Spiritfarer Beginner Guide: Upgrades & Resources

This guide explains how to prioritize ship upgrades and manage resources effectively in Spiritfarer, covering the key systems you need to understand from the start. You’ll learn what to upgrade first, how to gather and use materials, and how to avoid common early-game mistakes.

Formula

The calculator above works out how many times you can afford a specific upgrade given your current Glim and the cost per upgrade. The formula is simply:

Upgrades Possible = floor( Glim / Upgrade Cost )

Where:

• Glim is the total amount of Glim you have (the main currency in Spiritfarer).
• Upgrade Cost is the Glim cost for one upgrade (e.g., a new blueprint or ship improvement).
• floor() means you round down to the nearest whole number, since you can’t buy a fraction of an upgrade.

Worked Example

Using the default values: you have 500 Glim and the upgrade costs 300 Glim.

500 ÷ 300 = 1.666…

Rounded down, you can afford 1 upgrade. You’ll have 200 Glim left over.

Understanding the Game’s Core Loop

Spiritfarer is a management game where you play as Stella, a ferrymaster for the dead. You sail a ship, gather resources, cook meals, and fulfill the requests of spirit passengers before they depart to the afterlife. The game’s loop is: explore → gather → upgrade → help spirits → move on. Upgrades are tied to your ship’s blueprint table, which unlocks new buildings, faster ships, and access to new areas. Resources are everything you collect from the world, from wood and ore to fruits and fish.

How Upgrades Work

Upgrades in Spiritfarer come from the blueprint table on your ship. You spend Glim and resources to build or upgrade facilities like the Sawmill, Loom, Smithy, and your ship itself. Each upgrade has a specific purpose:

• Ship upgrades (e.g., the Ice Breaker) let you pass through previously blocked areas, unlocking new islands and resources.
• Building upgrades (e.g., upgrading the Garden) increase production speed or unlock new recipes.
• Character upgrades (e.g., the Double Jump) are unlocked through spirit quests, not the blueprint table, but they’re essential for exploration.

You’ll often need to gather specific resources (like Oak Wood or Limestone) before you can afford the next upgrade. Prioritize the ones that open new areas, as they give you access to more resources and spirits.

Resource Management Basics

Resources in Spiritfarer are divided into several categories: raw materials (wood, ore, fibers), food (fruits, vegetables, fish), and crafted items (planks, ingots, fabric). Each passenger has a favorite food and a request that often requires a crafted item. Managing resources means balancing what you need for upgrades with what you need for meals and quests. A few key tips:

• Always keep a stock of common materials (wood, stone, fiber) for building upgrades.
• Cook meals in bulk – you’ll need them for hungry passengers.
• Sell excess resources at the Raccoon Inc. shops to get Glim, but keep at least 10 of each rare material.
• Use the Composter to turn food scraps into better soil for your garden.

Which Upgrades to Prioritize

In the early game, you should focus on upgrades that let you progress through the main story and reach new areas. Here’s a suggested order:

1. Improve the Boat (Sail, then Ice Breaker) – These unlock new islands and are often required to progress.
2. Build the Sawmill and Loom – These let you craft planks and fabric, which are needed for many blueprints.
3. Upgrade the Garden and Orchard – Better crops mean more food and more Glim from selling.
4. Build the Smithy – Needed for metal ingots, which unlock mid-game upgrades.
5. Upgrade the Kitchen – More cooking slots and recipes help you feed passengers efficiently.

Don’t neglect the ship’s speed – a faster ship means less time traveling between islands.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many players make a few avoidable errors early on:

• Ignoring the Map – The map shows where resources are, but some are hidden behind obstacles. Always check the map for new nodes.
• Not Using the Composter – It turns waste into useful materials, saving you time.
• Overharvesting – If you pick every resource, you’ll have no time for quests. Gather only what you need for the next upgrade.
• Forgetting to Feed Passengers – Hungry spirits become unhappy and may refuse to work. Always have meals ready.
• Spending Glim on unnecessary blueprints – Some blueprints are cosmetic or low-priority. Save Glim for essential upgrades.

Comparing Early vs. Late Game Resource Needs

Early game, you’ll need mostly wood, stone, and fiber. As you progress, you’ll need more metal (copper, iron), exotic materials (silk, gold), and rare foods. Late game, you’ll be juggling multiple resources at once, often needing to return to old islands to farm them. The key difference is that early game is about unlocking new areas, while late game is about optimizing production and fulfilling complex requests. Always keep an eye on what your current passengers need – they often hint at what resources you’ll need next.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to earn Glim quickly?
Cook and sell meals – they sell for more than raw ingredients. Also, complete spirit requests and sell excess ore and gems.

Should I sell all my resources?
No. Keep a stock of at least 10 of each common resource (wood, stone, fiber) and 5 of each rare one. You’ll need them for upgrades and quests.

How do I unlock new areas?
You need specific ship upgrades like the Ice Breaker or the Rock Destroyer. These come from the blueprint table after you’ve helped certain spirits.

What’s the best food to cook?
It depends on your passengers’ preferences, but simple dishes like Fish Sticks or Fruit Pie are good for general use. Check each spirit’s profile to see their favorite food.

Can I miss any resources?
No, resources respawn over time. You can always return to an island later to collect more.

Is there a limit to how many spirits I can have?
No, but each new spirit requires a cabin. Build more cabins to accommodate them.

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in t | Glim | - | 500 | 0 | 100000
in d | Upgrade Cost (Glim) | - | 300 | 0 | 100000
out upgrade_count | Upgrades Possible | - | floor(t / d) | 0