The bellows sputtered, the forge coughed, and my first batch of bronze ingots warped. I stood in the workshop, inventory full and the undead knocking at the gate. If you miss the right research at the wrong time, your base becomes a museum of useless blueprints.
I’ve played long enough to know which Metallurgy nodes make fights easier and which ones bleed your resources. You’re building more than tools—you’re building options. I’ll show you how to read the tree so every research point you spend pulls real weight.
How to unlock all Metallurgy Research Tree upgrades in Graveyard Keeper 2
You’ve probably paused at a vendor booth and tried to decide between a hammer and a shovel. The Metallurgy tree in Graveyard Keeper 2 is a ladder of equipment, defenses, and production buildings; knowing which rungs to climb first saves time and keeps zombies from turning your workbench into scrap.
Below is the full research table. Treat it like a reference map: consult it before you commit resources, and keep an eye on adjacent nodes. Steam guides, the Graveyard Keeper subreddit, and YouTube creators often highlight different routes—use those to test what fits your playstyle.
| Upgrades | Unlock | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze Works | Bronze NailsWooden Anvil blueprint | 10 Red |
| Bronze Melting | Bronze IngotFurnace I blueprintFirewood shed I | 10 Red |
| Bronze Craft | Bronze DetailHardening Bucket blueprint | 30 Red |
| Glass | Glass | 30 Red10 Green |
| Bronze Blades | Bronze AxeBronze Pickaxe | 15 Red5 Green |
| Bronze Forge | TinBronze IngotSluice Box blueprint | 20 Red |
| Bronze Instruments | Bronze ShovelBronze Hammer | 15 Red5 Green |
| Glass Blowing | Alchemy Flasks IEmpty Bottle | 45 Red10 Green |
| Bronze Polishing | Polished BronzeBronze ToolsCopper Trinkets | 30 Red |
| Firewood Shed II | Firewood Shed II | 20 Red5 Green |
| Reinforced Plank | Reinforced Plank | 45 Red |
| Bronze Equipment | Bronze ArmorBronze Sword | 30 Red |
| Iron Forge | Iron IngotIronFurnace II | 35 Red |
| Simple Barricades | Barricade I blueprintSpiked Barricade I blueprintFortified Barricade I blueprint | 60 Red25 Green |
| Bronze Weapons | Light PikeReinforced Bow | 35 Red10 Green |
| Iron Smithing | Bronze GearIron NailsIron Anvil blueprint | 50 Red |
| Bellows | LensAlchemy Flasks IIBellows | 30 Red |
| Archers Tower | Archer Tower IExpand Military Building Area | 60 Red25 Green |
| Iron Works | Iron DetailIron Kit 1 | 75 Red |
| Smithy I | BeckGlassSmithy I blueprint | 75 Red20 Blue |
| Reinforced Beam | Reinforced Beam | 75 Red |
| Iron Equipment | Iron ArmorIron Sword | 80 Red |
| Iron Instruments I | Iron AxeIron Shovel | 80 Red15 Blue |
| Iron Instruments II | Iron HammerIron Pickaxe | 80 Red15 Blue |
| Smithy: Hammer | Iron IngotIron Kit IHammer blueprint | 80 Red30 Blue |
| Robust Barricades | Barricade II blueprintSpiked Barricade II blueprintFortified Barricade II blueprint | 90 Red30 Green |
| Iron Weapons | Battle PikeBattle Bow | 90 Red10 Blue |
| Iron Products | Advanced DetailIron Tools | 90 Red10 Blue |
| Zombie Gears | Zombie Carousel blueprint | 90 Red |
| Smithy: Bellows | TablewareGlass ContainersSmithy: Bellows blueprint | 90 Red20 Blue |
| Archers Tower II | Archer Tower II | 100 red50 Green |
| Steel Smithing | Steel DetailSteel ScrewsSteel Anvil blueprint | 120 Red15 Blue |
| Reinforced Barricades | Barricade III blueprintSpiked Barricade III blueprintFortified Barricade III blueprint | 150 Red75 Green |
| Steel Instruments I | Steel HammerSteel Axe | 150 Red20 Blue |
| Steel Instruments II | Steel PickaxeSteel Shovel | 150 Red20 Blue |
| Steel Casting | Engineering DetailsSteel ToolsCasting Table blueprint | 150 Red20 Blue |
| Archer Tower III | Archer Tower III blueprint | 160 Red80 Green |
| Steel Weapons | Knight’s SpearHeavy Bow | 160 Red10 Blue |
| Steel Equipment | Steel ArnirSteel Sword | 160 Red10 Blue |
| Smithy II | Clay MoldsIron Kit IISmithy II blueprint | 160 Red20 Blue |
| Masterwork Equipment | Master SwordMaster Armor | 200 Red25 Blue |
| Lenses | LensPress blueprint | 175 Red20 Blue |
| Steel Works | Engineering KitSteel ToolsGrindstone blueprint | 175 Red20 Blue |
Prioritize nodes so you get immediate returns
I’ve watched players hoard research points the same way hobbyists hoard rare coins. Spend on nodes that give tools or defenses first—Bronze Blades, Bronze Instruments, then Iron Forge—because they change how you play right away.
Use Steam Workshop guides or a quick Reddit thread search when you’re unsure which node supports your current build. If your goal is fieldwork (mining, woodcutting), target instrument upgrades. If you want to hold lanes against waves, prioritize Barricades and Archer Towers.
How do I get Metallurgy research points quickly?
You earn research progress by crafting, producing intermediate goods, and building blueprints. Setup repeatable production loops—furnaces feeding smithies—and offload surplus on trade boards or trade NPCs to maintain steady research income.
Which Metallurgy nodes give the best defensive value early?
Simple Barricades and Bronze Equipment are often the fastest defensive buys. They’re cheap, immediate, and force-multiply your garrison—treat them as insurance against a single bad night of combat.
Plan your route to steel and masterwork with intention
On my first run I rushed everything and ended up with a half-built armory and no steel. To reach Steel Weapons and Masterwork Equipment you need a chain: Iron Forge → Iron Works → Steel Smithing → Steel Works → Masterwork.
Think of this path like two tools in a kit: one opens opportunities, the other finishes the job. Be patient; research trees favor steady progression over random jumps.
Small tips that change how research feels
I once swapped a bellows blueprint at the last minute and cut my forging time in half. Minor nodes—Bellows, Lenses, Glass Blowing—often shave hours off production cycles and free up your time to farm resources or test builds.
Cross-check blueprints with your workbench upgrades. Use YouTube tutorials from creators who focus on optimization if you want step-by-step setups. Remember: a single well-chosen node can ripple through your whole playthrough like a dropped pebble through a still pond.
Final push: what to chase for endgame dominance
When you’re hunting Masterwork Equipment, you’ll notice a change in pacing: resources matter more than raw research points. Steel Works, Steel Casting, and Smithy II are the gates to that next level.
Use the table above as your checklist and bookmark community spreadsheets on Google Sheets or Notion that track your blueprint progress. If you’re streaming or sharing builds on Twitch, tag PC Gamer or GameSpot clips to compare loadouts and tactics.
I’ve shown the map and pointed the compass—will you take the steady route to steel or gamble on a fast bronze rush?