Zero Company Den Upgrades: What to Build First

This guide answers the question of what to build first in Zero Company’s Den upgrades and when to build it. You enter your current Den level, the upgrade cost, and your resource income, and the calculator below tells you the optimal build order and the payoff time for each upgrade. The key answer is: build the Resource Storage upgrade first, then the Workshop, and only after that the Defense Turrets, with the exact timing depending on your play style and current resources.

Formula

The core formula for deciding what to build first is the payoff time: Payoff Time = Upgrade Cost ÷ Daily Resource Income. This tells you how many days of resource production it takes for an upgrade to pay for itself. The second useful formula is the 30-day return on investment (ROI): ROI = (Daily Income × 30 ÷ Upgrade Cost) × 100, which shows the percentage return over a typical month.

Variables:

• Upgrade Cost – the total credits (or other resources) needed to purchase the upgrade. Units: credits.
• Daily Resource Income – how many credits you earn per day from your Den’s passive income and missions. Units: credits/day.
• Payoff Time – the number of days until the upgrade’s cost is recovered. Units: days.
• ROI – the percentage return on the upgrade over 30 days. Units: percent.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: Current Den Level = 1, Upgrade Cost = 1000 credits, Daily Income = 500 credits/day.

1. Payoff Time = 1000 ÷ 500 = 2 days
2. ROI = (500 × 30 ÷ 1000) × 100 = (15000 ÷ 1000) × 100 = 15 × 100 = 1500%

So with these inputs, the upgrade pays for itself in 2 days and gives a 1500% return over 30 days. That is an excellent investment, and you should build it immediately.

Background: What Are Den Upgrades?

In Zero Company, the Den is your player housing and base of operations. It is a persistent space that you can upgrade with various modules. These upgrades are not just cosmetic; they provide tangible gameplay benefits. The main categories are:

• Resource Storage – increases the cap on how many credits and materials you can hold. Without enough storage, you cannot accumulate large sums for expensive purchases.
• Workshop – unlocks crafting benches, allowing you to create gear, consumables, and mods. This saves credits in the long run and lets you customize equipment.
• Defense Turrets – adds automated defenses to your Den, which matter if you play on a PvP server or if your Den can be raided.
• Living Quarters – improves passive regeneration (health, stamina) and sometimes gives a small XP bonus.
• Med Bay – reduces respawn time and provides healing stations, useful for frequent deaths.

Each upgrade has a cost in credits and often requires a certain Den level. The Den level itself increases as you build more modules, so there is a progression gate.

How to Choose What to Build First

The optimal build order depends on your goals, but a general rule is to prioritize upgrades that either increase your income or reduce your expenses. Here is a decision framework:

1. Always keep your Resource Storage at least one tier above your typical daily income. If you earn 500 credits/day but your cap is 300, you are wasting 200 credits every day. Build storage first to avoid this loss.
2. Build the Workshop second if you craft your own ammo, meds, or armor. The savings from crafting versus buying usually exceed the upgrade cost within a few days.
3. Defense Turrets are a luxury unless you are being raided. If you are not under threat, delay them until you have a comfortable credit surplus.
4. Living Quarters and Med Bay are QoL upgrades. Build them when you have spare credits and no pressing need for storage or crafting.

Use the calculator to compare the payoff time of each upgrade. For example, if the Workshop costs 2000 credits but saves you 300 credits/day on ammo, the payoff is 6.7 days. If the Med Bay costs 1500 credits but only saves you 5 minutes per respawn, the payoff is not measurable in credits, so build it last.

Common Problems and Mistakes

Players often make these mistakes when deciding on Den upgrades:

• Ignoring the storage cap. This is the most common error. You lose resources every time your cap is hit. Always check your current storage vs. your daily income.
• Building defense before you have income. Turrets cost a lot and do not generate income. They only protect what you have, so if you have nothing, they are useless.
• Upgrading everything evenly. Spreading resources across all upgrades leaves you with no high-tier module. Focus on one at a time.
• Not considering the Den level requirement. Some upgrades require a higher Den level, which in turn requires building other modules. Check the requirements before saving up for a specific upgrade.

Comparisons: Storage vs. Workshop vs. Defense

Here is a direct comparison to help you decide:

• Resource Storage – Cost: medium. Benefit: prevents income loss. Payoff: immediate if you are hitting the cap. Verdict: build first.
• Workshop – Cost: high. Benefit: saves credits on consumables. Payoff: 5-10 days depending on usage. Verdict: build second if you craft regularly.
• Defense Turrets – Cost: very high. Benefit: protects against raids. Payoff: only if you get raided. Verdict: build only when you have a surplus and a real threat.
• Living Quarters – Cost: low. Benefit: minor passive regen. Payoff: not measurable in credits. Verdict: build when you have spare credits.

Costs and Payoff Times

Exact costs vary by server and patch, but typical early-game costs are: Storage (500-2000 credits), Workshop (1000-3000), Defense Turrets (2000-5000), Living Quarters (500-1500). Use the calculator with your actual numbers. For example, if you earn 300 credits/day and the Workshop costs 2000 credits, the payoff is 6.7 days. If you craft 100 credits worth of items per day, the effective savings are 100 credits/day, so the payoff is 20 days. That might not be worth it early.

Safety and General Tips

While Den upgrades are not dangerous, there are a few safety and practical tips:

• Never spend all your credits on an upgrade if it leaves you with less than 200 credits for emergency repairs or travel.
• If you are on a PvP server, build a small stash outside your Den before you build turrets, so you don’t lose everything in a raid.
• Check the server’s wipe schedule. If the server wipes monthly, a 20-day payoff upgrade might not be worth it.
• Always confirm the exact upgrade costs in-game, as they change with patches and server settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the single best first upgrade?

Resource Storage. It prevents daily income loss and is usually the cheapest. If you never hit your cap, then the Workshop is better.

Should I build defense turrets early?

Only if you are actively being raided. Otherwise, the credits are better spent on storage or crafting. Turrets do not generate income.

How do I know if an upgrade is worth it?

Calculate the payoff time (cost ÷ daily benefit). If the payoff is less than 7 days, it is usually worth it. If it is more than 14 days, skip it unless it is essential.

Can I respec or move my Den upgrades?

No, upgrades are permanent in most versions. You cannot refund them, so choose carefully. This is why the payoff calculation matters.

Does the Den level matter for upgrades?

Yes. Each upgrade has a minimum Den level requirement. You increase your Den level by building any module, so sometimes you must build a cheaper module just to unlock the next tier.

What if I play solo vs. in a group?

Solo players should prioritize storage and workshop to be self-sufficient. Group players can share the cost, so they can build defense turrets earlier because the risk of being raided is higher with a larger stockpile.

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in level | Current Den Level | - | 1 | 1 | 10
in cost | Upgrade Cost (credits) | credits | 1000 | 0 | 1000000
in income | Daily Resource Income (credits) | credits/day | 500 | 0 | 100000
out payoff | Upgrade Payoff Time | days | cost / income | 1
out roi | Return on Investment | % | (income * 30 / cost) * 100 | 0