Steel is one of the most critical resources in Frostpunk, and players are often struggling with steel shortages. Managing steel effectively can be the difference between a thriving city and a crumbling one.
One of the most effective strategies for managing resources in Frostpunk is to focus on steel production early on. Your steel output will determine the flow of the game. Here is the steel output by difficulty:
| Easy | Normal | Hard | Extreme | |
| Steel Pile (The Last Autumn) | 17.25 | 15 | 12.75 | 11.25 |
| Gathering Post (The Last Autumn) | 34.5 | 30 | 25.5 | 22.5 |
| Steel Wreckage | 46 | 40 | 34 | 30 |
| Steelworks | 46 | 40 | 34 | 30 |
| Mixed Crews (On The Edge) | 47 | 40 | 35 | 32 |
| Gathering Post | 57.5 | 50 | 42.5 | 37.5 |
| Reloading Station (The Last Autumn) | 57.5 | 50 | 42.5 | 37.5 |
| Steam Steelworks | 80.5 | 70 | 59.5 | 52.5 |
| Basic Docks (The Last Autumn) | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Steam Reloading Station (The Last Autumn) | 92 | 80 | 68 | 60 |
| Army Warehouse (On The Edge) | 93 | 80 | 70 | 64 |
| Advanced Reloading Station (The Last Autumn) | 138 | 120 | 102 | 90 |
| Advanced Steelworks | 149.5 | 130 | 110.5 | 97.5 |
| Upgraded Docks (The Last Autumn) | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 |
| Advanced Docks (The Last Autumn) | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
How to Get More Steel in Frostpunk
To get more steel in Frostpunk, start by researching and constructing Steelworks in Workshop. Once you have Steelworks up and running, prioritize upgrading to Steam and Advanced Steelworks. To maximize efficiency, employ Automatons to work in these facilities around the clock.
This guide will provide you with more strategies to optimize your steel production and keep your city running smoothly.
Build Steelworks
Due to the steel shortage, players are experiencing significant delays in research progress, sometimes waiting for hours or even days. Build multiple workshops to boost the research ASAP.
Early Game
The first thing you should do is prioritize researching and building a Steelworks facility. This should be one of the first buildings you construct after setting up your Workshop for research. Steelworks will provide a steady supply of steel throughout the game, which is essential for both construction and research.
Mid to Late Game
As you progress, upgrade your Steelworks to Steam Steelworks and Advanced Steelworks. These upgrades will significantly increase your steel output, allowing you to meet the growing demands of your city.
Here's a table on how much steel production you can get from upgrading Steelworks:
| Steelworks | Steam Steelworks | Advanced Steelworks | |
| Steel Production | 40 per day | 70 per day | 130 per day |
| Base Heating Level | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Cost (Wood) | 25 | 40 | 80 |
| Cost (Steel) | N/A | 15 | 40 |
| Dismantle Value (Wood) | N/A | N/A | 60 |
| Dismantle Value (Steel) | N/A | N/A | 30 |
Work Shift Management
You can manage the work shifts of the Steelworks to maximize its efficiency and implementing extended work hours for your steel facilities can provide a significant boost to your steel production.
| Work Shift Type | Work Duration | Steel Productivity | Law Consequence |
| Normal Shift | 8 Hours | Minimal | Less productivity |
| Extended Shift | 14 Hours | Increased | Moderate discontent |
| Emergency Shift | 24 Hours (One-time) | Immediate | High discontent, low risk of death |
| 24 Hours Shift | 24 Hours (Continuous) | Maximum | Extremely high discontent, high risk of death |
You have the option to run the building during different shifts – regular shift (8:00-18:00), extended shift (6:00-10:00), or emergency shift (24 hours). Each shift has its advantages and drawbacks, so choose the one that best fits your overall strategy and resource management.
Regular shifts give insufficient production rate and emergency shifts will result in overexcessive discontent. Extended shift is the most optimal way to progress Frostpunk.
Frostland Exploration & Outpost
Scouting for Steel
If you're in dire need, use your scouts to search for steel deposits in Frostland. Bring found steels back without stopping by other locations. While this is not a sustainable solution, it can provide a quick fix to steel shortage problems.
Find the Steel Outpost
There is a steel outpost located at the "Icebound Dreadnought" on the Frostland map. Sending an expedition there will allow you to set up an outpost that provides a steady supply of steel.
Discovering Automatons
If your scouts found an Automaton in the frostland, send them home to replace your workers to gather steel in your steelworks. They can work 24 hours a day, ensuring a constant flow of steel production.
Automatons Optimization
Initial Steel Investment
Automatons cost 50 coal, 100 wood, 100 steel, and 1 steam core. Automatons may seem like a hefty investment initially, as they require steam cores and a considerable amount of steel. However, their ability to work 24/7 makes them worth it in the long run.
Reduce Steel Cost
Research technologies like "Streamlined Automatons" to reduce the steel cost of building new Automatons. This will allow you to deploy more of them in your steel production facilities.
Steel Production Efficiency Upgrade
When you first acquire Automatons, their efficiency to produce steel is 60%. This means that an Automaton will produce steel slightly less than a group of humans working a 14-hour shift. However, this efficiency level can be significantly enhanced by upgrading Automatons from 60% to 100%.
Laws & Adaptations
Laws like "Child Labour - All Jobs" can provide an immediate boost to your workforce, allowing you to allocate children to work in steelworks. However, this comes at the cost of decreased hope and increased discontent.
Laws such as "Extended Shift" and "Engineer Apprentices" can significantly boost the steel productivity of your steelworks.
The Foreman ability, available through the "Foreman" law, can temporarily increase the efficiency of a workplace. Use this ability whenever it's off cooldown to maximize steel production.
Below is a list of laws with their good and bad that can have an impact on your steel production:
| Law | Steel Production Advantages |
| Child Labour | Increases workforce: Allows children to gather steel |
| Safe Jobs | Allows children to work in Steelworks |
| Extended Shift | Boosts 4 hours of steel productivity |
| Emergency Shift | Increase steel output productivity to 24 hours |
| Foreman | Temporarily boosts steel output efficiency |
| Agitator | Boosts Steelworks efficiency |
Resource Management
House Redesign to Reduce Steel Cost
Before upgrading your tents to houses, research the "House Redesign" technology. This will reduce the steel cost of houses, allowing you to save steel for other essential buildings and technologies.
Temporary Hold Steel
Use Resource Depot to temporarily store steel. Place them and pause the building, then cancel when you need the steel back.
Emergency Measures
Dismantling Buildings to Get Steel
As a last resort, you can dismantle non-essential buildings to reclaim some steel. Be careful with this strategy, as it can lead to other problems like homelessness and discontent.
Conclusion
Managing steel in Frostpunk is a challenging but rewarding experience. By prioritizing Steelworks, making effective use of Automatons, and implementing various strategies like extended hours and outposts, you can ensure a steady and robust steel supply for your city. A city well-stocked with steel is a city that can face most challenges in Frostpunk.