How To Turn Your Cozy Potion Shop Into A Ruthless Industrial Empire In ‘Alchemy Factory’

Guide
Written By NLM Team

I went into this game expecting to mix herbs in a cauldron like a whimsical wizard, but I ended up running a ruthless logistics company where efficiency is god and sleep is for the weak.

If you are just starting out, the jump from "selling a few potions" to "managing a sprawling automated complex" can be jarring. The game throws a lot at you, and while the in-game manual (hotkey "O") is actually surprisingly good, there are plenty of mechanics that aren't immediately obvious. I have spent hours tangling conveyor belts and bankrupting myself so you don't have to.

Here is what you need to know to get your factory humming.

The Tools You Didn’t Know You Had

Before you start placing machines everywhere, you need to master the transformation mechanics. Almost every object in the game has alternate forms that you can toggle by pressing "T".

This is a game-changer. Inclined conveyors can change direction. Platforms can change height. Asymmetrical machines like assemblers can be mirrored to fit into tight spaces. You can even turn the basic chest into a vertical buffer or a pass-through container. If you are struggling to fit a machine into a specific spot, hit "T" before you tear your hair out. It usually solves the problem.

Also, do not ignore Blueprints. Press "B" to enter the mode, select your setup, and save it. You might not need it for small things, but once you figure out the perfect compact setup for making soap or gears, save it. You will need to paste that design a dozen times later, and doing it manually is a waste of your life.

Money Is A Physical Problem

This is the part that trips everyone up. Money in Alchemy Factory isn't just a number on a screen; it is a physical item that exists in the world.

You have to move it. You have to store it. You have to transport it.

Managing the Cash Flow

Your cash registers have limited space. If they fill up, customers can't pay, and they leave angry. You need to belt that cash out of there immediately.

The best strategy I found involves Bank Portals. Since coins stack to 50 on a belt, you don't want millions of copper coins clogging your lines. Use the bank portals to exchange copper into silver (and later gold) right after the register. It compresses your wealth and makes it easier to transport to your machines that need funding to run.

How to Actually Get Rich

You have three main income streams:

  1. The Shop: Your bread and butter. Keep shelves stocked using catapults (yes, you can launch potions at shelves). Watch your reputation; higher rep means more customers with bigger wallets.

  2. Quests: These are your goldmines. Fulfilling orders pays 130% to 200% of the market value. Always prioritize these, but be careful not to unlock new items in the tech tree until you are ready to produce them. If you unlock an item, customers and quests will start asking for it, and if you can't deliver, you lose out.

  3. Portals: Eventually, you can just dump excess goods into a trading portal. You get less money than the shop, but you can move volume without waiting for NPCs to walk in.

The Fuel Economy

You need heat to make things, and not all fuel is created equal. I spent way too much time doing the math, so here is the short version.

Early on, just burn Boards. They are efficient enough (about 20 Heat per coin cost) and easy to mass-produce from logs. You might be tempted to turn them into charcoal, but honestly? It is barely more efficient when you factor in the heat required to make the charcoal itself.

Save your coal for later. Once you unlock the Blast Furnace, you will need the high heat density of coal because boards just won't burn fast enough to keep that monster running.

The Relic Trap

At Level 5, you unlock Relics. These are used to generate upgrade points for your tech tree. They are also a massive money sink.

Producing a relic consumes resources (money) but gives you zero cash back. It just gives you the item. If you research every relic you make, you will go bankrupt because you are draining your economy without replenishing it.

You need to balance this. My rule of thumb is to sell three relics for every one I study. It keeps the cash flowing while still progressing your tech tree.

A Note on Verticality

You will run out of space. Land is expensive. The solution is to build up. The game gives you vertical conveyors and stairs for a reason. Don't be afraid to add a second or third floor to your factory. It is cheaper than buying a new plot of land and lets you keep your production chains tight.

A massive shoutout to steam user Grey for uncovering some of these deeper mechanical tips (and doing the fuel math) in their Russian guide. It saved me a lot of trial and error.

Now get back to work. Those potions aren't going to brew themselves.

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NLM Team
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