Best Upgrades & Building Priority

Best DIVE or DIE building upgrade order — Diving Deck, Workshop, Fishing Hut, Lighthouse, and Altar timing for efficient campaigns.

Upgrade for the Next Dive, Not the Checklist

Strong runs do not max every building. They remove the bottleneck threatening the next descent. Early return comes from Diving Deck, Workshop, Fishing Hut, and Lighthouse — exact order depends on whether you lack reach, gear, food, or recruits.

Suggested Mid-Game Path

  1. Construct all nine buildings and staff them.
  2. Raise Diving Deck and Workshop together so warp depth and craft tiers stay aligned.
  3. Staff Fishing Hut with Fishing / Blessed Netter and collect nets before each dive for passive Nutrition.
  4. Invest in Lighthouse Expeditions once basic food is stable.
  5. Push Altar tiers when you need reliable Worship days and Dark Arts Idol bonuses (Devotion at Tier 3).
  6. Keep Infirmary and Library current enough that injured veterans and new Maps never stall progress.

Memorial Tributes patch Morale emergencies. Town Hall Bookkeeping raises upkeep caps so a larger Expedition roster stays solvent.

Staffing Synergies

Quartermaster on Diving Deck, Mechanics on Workshop, Navigation or Blessed Host on Lighthouse, Bookkeeping on Town Hall, Fishing or Blessed Netter on Fishing Hut, Erudition on Library, Medicine on Infirmary, Ritual Practice on Memorial, Dark Arts on Altar. The best settlement is the one that makes tomorrow’s Idol attempt safer — not the one with the most Tier 4 badges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which building should I upgrade first?
Diving Deck and Workshop together after all buildings exist. Add Fishing Hut staffing immediately for passive food.
When do I invest in the Altar?
As soon as you can make daily Worship without starving. Tier 3 matters when you need Devotion and stronger Idol benefits.
Is Tier 4 on everything required?
No. Upgrade what removes your current bottleneck — food, oxygen gear, or biome access.