Finding all airship upgrades in Solarpunk involves progressing through three distinct tiers of components for five core systems aboard your airship, The Marigold. These systems are Propulsion, Hull, Core Systems, Utility, and Storage. Each upgrade requires specific blueprints from the NPC Tinker Anya and a combination of salvaged materials, with the best components demanding rare resources from the world’s most dangerous skies. This guide details every upgrade, its material costs, and how to get it.
Your journey to a fully-kitted airship begins after completing the main story quest "The Sunstone Beacon," which unlocks Tinker Anya's advanced workshop in The Roost. Before this, you are limited to Tier 1 (Makeshift) components. Anya provides the blueprints for Tier 2 and Tier 3 upgrades in exchange for Data Caches recovered from Old World ruins.
Propulsion Upgrades: Engines and Sails
Propulsion governs your speed, fuel efficiency, and noise level—a critical factor when exploring storm-wracked regions or avoiding Sky Pirate patrols. You must balance the raw power of your engine with the quiet efficiency of your sails. Engines consume Bio-Ethanol fuel, while sails rely on wind currents, which are less predictable but free.
Engine Tiers
Engines provide your main thrust and determine your top speed. Upgrading your engine is often the first priority for players looking to shorten travel times between floating islands. The final tier, the Aetherium Resonator, is an end-game component that uses no traditional fuel but requires a fully upgraded power core to function.
| Tier | Engine Name | Max Speed | Fuel Use | Noise Radius | Materials Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piston-Junk Engine | 45 kph | High | 800m | 150x Scrap Components, 20x Copper Wiring |
| 2 | Geothermal Turbine | 70 kph | Medium | 400m | 300x Scrap Components, 50x Biolumen Gel, 5x Geode Lens |
| 3 | Aetherium Resonator | 110 kph | None | 100m | 500x Scrap Components, 20x Aetherium Shards, 1x Resonant Core |
Sail Tiers
Sails are your secondary propulsion, perfect for conserving fuel or moving silently. Higher-tier sails allow you to catch weaker wind currents and provide a significant speed boost in optimal conditions. The Solar-Catch Jib is particularly valuable, as it slowly regenerates power for your core systems during the day.
Solarpunk™ in-game screenshot
| Tier | Sail Name | Speed Bonus (Max) | Stealth Bonus | Materials Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patchwork Sail | +10 kph | Low | 80x Scrap Components, 40x Fiber Strands |
| 2 | Zephyr-Weave Mainstay | +25 kph | Medium | 120x Zephyr Weave, 30x Biolumen Gel, 10x Alloy Struts |
| 3 | Solar-Catch Jib | +40 kph | High | 250x Zephyr Weave, 15x Aetherium Shards, 1x Light-Cell Matrix |
Hull and Armor Plating
Your hull is your airship's health bar. It determines how much damage you can sustain from environmental hazards like lightning strikes in The Static Sea or attacks from hostile fauna. Upgraded hulls not only increase durability but can also add resistance to specific damage types, like the acid damage from Corrosive Spore Clouds.
Hull Tiers
Each hull upgrade significantly increases the ship's resilience. The jump from the Reinforced Lattice Hull to the Ablative Ceramic Shell is substantial, making it a prerequisite for tackling late-game challenges. The final tier adds a self-repairing function that slowly restores hull integrity over time, provided the power core is active.
| Tier | Hull Name | Durability | Damage Resistance | Materials Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salvaged Plating | 500 HP | None | 200x Scrap Components, 50x Iron Plates |
| 2 | Reinforced Lattice Hull | 1200 HP | 25% Impact Resistance | 400x Scrap Components, 20x Alloy Struts, 40x Biolumen Gel |
| 3 | Ablative Ceramic Shell | 2500 HP | 50% Impact, 75% Acid Resist | 600x Scrap Components, 30x Aetherium Shards, 1x Ceramic Matrix |
Core Systems and Power Management
The Marigold's power core is its heart. It dictates how many modules you can run simultaneously and how efficiently they operate. An underpowered core will cause systems to shut down during high-demand situations, like running the Aetherium Resonator while your utility modules are active. Upgrading this should be a parallel priority alongside your propulsion and hull.
Power Core Tiers
The Sunstone Matrix is the ultimate power source, providing enough energy to run every single module on the ship at peak performance. Its blueprint is only awarded by Tinker Anya after you bring her a live Sunstone from the peak of Mount Gaea, a challenging late-game quest.
| Tier | Power Core Name | Power Output | Efficiency | Materials Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scrap Cogitator | 50 Units | Low | 100x Scrap Components, 50x Copper Wiring |
| 2 | Crystalline Capacitor | 120 Units | Medium | 250x Scrap Components, 60x Biolumen Gel, 1x Focusing Crystal |
| 3 | Sunstone Matrix | 300 Units | High | 400x Scrap Components, 25x Aetherium Shards, 1x Live Sunstone |
Utility Modules and Onboard Workshops
Utility modules transform your airship from a simple vehicle into a mobile base of operations. These are non-essential for flight but absolutely critical for crafting, research, and self-sufficiency. They are installed in dedicated utility slots, which are unlocked as you upgrade your hull. The Tier 3 Ablative Ceramic Shell provides a total of four utility slots.
Solarpunk™ in-game screenshot
Crafting & Research Stations
These modules allow you to craft gear, refine materials, and unlock new technologies without returning to The Roost.
- Workbench (Basic/Advanced): The Basic Workbench lets you craft Tier 1 gear and refine common materials. The Advanced version, requiring the Crystalline Capacitor core, is needed for Tier 2 and 3 equipment and alloys.
- Research Station: This is where you analyze the Data Caches you find. Analyzing data consumes Biolumen Gel but unlocks new blueprints for Tinker Anya to sell.
- Seed Splicer: A late-game module used to genetically modify seeds for your hydroponics bay, allowing you to grow rare alchemical ingredients and even Biolumen Gel directly.
Resource Production
Become fully self-sufficient and reduce your reliance on scavenging runs.
- Atmospheric Condenser: Passively collects ambient moisture and purifies it into clean water, a key ingredient for both survival and hydroponics.
- Hydroponics Bay: A small onboard garden. Initially, you can only grow basic food crops. With the Seed Splicer and seeds found in Old World biomes, you can cultivate rare plants used in powerful potions and crafting recipes.
Cargo Hold and Storage Solutions
As you salvage more materials and build more complex components, your initial storage space will quickly become a limiting factor. Upgrading your cargo hold is essential for long-range expeditions and hoarding the vast quantities of Scrap Components needed for Tier 3 upgrades.
Storage Tiers
Each tier provides a significant jump in inventory slots. The final upgrade, the Stabilized Containment Field, uses energy to compress matter, effectively giving you near-limitless storage at the cost of a constant, albeit small, power draw from your core.
| Tier | Storage Name | Capacity | Special Properties | Materials Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netting & Crates | 50 slots | None | 50x Scrap Components, 20x Fiber Strands |
| 2 | Modular Cargo Bay | 150 slots | Sorts by item type | 200x Scrap Components, 30x Iron Plates, 10x Alloy Struts |
| 3 | Stabilized Containment Field | 500 slots | Reduces weight | 350x Scrap Components, 10x Aetherium Shards, 1x Field Emitter |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I find Tinker Anya?
Tinker Anya is located in the main hub city, The Roost. Her workshop is on the lower levels, near the landing pad. You must complete the main story quest "The Sunstone Beacon" to unlock her full inventory of advanced blueprints.
What's the best first airship upgrade?
Most players agree that the Geothermal Turbine (Tier 2 Engine) is the best initial upgrade. The speed boost dramatically cuts down on travel time, allowing you to complete quests and salvage runs much faster. This accelerates your ability to gather materials for all other upgrades.
How do I get Aetherium Shards?
Aetherium Shards are a rare end-game resource found exclusively in The Static Sea, a permanent high-altitude storm region. To harvest them, you need the Aetherium Harvester tool (blueprint from Anya) and a well-armored ship, preferably with the Reinforced Lattice Hull (Tier 2). You must fly into the storm and use the harvester to catch the energy from specific, super-charged lightning strikes.
Solarpunk™ in-game screenshot
Can you downgrade airship parts?
No, you cannot downgrade parts. Once a component like the Ablative Ceramic Shell is installed, it cannot be removed. However, you can freely swap between different utility modules in your available slots at any landing pad.
A Final Word on Your Airship
Your airship, The Marigold, is more than just a vehicle—it's your home, your workshop, and your key to survival in the world of Solarpunk. Prioritizing upgrades is a matter of playstyle. A scavenger might focus on storage and hull durability, while an explorer will want the fastest engine and most efficient sails. There is no single correct path, but a fully upgraded ship with an Aetherium Resonator and Sunstone Matrix is a true force of nature, capable of exploring every corner of the sky with ease.