Guides
Outbound Research Progression
Outbound's research is split across five trees with 35 unlockable nodes between them. Each tree starts free and branches into upgrades you pay for with gathered and refined materials. This guide covers what every tree unlocks and where the big costs land.
Last updated Jun 13, 2026 (Build 826)
Quick answer: The five trees are Powertrain, Building Space, Basebuilding, Player Equipment, and Companion. Start with the 10-Bolt nodes (Motor Upgrade I, Weight Capacity Upgrade I), then work toward the refined-metal endgame nodes like Motor Upgrade III.
Vehicle Powertrain Upgrades
7 upgradesEverything that drives the van: motor power, cooling, and battery capacity.
- Motor Upgrade I-III (10 Bolts → 20 Adamant Metal + 40 Rose Minerals)
- Cooling System Upgrade (2 Hardened Metal, 4 Electronics, 10 Water)
- Battery Capacity Upgrade I-III (ends at 4 Power Cell)
Vehicle Building Space Upgrades
8 upgradesCarry more and build more: weight capacity and outdoor placement slots.
- Weight Capacity Upgrade I-IV (10 Bolts → 12 Adamant Metal, 22 Blossom Plank, 20 Sugar)
- Outdoor Placement and its three upgrades (4 Scrap Metal + 10 Fibre to start)
Basebuilding
8 upgradesBuilding styles and roof varieties - wooden, trellis, bamboo, glass, greenhouse.
- Wooden Roofs Variety (20 Everwood Plank, 10 Bolts)
- Bamboo Building Style (15 Bamboo, 10 Blossom Plank, 5 Beeswax)
- Glass Roofs Variety (30 Glass, 20 Amberstone)
Player Equipment Upgrades
6 upgradesPersonal gear: clothing and pants tiers plus two larger backpacks.
- Clothing Upgrade II-III and Pants Upgrade II-III
- Adventurer's Backpack (15 Durathread) and Explorer's Backpack (20 Hyperthread, 6 Cloth)
Companion Upgrades
6 upgradesTrain your companion: resource search, return-to-vehicle, a better whistle, and pouch upgrades.
- Search Resources (8 Cactus Flower, 10 Red Minerals)
- Return To Vehicle (6 Sea Shell, 4 Red Lumber)
- Pouch Upgrade I-II (ends at 10 Rose Minerals, 6 Strong Weave)
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many research trees are in Outbound?
- Five: Vehicle Powertrain Upgrades, Vehicle Building Space Upgrades, Basebuilding, Player Equipment Upgrades, and Companion Upgrades. Each tree starts at a free root node and branches into upgrades you unlock by spending gathered and refined materials.
- What should I research first in Outbound?
- Early Bolts-based nodes are the cheapest entry points: Motor Upgrade I and Weight Capacity Upgrade I both cost 10 Bolts. Powertrain helps you reach new regions, while Building Space lets you carry more, so most runs start with those two trees.
- What is the most expensive research in Outbound?
- The late nodes use refined endgame materials - for example Motor Upgrade III costs 20 Adamant Metal and 40 Rose Minerals, and Weight Capacity Upgrade IV costs 12 Adamant Metal, 22 Blossom Plank, and 20 Sugar.
- Does research cost time in Outbound?
- The game data lists only material costs and prerequisites for each node - there are no research timers or numeric stat values in the files, so this guide quotes costs and unlock order only.