Physics-Driven Survival Sandbox

Scrap Mechanic Wiki

Build vehicles and machines, explore a hostile farming planet, craft resources, defend against Farmbots, and discover everything coming in the 1.0 Drilling Thunder update.

Scrap Mechanic Resources

Everything you need to survive, build, craft, farm, fight, and mod Scrap Mechanic

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1.0 & Drilling Thunder

Scrap Mechanic 1.0 Release Date and Drilling Thunder

Scrap Mechanic leaves Early Access on July 24, 2026 with the free 1.0 Drilling Thunder update. Here is the official release timeline and every confirmed feature, from underground drilling and redesigned terrain to new bots, reworked raids, weapons, building parts, and graphical upgrades.

Jul 24, 2026

1.0 & Drilling Thunder Launch

Scrap Mechanic 1.0 and the Drilling Thunder update release together, ending Early Access with the complete Survival, Creative, and Challenge experience.

Free Update

Free for Every Owner

Drilling Thunder is a free update for everyone who already owns Scrap Mechanic on Steam, with no separate purchase required.

Full Release

End of Early Access

Survival, Creative, and Challenge modes move out of Early Access into the finished 1.0 build with the redesigned progression.

Underground Drilling

Drill into all-new underground layers packed with fresh resources, new mining threats, and deeper exploration routes.

Redesigned Terrain

Overhauled world generation and biomes change how Survival maps look and play across every new save.

New Enemy Bots

Face the flying Minerbot, explosive Red Totebot, jumping Yellow Totebot, and amphibious Blue Totebot.

Reworked Raids

Raids now start immediately when triggered, with smarter enemy pathing and improved difficulty scaling.

New Weapons & Parts

Expand your arsenal and toolbox with additional weapons and building parts for combat and engineering.

Graphical Upgrades

Visual and lighting improvements bring the farming planet up to a modern, polished look.

Getting Started

Scrap Mechanic Beginner Guide

Start Survival the right way. Follow the opening quests from finding the Master Battery to activating the crashed ship and building your first vehicle, while learning controls, inventory management, food, water, the Lift, and the Connection Tool.

1

Find the Master Battery

Search the starting crash site and nearby points of interest for the Master Battery, the key that powers your first vehicle and base.

2

Activate the Crashed Ship

Use the Master Battery on the crashed ship to reveal the Mechanic Station map marker and unlock your earliest crafting options.

3

Manage Controls, Food, and Water

Master movement, the Lift, and inventory management. Keep food and water stocked so low health and hunger never catch you off guard.

4

Learn the Lift and Connection Tool

Use the Lift to position parts and the Connection Tool to wire seats, engines, bearings, and switches into working machines.

5

Build Your First Vehicle

Assemble a simple stable car with a seat, engine, wheels, and bearings, then test it at low power before adding more moving parts.

6

Set Early Resource Priorities

Gather wood, stone, and metal first, then push toward a Mechanic Station and a Packing Station for steady progression.

Quick Tips

  • Always carry a Sledgehammer, your main tool for breaking blocks and harvesting resources.
  • Keep the Lift nearby when building; it makes placing and rotating parts much easier.
  • Store spare Master Batteries safely, because losing power can strand your vehicle far from base.
  • Water and food drain over time, so stock up before long exploration or farming trips.
World Map

Scrap Mechanic Survival Map and Locations

Navigate the Survival world with confidence. Learn where to find Mechanic Stations, Packing Stations, the Trader, warehouses, ruins, and resource biomes, plus a recommended exploration route and how generated worlds change in the 1.0 update.

Crafting Hub

Mechanic Station

A key early landmark that unlocks crafting benches and points you toward the next progression steps on the map.

Trade Post

Packing Station

Pack harvested crops into crates for sale, turning steady farming output into a reliable income stream.

Merchant

The Trader

A merchant who buys packed produce and sells useful supplies, seeds, and upgrades for your base.

High-Risk Loot

Warehouses

Large structures packed with loot, Component Kits, and dangerous Tapebots guarding every floor.

Exploration Site

Ruins

Scattered ruins hide resources, parts, and clues that make early exploration far more rewarding.

Gathering Zone

Resource Biomes

Forests, fields, mountains, and lakes each supply different wood, stone, metal, and food materials.

1.0 Addition

Underground Layers

Drilling Thunder adds drillable underground areas with fresh resources and new mining enemies below the surface.

Recommended Exploration Route

1Start at the crash site and grab the Master Battery
2Reach a Mechanic Station to unlock crafting
3Open the Packing Station and meet the Trader
4Push toward warehouses for Component Kits
Crafting Stations

Scrap Mechanic Crafting Recipes and Craftbots

Organize your crafting around the Scrap Mechanic family of stations. Learn what each Craftbot produces, which materials matter, how station upgrades unlock new recipes, and which Component Kit priorities keep your progression moving.

Portable Starter

Mini Craftbot

A compact early crafting bot that handles your first basic recipes before you reach a full station.

Core Station

Craftbot

The main crafting hub that turns raw resources and Component Kits into blocks, parts, and tools.

Refining

Refinebot

Processes raw mined and harvested materials into refined inputs used by other stations.

Cooking

Cookbot

Combines crops and ingredients into cooked food that restores more hunger than raw produce.

Cosmetics

Dressbot

Crafts clothing and cosmetic items so you can customize your character's look.

Component Kit Priorities

  • Upgrade the Craftbot first to unlock higher-tier recipes.
  • Prioritize Component Kits that unlock engines, bearings, and controllers.
  • Keep the Refinebot fed with a steady supply of raw material.
  • Build automated crafting chains once you have stable power and storage.
Engineering Blueprints

Scrap Mechanic Vehicles and Building Guide

Successful creations start with a rigid frame, correctly oriented bearings, and balanced weight. Use the Connection Tool to link seats, engines, controllers, switches, sensors, and powered joints, then test each system at low speed before increasing power or adding more moving parts.

Stable Starter Car

Exploration, early resource runs, and learning vehicle controls

Core Parts
Driver's SeatGas Engine or Electric EngineFour wheel bearingsFour wheelsWide chassisOptional suspension
Build Steps
  1. 1Build a wide rectangular chassis with the seat near its center.
  2. 2Mount the front wheels on steering bearings and the driven wheels on powered bearings.
  3. 3Connect the seat to the steering bearings and the engine to the powered wheel bearings.
  4. 4Use the Connection Tool arrows to correct wheels that rotate or steer the wrong way.
  5. 5Begin with low engine power and increase it after the car can accelerate without flipping.
Tuning

Keep heavy engines, batteries, and storage close to the floor. A longer wheelbase and wider track improve stability, while suspension helps maintain wheel contact on uneven terrain.

Failure Checks
  • Reversed bearing direction
  • Narrow chassis with a high center of mass
  • Too much engine power
  • Wheels rubbing against the frame
  • Steering bearings connected to the engine

Off-Road Cargo Hauler

Transporting crates, fuel, crops, and building materials

Core Parts
Reinforced chassisLarge wheelsSuspensionDriver's SeatEngineResource or storage containers
Build Steps
  1. 1Place the cargo area between the front and rear axles instead of behind the vehicle.
  2. 2Use suspension on all wheels and leave enough clearance for it to compress.
  3. 3Spread containers evenly across the chassis and secure loose cargo inside walls or rails.
  4. 4Power multiple wheels when the vehicle must climb hills or carry heavy loads.
Tuning

Test the hauler both empty and fully loaded. Reduce speed or widen the chassis when the vehicle becomes unstable after adding cargo.

Failure Checks
  • Cargo weight concentrated at the rear
  • Suspension blocked by surrounding parts
  • Insufficient ground clearance
  • Small wheels catching on terrain
  • Engine power too low for the loaded vehicle

Tree Harvester

Cutting trees and collecting wood more efficiently

Core Parts
Saw BladesPowered bearingsEngineLow front frameResource CollectorProtective cage
Build Steps
  1. 1Mount one or more Saw Blades on powered bearings at the front of a stable vehicle.
  2. 2Position the blades low enough to contact tree trunks without striking the ground.
  3. 3Protect the driver's seat and wheels from falling logs.
  4. 4Place a Resource Collector where refined wood pieces can be gathered.
  5. 5Approach trees slowly so the blades stay in contact instead of pushing the vehicle sideways.
Tuning

Use moderate rotation speed and a heavy, wide chassis. Fast blades on a light vehicle often cause bouncing, steering loss, or rollovers.

Failure Checks
  • Saw rotation reversed
  • Blades mounted too high
  • Vehicle too light for the cutting force
  • No protection from falling trees
  • Collector positioned outside the material path

Rock Mining Rig

Breaking stone formations and gathering metal-bearing resources

Core Parts
Drill headsElectric Engine or Gas EnginePowered bearingsPistonsResource CollectorHeavy low chassis
Build Steps
  1. 1Mount rotating drills on a reinforced front assembly.
  2. 2Use pistons when the drill needs controlled forward pressure or height adjustment.
  3. 3Connect drill bearings to an engine and piston controls to separate switches.
  4. 4Place a Resource Collector close to the broken resource pieces.
  5. 5Advance slowly and let the drill break the node instead of ramming it.
Tuning

A low-speed, high-control setup is easier to keep aligned. Counterweights or a wider rear section prevent the drill assembly from pulling the vehicle forward or sideways.

Failure Checks
  • Drills spinning away from the target
  • Pistons extending too quickly
  • Front assembly heavier than the rear
  • Collector blocked by drill parts
  • Chassis twisting under load

Vanilla Utility Boat

Crossing lakes and moving supplies between shorelines

Core Parts
Broad lightweight hullSeatThrusters or another water-safe propulsion systemSteering bearingsSwitchesRaised cargo platform
Build Steps
  1. 1Build a wide symmetrical hull and test whether it floats level before adding machinery.
  2. 2Place the seat, fuel, and cargo near the center of the hull.
  3. 3Mount propulsion evenly on both sides or along the centerline.
  4. 4Use steering bearings, independently controlled propulsion, or movable thrust to turn.
  5. 5Keep important controls and cargo above the normal waterline.
Tuning

Add weight in small amounts and retest after every change. Uneven equipment placement causes listing, while narrow hulls become unstable during sharp turns.

Failure Checks
  • Uneven left-to-right weight
  • Propulsion mounted off-center
  • Heavy cargo placed at one end
  • Hull too narrow
  • Moving parts touching the hull

Controller and Logic Machine

Doors, elevators, folding vehicles, walkers, traps, and automated production

Core Parts
ControllerBearingsPistonsLogic GatesTimers and SensorsButtons or switches
Build Steps
  1. 1Use a Controller to assign target angles and movement sequences to connected bearings.
  2. 2Use Pistons for straight extension, lifting, or clamping movements.
  3. 3Connect Sensors to detect players, bots, crops, or moving objects.
  4. 4Use Logic Gates to require multiple conditions or invert an input.
  5. 5Add Timers when actions must happen in a fixed order instead of simultaneously.
  6. 6Test one moving joint at a time before connecting the complete sequence.
Tuning

Slow controller speed and piston movement during testing. Leave clearance around every rotating or extending section and use separate switches for reset or emergency shutdown.

Failure Checks
  • Bearing rotation blocked by another part
  • Controller steps using the wrong rotation direction
  • Pistons exceeding available clearance
  • Logic loop repeatedly activating itself
  • Too many moving bodies colliding at once
Survival Farming

Scrap Mechanic Farming and Raid Defense

Place Soil Bags on suitable ground, plant one seed in each plot, and supply water until the crop matures. Fertilizer accelerates growth, while every planted crop adds to the farm's raid value under the current Survival system.

1. Start a Basic FarmSoil and planting

Place Soil Bags on flat ground, plant one seed per plot, and water each crop with a Water Bucket. Apply Fertilizer when faster growth matters more than conserving supplies.

Crops must be watered to progress. Fertilizer speeds growth but does not remove the need for water.

Raid Risk

Keep the first farm small while gathering building materials and weapons.

Defense Upgrade

Use terrain, a simple wall, and a clear escape path.

2. Low-Value CropsRedbeet, Carrot, and Tomato

Use these crops for early food, trading, and learning the raid system.

Redbeet: 1 crop value; Carrot: 1 crop value; Tomato: 1 crop value.

Raid Risk

Ten of these crops reach the current minimum total crop value required to trigger a raid.

Defense Upgrade

Build a perimeter that funnels bots toward one side of the farm.

3. Utility and Mid-Value CropsPotato, Cotton, Banana, Blueberry, and Orange

Grow Potatoes for Spudgun ammunition, Cotton for crafting, and fruit for food or produce trading.

Potato: 1.5 crop value; Cotton: 1.5; Banana: 2; Blueberry: 2; Orange: 2.

Raid Risk

A smaller number of these crops can trigger the same raid threshold as a larger basic farm.

Defense Upgrade

Upgrade vulnerable walls and add elevated firing positions.

4. High-Value CropsBroccoli and Pineapple

Use these late-game crops for advanced food and trading after obtaining their seeds through warehouse progression.

Broccoli: 3 crop value; Pineapple: 3 crop value. Both count as high-value crops in the current raid system.

Raid Risk

Large high-value farms can introduce Tapebots and Farmbots into advanced raids.

Defense Upgrade

Use strong materials, protected firing lanes, and multiple fallback barriers.

5. Current Raid TriggerUnauthorized farming

Check the raid warning before leaving the farm and finish repairs before the attack begins.

A raid is triggered when the local crop total reaches at least 10. The raid level is calculated when farming is detected, so harvesting crops afterward does not cancel the scheduled attack.

Raid Risk

Farming on consecutive days increases raid intensity. Breaking the streak lets the escalation reset.

Defense Upgrade

Keep spare blocks, ammunition, food, and a bed away from the outer wall.

6. Automated WateringWater Container, Vacuum Pump, and Water Cannon

Collect water into a Water Container and use mechanically aimed Water Cannons to cover rows of crops.

Controllers, bearings, or pistons can move a Water Cannon across several rows. Timers and Logic Gates can coordinate repeated watering cycles.

Raid Risk

Automation makes larger farms practical, but larger planted areas create stronger raids.

Defense Upgrade

Protect pumps, containers, controllers, and exposed pipes behind the main wall.

7. Mechanical DefenseWalls, traps, and gun platforms

Create narrow entrances that force bots into predictable paths. Use rotating blades, crushers, traps, or mechanically aimed Spudguns to support manual combat.

Bots attack crops and structures, so defense systems should sit outside the crop area with enough clearance to move.

Raid Risk

Complex traps can jam when bot bodies, loose blocks, or damaged parts enter the mechanism.

Defense Upgrade

Add a manual override and keep a clear firing line from inside the base.

8. Version 1.0 Farming and RaidsUV Grow Beds and redesigned attacks

Use electricity-powered UV Grow Beds to farm underground or on moving creations, then protect them as carefully as outdoor crops.

The redesigned raid system starts attacks immediately after they are triggered, improves difficulty scaling, and gives enemies smarter path selection. Newer bot variants can also appear.

Raid Risk

Old defenses built around waiting until midnight or exploiting weak pathfinding require redesigning.

Defense Upgrade

Create several defended routes, protect crops on all sides, and prepare weapons for melee, ranged, explosive, and flying bots.

Enemy Database

Scrap Mechanic Bots and Combat Guide

Do not fight every bot the same way. Melee bots can be separated and kited, Tapebots demand cover, Farmbots should be attacked from range, and the 1.0 variants introduce jumping, underwater, explosive, slowing, and flying threats.

Green Totebot

Current Survival enemy

Attack: Short-range melee strike

Found In

FieldsRoadsRuinsEarly raids

Drops

Circuit BoardOccasional decorative Totebot Head

Best Weapons

Sledgehammer, Any Spudgun

Strategy

Let the Totebot approach, step away from its swing, and counter with the Sledgehammer. Avoid letting several Totebots surround you.

Haybot

Current Survival enemy

Attack: Pitchfork poke and heavier melee swing

Found In

MeadowsFieldsRuinsFarming raids

Drops

Scrap MetalPossible Circuit BoardPossible Component Kit

Best Weapons

Sledgehammer for isolated targets, Spudgun for groups

Strategy

Walk backward while attacking and separate Haybots before committing to melee. Use water, terrain, or obstacles to interrupt groups and create room.

Blue and Red Tapebots

Current Survival enemies

Attack: Rapid tape projectiles or slower explosive projectiles

Found In

Warehouse exteriorsWarehouse floorsAdvanced raids

Drops

Possible BatteryPossible Component Kit

Best Weapons

Spudgun, Spud Shotgun, Spudling Gun

Strategy

Fight from cover and expose only enough of your position to fire. Never rush through warehouse tape without checking the room, and move away from Red Tapebot explosive shots.

Farmbot

Current Survival heavy enemy

Attack: Scythe attacks, kicks, and pesticide-based area damage

Found In

Open-world patrol areasWarehouse surroundingsHigh-level farming raids

Drops

Warehouse Key in current SurvivalComponent KitsCircuit Boards

Best Weapons

Spudgun, Spud Shotgun, Spudling Gun

Strategy

Maintain range and use large obstacles to block charges. Do not stay inside pesticide clouds or attempt extended Sledgehammer combat against a healthy Farmbot.

Minerbot

Version 1.0 enemy

Attack: Flying rock spray followed by a dangerous crash when destroyed

Found In

Underground minesUnderground stationsLarge groups in open caverns

Drops

No unique loot listed in the official bot reveal

Best Weapons

Spudgun, Rapid ranged fire

Strategy

Keep moving while tracking the bot in the air. Shoot from an angle that prevents the damaged Minerbot from crashing directly onto you.

Yellow Totebot

Version 1.0 enemy

Attack: Jumping stomp that can smash through floors and ceilings

Found In

Multilevel basesRoofsRaised crop platformsRedesigned raids

Drops

No unique loot listed in the official bot reveal

Best Weapons

Spudgun, Spud Shotgun

Strategy

Do not rely on a single floor or low roof for protection. Move sideways when it jumps and keep important controls away from exposed ceilings.

Blue Totebot

Version 1.0 enemy

Attack: Fast underwater torpedo attack and rapid pursuit on land

Found In

LakesShorelinesWater basesAmphibious routes

Drops

No unique loot listed in the official bot reveal

Best Weapons

Spudgun, Fast vehicle escape

Strategy

Do not assume water is a safe retreat. Leave the water quickly, gain distance, and fight from stable ground where its approach is easier to track.

Red Totebot

Version 1.0 enemy

Attack: Explosive suicide charge that can ignite nearby material

Found In

Mine-related areasSurface encountersRaid groupsFlammable bases

Drops

No unique loot listed in the official bot reveal

Best Weapons

Spudgun, Long-range explosives

Strategy

Shoot it before it reaches walls, vehicles, or crops. Separate it from other bots so its explosion damages enemies instead of opening a path into your base.

Green and Yellow Tapebots

Version 1.0 enemy variants

Attack: Weaponized bubble plastic or damaging ink that slows movement

Found In

New facilitiesStorage-themed areasRedesigned raidsGroups covering several angles

Drops

No unique loot listed in the official bot reveal

Best Weapons

Spudgun, Cornade against clustered bots

Strategy

Prioritize Yellow Tapebots before their slowing ink limits your movement. Green Tapebots are less threatening alone but become dangerous when several continuously pressure the same position.

Trashbot

Updated Version 1.0 enemy

Attack: Heavy aggressive combat behavior

Found In

Expanded Survival locationsConfined industrial areasLate-game encounters

Drops

No unique loot listed in the latest official update

Best Weapons

Spudling Gun, Spud Shotgun, Cornade

Strategy

Use space, cover, and sustained ranged damage. Avoid entering a confined room without a retreat route or enough ammunition to finish the encounter.

Workshop and Modding

Scrap Mechanic Mods and Steam Workshop

Steam Workshop content is installed by subscribing to an item while signed into Steam. Scrap Mechanic supports ordinary blueprints, Blocks and Parts mods, custom Creative worlds, and complete Custom Games with their own scripts, tools, enemies, terrain, and progression.

Workshop Blueprints

Player-built creations

Vehicles, machines, buildings, logic systems, and decorative creations saved by other players.

Installation
  1. 1Open the Scrap Mechanic Steam Workshop.
  2. 2Select a blueprint and press Subscribe.
  3. 3Launch the game after Steam finishes downloading the item.
  4. 4Open the Lift's creation browser in a mode that supports blueprint loading.
  5. 5Choose the subscribed creation and place it on the Lift.

A blueprint that uses modded blocks requires every listed Blocks and Parts dependency.

Check the blueprint's size and required mods before loading it into an important world. Very large or highly complex creations can reduce performance.

Blocks and Parts Mods

Building content

New blocks, engines, wheels, interactive parts, logic components, tools, weapons, effects, and decorative pieces.

Installation
  1. 1Subscribe to the main mod and every dependency shown on its Workshop page.
  2. 2Enable the required mods when creating or loading a compatible modded world.
  3. 3Restart the game when newly subscribed content does not appear immediately.

Multiplayer participants must have access to the same enabled content. Removing a required mod can leave missing parts or stop a creation from loading correctly.

Keep a list of required mods for long-term worlds and avoid unsubscribing from dependencies while those worlds still use their parts.

Custom Worlds

Creative environments

Community-built terrain, roads, structures, tiles, challenges, and exploration spaces.

Installation
  1. 1Subscribe to the world through the Workshop's Worlds category.
  2. 2Open the game's world or Creative selection screen.
  3. 3Select the subscribed custom world and review its required mods.
  4. 4Create a separate save for the first test.

Custom Worlds can depend on terrain assets, Blocks and Parts mods, or additional Workshop packages.

Do not overwrite an established save when testing a newly downloaded world. Keep the original world and test copy separate.

Custom Games

Complete game modes

Modded Survival experiences or standalone games with custom scripts, quests, tools, enemies, terrain, and rules.

Installation
  1. 1Subscribe to the Custom Game and its dependencies.
  2. 2Open the Game Mode selection screen.
  3. 3Select Custom Games in the upper-right area.
  4. 4Choose the downloaded game and create a new save.

The host selects the Custom Game and controls the session. All players should finish downloading the same dependencies before joining.

Use a dedicated save for each Custom Game because its scripts, inventory, and world rules may not match standard Survival or Creative mode.

Multiplayer Mod Setup

Co-op compatibility

Shared access to modded worlds, creations, and complete Custom Games.

Installation
  1. 1Let the host choose the world and enabled mod set.
  2. 2Share the Workshop collection or dependency list with every player.
  3. 3Wait for Steam to finish all downloads before joining.
  4. 4Restart Steam or Scrap Mechanic when a dependency remains unavailable.

Different mod versions, missing dependencies, or removed Workshop items can prevent joining or cause missing content.

Do not change the enabled mod list during an active campaign unless the mod author provides migration instructions.

Save and Update Safety

World protection

A safer process for testing updates, experimental branches, and large mod collections.

Installation
  1. 1Close Scrap Mechanic before copying save files.
  2. 2Back up the Scrap Mechanic user save directory before major game or mod updates.
  3. 3Test updated content in a copied world.
  4. 4Keep stable-version and test-branch saves separate.

Content created with a newer Mod Tool, test branch, or incompatible game version may not load in an older version.

Never open an important stable save on an experimental branch without a backup. Windows saves and automatic backups are stored under the Scrap Mechanic folder inside AppData/Roaming/Axolot Games.

Creating Lua-Powered Mods

Mod development

Custom parts, tools, weapons, NPCs, projectiles, melee attacks, harvestables, effects, game logic, worlds, and procedural terrain.

Installation
  1. 1Install and open the official Scrap Mechanic Mod Tool through Steam.
  2. 2Create the appropriate Blocks and Parts, World, or Custom Game project.
  3. 3Define content through JSON files and use Lua scripts for behavior.
  4. 4Start Scrap Mechanic with the -dev launch option while scripting to access the debug console and script hot reload.
  5. 5Test client and server behavior before publishing the project to Workshop.

Scrap Mechanic uses Lua 5.1 and separates server-side simulation from client-side visuals, audio, and input. Workshop dependencies can be declared through the Mod Tool.

Use unique identifiers, validate JSON, avoid unrestricted assumptions about client access, and test multiplayer networking before releasing an update.