Alchemy Factory Tips Guide | Smart Progression, Layout, and More
Starting a factory feels calm for about 10 minutes. Then belts back up, money stalls, and everything somehow needs rebuilding. These tips focus on smart early choices that save time later, without overthinking the math too early.
The Short Answer For New Players
Play messy early, upgrade limits first, and rebuild later. The game rewards forward momentum more than perfect layouts.
Early Game Mindset That Actually Works
Your first factory should be ugly. That is normal.
You unlock better machines, better fertilizer, and better belts fast. Any clean early layout will get torn down anyway.
Messy builds let you progress faster. Rebuilding later is cheaper than stalling early.
Money First Changes Everything
Money solves most early problems.
Upgrading shop income early gives faster expansion, more machines, and fewer dead moments waiting on coins.
Two early levels in shop related upgrades are enough to feel the difference almost immediately.
Conveyor Speed Before Production Speed
Belts are the real limit.
Production speed increases output, but belts cap how much can move. If belts lag behind, machines idle and fuel burns anyway.
Upgrade conveyor speed first. Then production speed. Keep them close together to avoid ratio pain.
Production Speed Without Pain
Production speed changes ratios. That is why it feels bad early.
If you push production speed alone, machines want more items than belts can move. This causes backups and wasted fuel.
If you want faster output without math headaches, add more machines instead of pushing production speed too early.
The Circle Of Production Layout
Think in a loop.
Money buys materials. Materials feed machines. Machines feed the shop. The shop makes money.
Design belts so coins flow cleanly into buyers, then materials flow back toward production, then goods flow to the shop.
A clear center money line helps everything stay readable.
Feeding The Shop From Above
Vertical builds save floor space.
A second floor with catapults dropping goods into the shop opens massive room for growth.
Feeding from above also makes rerouting easier later when product lines expand.
Storage Before Catapults Is Mandatory
Bulk orders drive real profit.
If goods go straight into catapults with no storage, you miss bulk sales. No storage means no buffer.
Always place storage containers before catapults feeding the shop. This single habit fixes many money issues.
Core Materials Deserve Dedicated Lines
Some items never stop being useful.
Planks, rope, rock, and brick get used constantly for building and crafting.
Dedicated production lines for these materials save endless rebuild time.
Advanced Fertilizer Is The Turning Point
This is where the game opens up.
Advanced fertilizer supports far more nurseries with fewer machines. It massively boosts farm output.
Rush it. Then slow down. Rebuild clean once it unlocks.
Handling Byproducts Prevents Lockups
Overflow kills factories.
Advanced fertilizer chains produce planks and mushrooms. If those back up, the entire line stops.
Always route overflow into fuel, storage, or trash. Priority splitters help here a lot.
Vertical Building Saves Your Sanity
Floor space disappears fast.
Stack machines, furnaces, and production lines vertically whenever possible.
Vertical builds are easier to expand than wide ones once belts get fast.
Press T Constantly
This key matters more than it looks.
Alternate configurations change machine orientation and belt connections. Many builds are impossible without it.
If something feels awkward to place, press T.
Use Staging Areas And Blueprints
Build away from the chaos.
Create production lines in an open area where space is not tight. Test them. Fix them.
Then blueprint the finished setup and move it into place. Just make sure your backpack can hold the materials.
Upgrade Your Tools Early
Small upgrades unlock big freedom.
Upgrade your backpack. Running out of space slows everything.
Upgrade the build hammer to level 2 early. It makes serious builds possible instead of painful.
Shop Reputation Matters Later
Early reputation does not matter much.
Later, it does.
Customers leave unhappy if items are missing. This lowers reputation and reduces traffic.
Once production speeds up, you need more customers to keep profits positive. Keep shelves stocked for every unlocked good.
Understanding Machine Numbers Without Stress
The base cycle time of a machine tells you how many you need per belt.
If belt speed and machine upgrades match, ratios stay clean even after upgrades.
The game rounds display numbers, but internally tracks more precision. Slight mismatches are normal.
Fuel Choices Are Tradeoffs
Charcoal powder is cheaper but space heavy.
Coal and coke cost more but are compact and easier to manage.
Early game favors charcoal. Later game favors coke. Both work depending on space and patience.
Final Blurb
Alchemy Factory rewards momentum over perfection. Upgrade limits first, accept early mess, and rebuild when advanced systems unlock. Keep belts flowing, store before selling, and never trust an unhandled byproduct. A factory that moves is a factory that prints money.
FAQ
Should I rebuild early or wait
Wait until advanced fertilizer and key upgrades unlock. Early rebuilds waste time.
Is production speed bad
No, but it needs matching belt speed. Alone, it causes problems.
Why do my machines stop with fuel inside
The output belt is full. Check belt speed in the World tab.
Do I need to sell every item
Yes, once unlocked. Missing items lower shop reputation.
When should I go vertical
As soon as floor space feels tight. Earlier than you think.
