How to Get Started in Scrap Mechanic Survival
The exact sequence of actions new players should take from the crash site to the first warehouse.
Your first 10 minutes after crashing
You wake up beside your burning ship. Most new players run straight toward the wreckage to grab the battery — that is correct, but you should also check the pond near the ship. There are always a few empty buckets you can fill with water, and water buckets are an early-game weapon against Haybots.
Once the battery is back at the ship, the game unlocks the road system. Follow the road away from the crash site and you will find the Mechanic Station — a large building with a glowing wrench sign. Inside is your Dispenserbot, which lets you place a Craftbot, Refinery Bot, Cook Bot and Dress Bot.
Build your first vehicle within the first hour
Walking back and forth between the station and resource nodes is the slowest way to die. Spend your first scrap wood and metal on a basic tractor:
- Place a seat from the Craftbot (Driver Seat block).
- Add a battery directly behind the seat.
- Attach four small wheels.
- Test it on flat ground before adding anything else.
This bare vehicle is enough to haul wood and metal between the Mechanic Station and nearby wrecks. Once you have a few stacks of refined metal, upgrade to bearings and gas engines.
Stabilise food before expanding
Do not plant a 6x6 farm on day one. Use the mini-farming pattern instead — place single soil bags at least 64 blocks apart. This keeps each crop in its own grid cell, so Farmbots will not detect you even after a few in-game days.
Cook everything you harvest. Cooked Pineapple or Broccoli restores more hunger than raw food and refills thirst on top.
Your first trader run
Once you have 30 produce of any kind, walk to the closest trader hideout. Trade for a Spud Gun the first chance you get — the Spud Gun is the only weapon in the early game that can consistently down a Farmbot at range. From that moment on, you can farm Warehouse Keys and unlock the rest of the chapter.
Where to go next
- Read the farming and raids guide to set up your first defended plot.
- Skim the bots and combat page so you know which bot counters which weapon.
- Plan your late-game build with the controllers and sensors overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Should I play Survival or Creative first?
Creative first is a great way to learn the build system without resource pressure, but many survival mechanics are gated behind story progression so playing both is recommended.
What should I do before nightfall on day one?
Get a vehicle, fill several water buckets, and wall off the area around the Mechanic Station. Day-one raids are easy to repel if you funnel bots into a narrow choke.
How do I unlock the underground biomes?
You unlock Drilling Thunder's underground areas by completing the first set of Mechanic Station quests introduced in 1.0. Most players reach the underground by hour three of their first run.