Sawmills Explained

Learn how to unlock, research, and build Sawmills in Frostpunk 2. Decide between Untreated and Mechanized Sawmills to boost your Material production and city growth.

Alright, let's talk about getting more Materials in Frostpunk 2, specifically with Sawmills. These are super important for building pretty much everything, so understanding them is key.

First off, you won't just find Sawmills lying around. You need to unlock them through the Idea Tree. Just hit that button (it looks like a lightbulb, usually down in the bottom right, next to the district building button) and head over to the 'Resources' section. You'll see options for 'Untreated Sawmills' and 'Mechanized Sawmills'.

Untreated or Mechanized Sawmills?

This is a classic Frostpunk 2 choice: pick your poison! Both have a small downside. The Untreated Sawmills will bump up your city's Disease rating a bit, while the Mechanized Sawmills will increase Squalor. Personally, I lean towards Untreated early on because managing Disease feels a little easier than Squalor when you're just starting out, and they use less Heat. However, Mechanized Sawmills are technically more efficient, giving you an extra 30 Materials, but they demand 40 more Heat. The trade-off is that they need less Workforce, which can be a big deal.

Advanced Sawmills

Once you've picked your initial Sawmill type, don't forget to check back in the Idea Tree. You'll unlock an 'Advanced Sawmills' idea. The pros and cons are pretty much the same as the basic versions, just with bigger numbers. You'll get an extra 50 Materials from the Advanced Mechanized Sawmills, but again, it costs more Heat. Think about whether you really need that extra output and if your city can handle the increased Heat Demand. Remember, you're not locked into one path forever; you can research the other type later if you change your mind.

How to Use Sawmills

To actually build a Sawmill, you first need a District. Place an Extraction District right over a spot with Material resources on the map. Once that's built, open up the 'Construct Buildings' menu, go to the 'Extraction' tab, and select the Sawmill you've researched. You'll see a beam appear when you hover over your Extraction District – place the Sawmill within that beam. This building boosts the yield of that specific District, meaning more Materials!

The general idea is to place an Extraction District on a resource node (like coal for fuel, or in this case, materials) and then build the corresponding building (like a Sawmill) on it. Just keep an eye on your city's overall Heat Demand, Disease, and Squalor levels. Adding more buildings means more potential problems down the line.

Need Even More Materials?

If you're really strapped for Materials and your Sawmills aren't cutting it, don't forget about Expeditions. Send out your Frostland Teams to find Material Settlements. Places like the 'Imperial Freighter' (southwest of the Old Dreadnought) or the 'Dreamer's Mine' (to the east) can be a lifesaver. To make sure those supplies keep coming, set up Skyways to New London and upgrade those settlements to their highest tier.