Children of the Sun
Children of the Sun

Crafting and Upgrading Systems — Children of the Sun Guide

Learn to craft and upgrade weapons and gear in Children of the Sun. Enhance your tools to gain tactical advantages against the relentless Cult of the Sun.

Crafting and Upgrading Systems

In Children of the Sun, mastering the art of crafting and upgrading your gear is paramount to surviving the relentless onslaught of the Cult. This system allows you to enhance your weapons, armor, and even your specialized tools, granting crucial advantages in combat and exploration. Unlike many games, Children of the Sun focuses on a streamlined, impactful upgrade path rather than an overly complex one, ensuring every decision matters.

Crafting and Upgrading Systems - Children of the Sun screenshot
Crafting and Upgrading Systems

The Workbench: Your Hub for Enhancements

All crafting and upgrading takes place at a Workbench. These can be found in safe zones, such as the Sanctuary Outpost in the starting region, or strategically placed throughout more dangerous areas, often requiring you to clear out Cultist patrols first. Interact with a Workbench to access the crafting menu.

Crafting Basic Supplies

Early in your journey, you'll primarily use the Workbench to craft essential consumables. These are vital for sustained operations in hostile territory.

  • Health Syringes: Requires 2x Scrap Metal and 1x Herbal Extract. Scrap Metal is common from defeated Cultists and environmental containers. Herbal Extract is found in forested areas, particularly around the Whispering Woods.
  • Adrenaline Boosters: Requires 3x Scrap Metal and 1x Chemical Agent. Chemical Agents are rarer, often found in abandoned labs or industrial zones like the Corrupted Refinery.
  • Explosive Charges: Requires 5x Scrap Metal and 2x Gunpowder. Gunpowder is a high-tier component, usually looted from elite Cultist units or found in weapon caches.

Weapon Upgrades: Precision and Power

Upgrading your weapons significantly boosts their damage, accuracy, and often unlocks new capabilities. Each weapon has a unique upgrade path.

The "Vigilante" Pistol

Your starting sidearm, the Vigilante, can be upgraded twice.

  1. Enhanced Barrel (Tier 1): Increases damage by 15%. Requires 5x Scrap Metal and 2x Refined Components. Refined Components are found in toolboxes and from dismantling higher-tier enemy weapons.
  2. Precision Sight (Tier 2): Increases critical hit chance by 10% and reduces recoil. Requires 8x Scrap Metal, 3x Refined Components, and 1x Optical Lens. Optical Lenses are rare drops from Cultist Snipers or found in observation posts in the Overlook Peaks.

The "Harbinger" Crossbow

The Harbinger is excellent for stealth and long-range takedowns. Its upgrades focus on stealth and utility.

  1. Reinforced Limbs (Tier 1): Increases projectile velocity and reduces draw time. Requires 7x Scrap Metal and 3x Durable Wood. Durable Wood is harvested from ancient trees in the Forgotten Grove.
  2. Silent String (Tier 2): Significantly reduces the sound signature of fired bolts, making stealth kills easier. Requires 10x Scrap Metal, 5x Durable Wood, and 1x Synthetic Fiber. Synthetic Fiber is a rare material, sometimes found in Cultist research facilities or from dismantling specialized Cultist equipment.

Armor Upgrades: Resilience and Mobility

Armor upgrades are crucial for mitigating incoming damage and enhancing your survivability. Focus on upgrading pieces that align with your playstyle.

"Scavenger" Vest

Your initial armor piece, offering basic protection.

  1. Reinforced Plating (Tier 1): Increases damage resistance by 10%. Requires 6x Scrap Metal and 2x Ballistic Weave. Ballistic Weave is often found on heavier Cultist units or in military caches.
  2. Utility Pouches (Tier 2): Increases inventory capacity for consumables by 2 slots. Requires 9x Scrap Metal, 4x Ballistic Weave, and 1x Heavy Duty Stitching. Heavy Duty Stitching can be found in tailor shops or from dismantling specialized Cultist uniforms.

Specialized Tool Enhancements: Expanding Your Capabilities

Beyond weapons and armor, your specialized tools can also be upgraded, unlocking new traversal options or combat advantages.

The "Grappling Hook"

An indispensable tool for vertical traversal.

  1. Extended Cable (Tier 1): Increases grappling hook range by 20%. Requires 8x Scrap Metal and 3x High-Tensile Wire. High-Tensile Wire is found in construction sites or from dismantling communication arrays.
  2. Magnetic Grip (Tier 2): Allows for temporary adherence to metallic surfaces after grappling, opening new tactical positions. Requires 12x Scrap Metal, 5x High-Tensile Wire, and 1x Rare Earth Magnet. Rare Earth Magnets are extremely rare, often found in advanced Cultist laboratories or as rewards for completing challenging side quests.

Dismantling for Resources

Don't forget the option to Dismantle unwanted or redundant gear at a Workbench. This provides a portion of the resources used to craft or upgrade that item, allowing you to reallocate materials as your needs change. For example, dismantling a low-tier Cultist SMG might yield 2-3x Scrap Metal and 1x Refined Component, which can then be used to upgrade your preferred weapon.