Research Tree
Mechanics Guide — Remnants: Post-Collapse Idle Survival
The Research panel is where Tech Points become permanent unlocks. 19 research nodes span early through late game — each one unlocks buildings, boosts production, or opens the next tier of the tree. Tech Points are generated passively by population; spending them is irreversible.
Key rule: Research that unlocks new panels or buildings beats flat % bonuses early on. Access to new systems compounds faster than marginal multipliers.
Recommended Unlock Order
1
Efficient Smelting
Scrap ×1.5 + unlocks Blast Smelter. Completing any research also unlocks Diplomacy panel.
2
Field Medicine
Unlocks Field Hospital + pop growth ×1.3. Population is your limiting factor — fix it early.
3
Solar Technology
Unlocks Solar Array (90/s power). Power supply is the next wall after food/water.
4
Hydraulics Engineering
Unlocks Aqueduct + water ×1.35. Required for late population scaling.
5
Industrial Automation
All production ×1.2 + tech gen +0.8/s. Gates Advanced Engineering. Prereq: Efficient Smelting.
6
Advanced Engineering
Unlocks Wind Farm + Nano Fab + click ×3 + tech gen +2/s. Prereq: Industrial Automation.
7
Diplomacy Protocols
Unlocks Embassy + Influence ×1.5. Required for Faction Treaties and City Planning.
8
Bio Cultivation
Unlocks Protein Plant + food ×1.3. Food becomes the bottleneck again at high pop. Prereq: Field Medicine.
9
Population Resilience
Pop growth +30% + food/water consumption −15%. Stacks with Field Medicine. Prereq: Field Medicine.
10
Deep Salvage Theory
Scrap production +25%. Good value if scrap is your bottleneck. Prereq: Industrial Automation.
11
Quantum Logistics
All building costs −10% + all production +10%. Prereqs: Advanced Engineering + Industrial Automation.
12
Fusion Theory
Unlocks Fusion Prototype + all production +15%. Prereq: Advanced Engineering. Requires massive tech/scrap/power.
13
City Planning
Required to found the New City (endgame condition). Prereqs: Advanced Engineering + Diplomacy Protocols + Fusion Theory.
14
Echo Theory
Echo Fragments +4/run + Echo cap 200%→300%. Requires Fusion Theory + at least 1 prestige run. Now available mid-endgame, before founding the New City.
15
Scavenge Doctrine
Scrap production +25% (boosts scavenge loot, which scales with production). Prereq: Deep Salvage Theory.
16
Fortification Protocol
Walls start every raid at 110% HP. Strong if you're running 2+ Perimeter Walls. Prereq: Industrial Automation.
17
Communal Gardens
Food +15% × shelter level at purchase. Buy at level 4–5 for maximum impact. Prereq: Bio Cultivation.
18
Signal Intelligence
Infiltrator resource drain −20%. Good quality-of-life pick once defense events are common. Prereq: Diplomacy Protocols.
19
Emergency Reserves
Brownout production penalty reduced by 15%. Essential if your power balance is tight. Prereq: Hydraulics Engineering.
Full Research Reference
| Research | Cost | Effect | Prereqs | Unlock Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficient Smelting Early | 82 Tech | Scrap production ×1.5. Unlocks Blast Smelter. First research also unlocks Diplomacy panel. | None | Total scrap ≥ 8,000 |
| Solar Technology Early | 165 Tech + 40k Scrap | Unlocks Solar Array (90 power/s). | None | 3× Diesel Generator |
| Field Medicine Early | 110 Tech + 5k Food | Unlocks Field Hospital. Population growth ×1.3. | None | Population ≥ 8 |
| Bio Cultivation Mid | 308 Tech + 30k Food | Unlocks Protein Plant. Food production ×1.3. | Field Medicine | 6× Greenhouse |
| Hydraulics Engineering Mid | 352 Tech + 100k Scrap | Unlocks Aqueduct Network. Water production ×1.35. | None | 3× Water Purifier |
| Population Resilience Mid | 440 Tech | Population growth +30%. Food and water consumption −15%. | Field Medicine | Field Medicine researched |
| Industrial Automation Mid | 440 Tech + 2k Power + 300k Scrap | All production ×1.2. Tech generation +0.8/s. Unlocks Arcology. | Efficient Smelting | 4× Diesel Generator |
| Deep Salvage Theory Mid | 330 Tech | All scrap production +25%. | Industrial Automation | Industrial Automation researched |
| Diplomacy Protocols Mid | 715 Tech + 60 Influence | Unlocks Embassy. Influence ×1.5. | None | Influence ≥ 25 |
| Advanced Engineering Mid | 605 Tech + 900k Scrap | Unlocks Wind Farm + Nano Fabricator. Click value ×3. Tech gen +2/s. | Industrial Automation | 3× Solar Array |
| Quantum Logistics Mid | 660 Tech | All building costs −10%. All production +10%. | Advanced Engineering + Industrial Automation | Both prereqs researched |
| Fusion Theory Late | 1,650 Tech + 2M Scrap + 15k Power | Unlocks Fusion Prototype. All production +15% permanently. | Advanced Engineering | 3× Wind Farm |
| City Planning Late | 1,100 Tech + 2.5M Scrap + 200 Influence | Required for the New City endgame. Unlocks Ambassador programs and higher influence caps. | Advanced Engineering + Diplomacy Protocols + Fusion Theory | Influence ≥ 100 + Fusion Theory |
| Echo Theory Late | 1,320 Tech | Echo Fragments per run +4. Echo bonus cap 200%→300%. Each Fragment grants +1% production; this research raises the cap from 200 to 300 contributing Fragments. | Fusion Theory | Fusion Theory + at least 1 prestige run |
| Scavenge Doctrine Mid | 480 Tech | Scrap production +25%. Because scavenge loot scales with current scrap rate, this also boosts scavenge run hauls. | Deep Salvage Theory | Deep Salvage Theory researched |
| Fortification Protocol Mid | 540 Tech + 400k Scrap | All walls start each raid at 110% max HP — giving a meaningful buffer before the first breach. | Industrial Automation | Industrial Automation + 2× Perimeter Wall |
| Communal Gardens Mid | 620 Tech + 80k Food | Food production +15% per shelter level at the time of purchase. Buy later for a larger bonus. | Bio Cultivation | Bio Cultivation + shelter level ≥ 2 |
| Signal Intelligence Mid | 700 Tech + 80 Influence | Infiltrator resource drain reduced by 20%. | Diplomacy Protocols | Diplomacy Protocols + Defense panel unlocked |
| Emergency Reserves Mid | 580 Tech + 250k Scrap | During brownout or blackout, the production penalty is reduced by 15% (raises effective brownout multiplier toward 1.0). | Hydraulics Engineering | Hydraulics Engineering researched |