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How to use the Chainsaw in Satisfactory

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Image shows a thick patch of trees directly in the pioneer's way in Satisfactory./ Credits: Coffee Stain Studios

In Satisfactory’s early game, wood, leaves, and flower petals are an excellent source of pre-coal energy to fuel your machines. Now, you can run around the map and collect these things manually as you do at the start. However, the alternative is much better. Grab a chainsaw and gather thousands in seconds. This guide will show you how to use the chainsaw in Satisfactory.

Unlocking the Chainsaw

Unlocking the chainsaw in Satisfactory requires a few steps. These are easily done in the first 1-2 hours of a fresh server start.

  1. Place your HUB and basic miners on nearby resource nodes to generate a steady flow of materials.
  2. Use the materials gained from step one, to start upgrading your logistics research at the HUB.
  3. Research “Tier 2 – Part Assembly” to unlock the Assembler and then proceed to set up the assembler with Iron Plates on one intake, and Screws on the other. Next, set up Reinforced Iron Plates to be crafted in an Assembler.
  4. Research “Tier 2 – Obstacle Clearing” at the HUB to unlock the chainsaw as a craftable item.

Using the Chainsaw in Satisfactory Effectively

Now that you’ve unlocked the chainsaw, it’s time to master it. You can do more than run from tree to tree and gather wood slowly.

Chainsaw harvests in an AOE around the initial target point. Find large patches of shrubbery and grouped up trees to lessen the amount of time you will spend harvesting wood, leaves, and flower petals.

Shown below is a before and after image of a single use of the chainsaw to showcase the aoe radius, it will reach.

A before and after image of the radius of a single use of the chainsaw in Satisfactory.
Left Side: Before using the chainsaw. Right side: After using the chainsaw./ Credits: Coffee Stain Studios

You can also perform a glitch with the chainsaw that allows you to remove small rocks in an area by targetting the plant life nearest to it.

The chainsaw runs off of Solid Biofuel. You can craft this by hand or by machine from the alien organs, wood, flower petals, and leaves that you will be harvesting for power. Simply use those components to craft Biomass, and then use the Biomass to create Solid Biofuel.

Now that you know how to use the chainsaw in Satisfactory effectively, check out our other guides for the game to get the most out of your time invested:

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AUTHOR

Bryan Godwin is a Guides Writer at Gamezo. He enjoys Dungeons & Dragons with the boys, video games, and being a husband and father.