raw materials rarely exist in isolation. Most follow a predictable flow:

1. Collection — Gathered from environment nodes or basic producers.
2. Transport — Moved via belts or basic routing systems.
3. Processing — Converted into components, solids, or liquids.
4. Integration — Fed into larger production or automation systems.

Understanding this flow early helps prevent common layout and storage issues later.

Storage and Stockpiling Tips

For early factories, over-optimization is unnecessary. Instead, focus on stability.

• Maintain small buffer storage for key materials
• Avoid routing all raw materials into a single line
• Separate high-volume and low-volume resources

Raw material shortages are easier to fix when production chains are simple and visible.

Common Beginner Mistakes With Raw Materials

• Underestimating how many materials components require
• Routing too many different materials through one belt
• Ignoring storage until production stalls
• Expanding production without securing raw input

These mistakes are common and are addressed in the Beginner Guide.

How Raw Materials Connect to Other Item Categories

Raw materials directly feed into:

• Components – Intermediate crafted items
• Solid Materials – Processed building resources
• Liquids – Refined or extracted fluids
• Potions – Through alchemy chains

As you progress, raw materials become less visible but remain critical behind the scenes.

What to Read Next

After understanding raw materials, the next logical step is:

• Components in Alchemy Factory – Learn how raw inputs become functional parts
• Beginner Guide – See how raw materials fit into early factory setups

Final Notes

Raw materials may seem simple, but efficient handling early on sets the foundation for everything that follows. A stable supply of basic resources makes later automation smoother, faster, and easier to expand.

This page will be updated as new raw materials or mechanics are introduced during Early Access.