How to Get a Spud Gun
From your first crate to a fully upgraded Spud Launcher family.
Why the Spud Gun is worth the effort
The Spud Gun is the only ranged weapon in early Scrap Mechanic that can reliably drop a Farmbot from a safe distance. Until you own one, your only options are melee weapons and the farm itself, which means you cannot clear warehouses or survive late-game raids. This guide walks through the trade that unlocks the Spud Gun and the upgrade path that follows.
What you need before trading
- 10 Produce Crates. Any combination of orange crates (carrots, beets) and blueberry crates counts. Higher-tier crates work but are overkill for the first trade.
- 1 Caged Farmer. Found at campsites, transported by cart or by hand.
- Storage space. The trade dialog consumes all of the above from your inventory.
If you do not have a Caged Farmer yet, drive along every road in your world until you find a campsite. Each campsite has a 50% chance of containing a caged farmer in the 1.0 patch.
How to find the Trader
The Trader operates out of a hideout, marked by a small flag icon on the in-game compass. The hideout is always near a road, usually within 200 blocks of the Mechanic Station. The 1.0 patch added a Trader fast-travel waypoint after the first quest, so check your compass.
The trade, step by step
- Drive your crate cart to the Trader hideout.
- Unload the crates by pressing the unload button.
- Walk up to the Trader NPC and interact with them.
- Select the Spud Gun recipe from the trade menu.
- Confirm the trade. The Spud Gun appears in your inventory.
If the recipe is greyed out, you are missing a Caged Farmer or one of the crate types. Check your inventory and try again.
The Spud Gun upgrade path
Once you own a Spud Gun, you can trade up:
| Weapon | Cost | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Spud Gun | 10 produce crates + 1 farmer | First ranged weapon |
| Spud Shotgun | Red Berry crates + 2 farmers | Indoor defence |
| Spudling Gun | Pineapple crates + 3 farmers | Boss adds |
| Spud Launcher | Crate of every crop + 4 farmers | Splash damage, fire |
For the full upgrade ladder and a comparison with the 1.0 additions, see trading and Spud Guns.
Common mistakes
- Trading away your last Caged Farmer. Keep at least one in reserve for emergencies.
- Leaving the Trader without checking the new recipes. The 1.0 patch added bulk exchanges and crate recycling that are easy to miss.
- Forgetting to equip the Spud Gun. It is added to your inventory, not your hotbar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Can I trade for multiple Spud Guns?
Yes. The recipe is repeatable as long as you have the crates and farmers. Most players own at least three by mid-game.
Does the Spud Gun use ammo?
It uses potatoes as ammo. Potatoes are craftable from a single Potato crate. The Spud Shotgun and Spudling Gun use the same ammo.
What if I lose the Spud Gun?
Respawn with it — it persists in your inventory. If you drop it on death, retrieve it from your corpse within 5 minutes.