Full Guide to Metallurgy Research Tree Upgrades in Graveyard Keeper 2 and How to Unlock Each One
This guide breaks down Graveyard Keeper 2's Metallurgy research tree across three tiers: Bronze, Iron, and Steel. It explains key unlocks like Bronze Works, Iron Forge, and Steel Smithing, lists costs in Red, Green, and …
Why Metallurgy Matters
Once you're past the beginner stage in Graveyard Keeper 2, the Metallurgy department becomes one of the most important trees to invest in. Its upgrades aren't optional cosmetics — they're the gate to expanding your base and, eventually, taking the fight to the zombies. Bronze tools lead to iron, iron leads to steel, and steel unlocks the Masterwork-tier gear at the top of the tree.
How Progression Flows: Bronze to Iron to Steel
The Metallurgy tree follows three clear tiers:
- Bronze tier — Starts with Bronze Works (10 Red), which unlocks the Wooden Anvil blueprint, Bronze Nails, Bronze Ingot, and the Furnace I blueprint. Bronze technology requires the Firewood shed I as a prerequisite.
- Iron tier — Iron Forge (35 Red) is the pivot point, granting Iron Ingots, Iron, and the Furnace II. From there, Iron Smithing (50 Red) brings Iron Nails, Bronze Gear, and the Iron Anvil blueprint.
- Steel tier — Steel Smithing (120 Red, 15 Blue) introduces Steel Details, Steel Screws, and the Steel Anvil blueprint, opening the endgame branch.
Note that costs shift over the course of the tree: early nodes cost only Red tech points, mid-tier nodes add Green, and late-game nodes require Blue as well — up to 30 Blue for Smithy: Hammer and 25 Blue for Masterwork Equipment.
Key Unlocks and What They Give You
Tools and gear. Each metal tier upgrades your toolkit: Bronze Axe and Pickaxe (15 Red, 5 Green), Iron Axe and Shovel (80 Red, 15 Blue), and finally Steel Pickaxe and Shovel (150 Red, 20 Blue). On the combat side, Bronze Armor and Sword (30 Red) progress through Iron Armor and Sword (80 Red) to Steel Armor and Sword (160 Red, 10 Blue), capped by Masterwork Equipment — the Master Sword and Master Armor (200 Red, 25 Blue).
Defense. Barricades come in three tiers: Simple Barricades (60 Red, 25 Green) unlock Barricade I blueprints, Robust Barricades (90 Red, 30 Green) unlock tier II, and Reinforced Barricades (150 Red, 75 Green) unlock tier III — each with standard, Spiked, and Fortified variants.
Military buildings. Archer Tower I and the expanded Military Building Area (60 Red, 25 Green) lead to Archer Tower II (100 Red, 50 Green) and Archer Tower III (160 Red, 80 Green).
Zombie workforce. The Zombie Gears node (90 Red) unlocks the Zombie Carousel blueprint — essential if you want zombie labor working for you.
Crafting stations. Smithy I (75 Red, 20 Blue), Smithy: Hammer, and Smithy: Bellows lead to Smithy II (160 Red, 20 Blue), which grants Clay Molds and Iron Kit II.
Full Cost Reference Table
| Upgrade | Unlocks | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze Works | Wooden Anvil, Bronze Nails, Bronze Ingot, Furnace I | 10 Red |
| Bronze Melting | Firewood shed I | 10 Red |
| Bronze Craft | Bucket | 30 Red |
| Hardening | Glass | 30 Red, 10 Green |
| Bronze Blades | Bronze Axe, Bronze Pickaxe | 15 Red, 5 Green |
| Bronze Forge | Tin | — |
| Sluice Box | Sluice Box blueprint | 20 Red |
| Bronze Instruments | Bronze Shovel, Bronze Hammer | 15 Red, 5 Green |
| Glass Blowing | Alchemy Flasks I, Empty Bottle | 45 Red, 10 Green |
| Bronze Polishing | Polished Bronze, Bronze Tools, Copper Trinkets | 30 Red |
| Firewood Shed II | Firewood Shed II | 20 Red, 5 Green |
| Reinforced Plank | Reinforced Plank | 45 Red |
| Bronze Equipment | Bronze Armor, Bronze Sword | 30 Red |
| Iron Forge | Iron Ingot, Iron, Furnace II | 35 Red |
| Simple Barricades | Barricade I blueprints (Standard/Spiked/Fortified) | 60 Red, 25 Green |
| Bronze Weapons | Light Pike, Reinforced Bow | 35 Red, 10 Green |
| Iron Smithing | Bronze Gear, Iron Nails, Iron Anvil | 50 Red |
| Bellows | Lens, Alchemy Flasks II, Bellows | 30 Red |
| Archers Tower | Archer Tower I, Expand Military Building Area | 60 Red, 25 Green |
| Iron Works | Iron Detail, Iron Kit 1 | 75 Red |
| Smithy I | Beck, Glass, Smithy I blueprint | 75 Red, 20 Blue |
| Reinforced Beam | Reinforced Beam | 75 Red |
| Iron Equipment | Iron Armor, Iron Sword | 80 Red |
| Iron Instruments I | Iron Axe, Iron Shovel | 80 Red, 15 Blue |
| Iron Instruments II | Iron Hammer, Iron Pickaxe | 80 Red, 15 Blue |
| Smithy: Hammer | Iron Ingot, Iron Kit I, Hammer blueprint | 80 Red, 30 Blue |
| Robust Barricades | Barricade II blueprints | 90 Red, 30 Green |
| Iron Weapons | Battle Pike, Battle Bow | 90 Red, 10 Blue |
| Iron Products | Advanced Detail, Iron Tools | 90 Red, 10 Blue |
| Zombie Gears | Zombie Carousel blueprint | 90 Red |
| Smithy: Bellows | Tableware, Glass Containers | 90 Red, 20 Blue |
| Archers Tower II | Archer Tower II | 100 Red, 50 Green |
| Steel Smithing | Steel Detail, Steel Screws, Steel Anvil | 120 Red, 15 Blue |
| Reinforced Barricades | Barricade III blueprints | 150 Red, 75 Green |
| Steel Instruments I | Steel Hammer, Steel Axe | 150 Red, 20 Blue |
| Steel Instruments II | Steel Pickaxe, Steel Shovel | 150 Red, 20 Blue |
| Steel Casting | Engineering Details, Steel Tools, Casting Table | 150 Red, 20 Blue |
| Archer Tower III | Archer Tower III blueprint | 160 Red, 80 Green |
| Steel Weapons | Knight's Spear, Heavy Bow | 160 Red, 10 Blue |
| Steel Equipment | Steel Armor, Steel Sword | 160 Red, 10 Blue |
| Smithy II | Clay Molds, Iron Kit II, Smithy II blueprint | 160 Red, 20 Blue |
| Masterwork Equipment | Master Sword, Master Armor | 200 Red, 25 Blue |
| Lenses | Lens, Press blueprint | 175 Red, 20 Blue |
| Steel Works | Engineering Kit, Steel Tools, Grindstone | 175 Red, 20 Blue |
Where You Stand Now
The Metallurgy tree is essentially your progression ladder in Graveyard Keeper 2: unlock Bronze Works early for cheap, plan ahead for the Green- and Blue-point costs of mid-tier nodes, and save for the 200 Red + 25 Blue Masterwork Equipment capstone. Since barricades, archer towers, and the Zombie Carousel all hang off this tree, neglecting Metallurgy means staying on the defensive — unlocking it steadily is what lets you go on the offensive against the zombies.
FAQ
What are the tech point costs for the Metallurgy tree upgrades?
Costs increase through the tree: early nodes like Bronze Works cost only 10 Red points, mid-tier nodes add Green points (e.g., Barricade upgrades cost 60–150 Red plus 25–75 Green), and late-game nodes also require Blue points — such as Smithy: Hammer at 80 Red + 30 Blue and the capstone Masterwork Equipment at 200 Red + 25 Blue.
How does the progression flow through the Metallurgy tree?
It follows three tiers: the Bronze tier starts with Bronze Works (10 Red), unlocking Bronze Ingots, Bronze Nails, and Furnace I; the Iron tier pivots on Iron Forge (35 Red), leading to Iron Smithing (50 Red); and the Steel tier begins with Steel Smithing (120 Red, 15 Blue), which opens the endgame branch up to Masterwork Equipment.
Does Metallurgy unlock anything besides tools and weapons?
Yes. The tree also grants defensive structures like Barricade I–III blueprints (each with Standard, Spiked, and Fortified variants), military buildings such as Archer Tower I–III, the Zombie Carousel blueprint via the Zombie Gears node for zombie labor, and crafting stations including Smithy I, Smithy II, and their Hammer and Bellows variants.
What is the best endgame gear in the Metallurgy tree?
The capstone is Masterwork Equipment (200 Red, 25 Blue), which unlocks the Master Sword and Master Armor. Before that, the Steel tier offers Steel Armor and Sword (160 Red, 10 Blue) plus Steel tools like the Steel Pickaxe and Shovel (150 Red, 20 Blue).
What are the prerequisites for starting the Metallurgy tree?
Bronze technology requires the Firewood shed I as a prerequisite. From there, the Bronze tier begins with Bronze Works (10 Red), which unlocks the Wooden Anvil blueprint, Bronze Nails, Bronze Ingot, and the Furnace I blueprint.
TagsGraveyard Keeper 2MetallurgyResearch TreeCrafting GuideBronze to Steel
Comments (0)