How to Unlock the Idea Tree and All Ideas

The Idea Tree is where you can unlock upgrades to your City and Districts in Frostpunk 2. Read on to discover how to unlock the Idea Tree, see the list of all ideas, and learn what are Radical Ideas and what the Idea Tree is!

How to Unlock the Idea Tree

Build a Research Institute

After finishing the Prologue in Story Mode, you will gain access to building the Research Institute early on in Chapter 1. Building this on an Expanded Housing District will unlock the Idea Tree, which would be found on the bottom-right portion of the screen. You can also access the Idea Tree by pressing R once unlocked.

How to Build Research Institute

List of All Ideas

Heating

All Idea Types
Heating	Resources	Frostland
City	Society	Hubs

Title	Branch	Research Costs	Effects
Dust Coal Mine	Coal Mines	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Blasting Coal Mine	Coal Mines	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Squalor is increased
Asbestos Lining	Housing Insulation	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Base Heat demand of Housing Districts is decreased
Advanced Shaft Coal Mine	Advanced Shaft Coal Mine	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・N/A
Advanced Blasting Coal Mine	Advanced Blasting Coal Mine	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is significantly increased
Heat Dispatcher	Heat Dispatcher	・9 / 12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・N/A
Actuated Heat Dispatcher	Heat Dispatcher	・9 / 12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Carrion Coal Liquefactor	Coal Liquefactors	・9 / 12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Pressurised Coal Liquefactor	Coal Liquefactors	・9 / 12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Deep Melting Drill	Melting Deep Deposits	・TBA	・Production Efficiency is extremely increased ・Unlocks access to Deep Deposits. which are virtually unlimited
Generator: Oil Pumps	Generator Upgrade I	・TBA	・The Generator can run exclusively on Oil but with increased efficiency ・Oil burnt in the generator will produce some Squalor
Generator: Surplus Injectors	Generator Upgrade II	・TBA	・Unlocks the 'Heat Surplus' Generator Ability, which burns all excess fuel to increase output of all Districts up to 15%
Generator: Hyperdrive Regulator	Generator Upgrade III	・13 Weeks ・200 Heatstamps	・Oil yields more Heat ・Overdrive is safer and more efficient
Hydraulic Pumpjack	Pumpjacks	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Fracturing Pumpjack	Pumpjacks	・10 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Settlement Furnace	Settlement Heating	・TBA	・Unlocks upgrading outposts to permanent settlements, which can provide unlimited resources
Generator: Adaptive Injectors	Generator Upgrade II	・TBA	・Unlocks the 'Intake Optimisation' Generator Bonus, which increases the Heat yield of the selected fuel type
Generator: Symbiotic Regulators	Generator Upgrade III	・TBA	・Oil, Steam, and Coal yield more Heat
Coal Liquefactor	Coal Liquefactors	・12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Crop Selection	Food Energy Efficiency	・12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Base Heat demand of Food Districts is significantly decreased
Shaft Coal Mine	Coal Mines	・7 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・N/A
Unfiltered Geothermal Plant	Geothermal Plants	・12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is marginally increased
Geothermal Plant	Geothermal Plants	・TBA	・N/A
Pumpjack	Pumpjacks	・12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Deep Geothermal Plant	Advanced Geothermal Plants	・18 Weeks ・200 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Pumping Geothermal Plant	Advanced Geothermal Plants	・18 Weeks ・200 Heatstamps	・N/A

Ideas marked with a red asterisk (*) are Radical Ideas.

Resources

All Idea Types
Heating	Resources	Frostland
City	Society	Hubs

Title	Branch	Research Costs	Effects
Weather-Adjusted Shifts	Worker Shifts	・9 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Production Efficiency is slightly decreased ・Disease is slightly decreased ・Heat Demand in Districts other than Housing is decreased
Machine-Centric Shifts	Worker Shifts	・9 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Workforce requirement is decreased ・Squalor is marginally increased
Biowaste Hothouse	Hothouses	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased ・Unlocks the 'Excessive Fertilisation' District Ability, which increases Food output and Disease
Chemical Hothouse	Hothouses	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased ・Unlocks the 'Excessive Fertilisation' District Ability, which increases Food output and Disease
Moss-Filtration Tower	Filtration Towers	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Squalor is significantly decreased ・Unlocks the 'Rapid Filtration' District Ability, which decreases Squalor, but will result in injuries
Ventilation Tower	Filtration Towers	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Squalor is decreased ・Unlocks the 'Rapid Filtration' District Ability, which decreases Squalor, but will result in injuries
Salvaging Factory	Factories	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Mechanical Factory	Factories	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Untreated Sawmill	Sawmills	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Mechanised Swamill	Sawmills	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Remoulded Prefabs Factory	Prefabs Factories	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Standardised Prefabs Factory	Prefabs Factories	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Waste Repurposing Facility	Waste Management Facilities	・11 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is extremely decreased
Waste Incineration Facility	Waste Management Facilities	・11 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is greatly decreased ・Disease is slightly increased
Recast Composites Factory	Composites Factories	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is increased
Synthetic Composites Factory	Composites Factories	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is significantly increased
Advanced Biowaste Hothouse	Advanced Hothouses	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is increased ・Unlocks the 'Excessive Fertilisation' District Ability, which increases Food output and Disease
Advanced Chemical Hothouse	Advanced Hothouses	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is increased
* Automated Workforce Factory	Automated Workforce	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is significantly increased
Heat Recycling	Waste Heat Conversion	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Heat Demand in Housing Districts is decreased
Heat Overclocking	Waste Heat Conversion	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Production Efficiency is increased
* Machine Attendants	New Work Model	・TBA	・Workforce requirement is significantly decreased
Advanced Untreated Sawmill	Advanced Sawmills	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Advanced Mechanised Sawmill	Advanced Sawmills	・10 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Charcoal Regeneration Plant	Charcoal Plants	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Pyrolytic Charcoal Plant	Charcoal Plants	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Silica Foundry	Foundries	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is increased
Blast Foundry	Foundries	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Refurbishing Goods Factory	Goods Factories	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Calibrated Goods Factory	Goods Factories	・10 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is slightly increased
Advanced Foundry	Advanced Foundries	・18 Weeks ・200 Heatstamps	・N/A
Advanced Blast Foundry	Advanced Foundries	・18 Weeks ・200 Heatstamps	・Squalor is increased
Goods Factory	Goods Factories	・12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・N/A
Prefabs Factory	Prefabs Factories	・12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・N/A
Composites Factory	Composites Factories	・12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・N/A
Waste Collection Facility	Waste Management Facilities	・15 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Squalor is significantly decreased
Line Factory	Factories	・7 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・N/A
Foundry	Foundries	・7 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・N/A
Filtration Tower	Filtration Towers	・7 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Squalor is decreased
Sawmill	Sawmill	・7 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・N/A
Charcoal Plant	Charcoal Plants	・12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・N/A
Advanced Sawmill	Advanced Sawmills	・12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・N/A
Drum Hothouse	Hothouses	・TBA	・N/A
Advanced Drum Hothouse	Advanced Hothouses	・12 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・N/A
* Apex Workers	New Work Model	・TBA	・Production Efficiency is significantly increased ・Heat Demand is decreased per All Districts and Buildings

Ideas marked with a red asterisk (*) are Radical Ideas.

Frostland

All Idea Types
Heating	Resources	Frostland
City	Society	Hubs

Title	Branch	Research Costs	Effects
Vanguard Logistics Bay	Logistics Bays	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・N/A
Automated Logistics Bay	Logistics Bays	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・N/A
Gleaning Harvester Hangar	Harvester Hangars	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・20% Harvesting Efficiency
Harvester Hangar	Harvester Hangars	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・10% Harvesting Efficiency
Skyways	Skyways	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Unlocks Skyway connections, which can be built in the frostland to allow the transport of more resources from colonies and outposts
Survivalists' Headquarters	Scouts' Headquarters	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Exploration Time is decreased ・Territory Threat Level is decreased
Scouts' Headquarters	Scouts' Headquarters	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Exploration Time is slightly decreased ・Territory Threat Level is decreased
Pathfinder Scouts	Scout Training	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Territory Threat Level is decreased
Mechanised Scouts	Scout Training	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Exploration Time is decreased
Attended Freight Dock	Freight Docks	・13 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Resource Production in Outposts connected by Skyways is significantly increased
Automated Freight Dock	Freight Docks	・13 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Resource Production in Outposts connected by Skyways is significantly increased
Frontier Footholds	Outpost Operation	・6 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Outpost Upkeep is decreased
Extraction Strongholds	Outpost Operation	・6 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Production Efficiency in Outposts is increased
Logistics Bay	Logistics Bays	・7 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・N/A

Ideas marked with a red asterisk (*) are Radical Ideas.

City

All Idea Types
Heating	Resources	Frostland
City	Society	Hubs

Title	Branch	Research Costs	Effects
All Do Maintenance	Maintenance Duty	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Materials Demand is significantly descreased
Unproductive Do Maintenance	Maintenance Duty	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Materials Demand is slightly descreased ・Production Efficiency is slightly increased
Efficiency Bonuses	Work Compensation	・9 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Production Efficiency is slightly increased
Dense Housing Block	Housing Block	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased
Housing Block	Housing Block	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・N/A
Equal Pay	Work Compensation	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Trust rises slightly ・Heatstamps Upkeep per capita is slightly decreased
Mandatory Unions	Labour Organisation	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Production Efficiency is slightly decreased ・Trust rises slightly
Labour Oversight	Labour Organisation	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Production Efficiency is increased
City-Run Alcohol Shops	Alcohol	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Heatstamps Income per capita is significantly increased
Privatised Alcohol Production	Alcohol	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Trust rises slightly
Subsidised Housing Block	Housing Block	・5 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・N/A
Workers' Village	Workers' Housing	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Production Efficiency is slightly increased
Workers' Dormitory	Workers' Housing	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased ・Production Efficiency is slightly increased
Mandatory Crowding	Housing Distribution	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Shelter provided by Housing is increased ・Tension is marginally increased
Merit-Based Housing	Housing Distribution	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Shelter provided by Housing is increased ・Heatstamps Income per capita is slightly increased
* Opioids Manufactory	Drugs Manufactory	・16 / 19 Weeks ・200 Heatstamps	・Disease is marginally increased ・Trust rises slightly
* Pleasure Commons	Leisure	・13 / 18 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Tension is slightly decreased ・Trust rises slightly
* Food Hoarding Inspectorate	Famine Prevention	・7 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Hunger is decreased ・Unlocks the 'Food Sweep' District Ability, which provides a large stockpile of Food but will result in injuries
* Stimulants Manufactory	Drugs Manufactory	・16 / 19 Weeks ・200 Heatstamps	・Disease is marginally increased ・Production Efficiency is increased
* Pleasure Club	Leisure	・12 / 18 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Tension is slightly decreased ・Trust falls marginally
* Abolished Management	Workplace Control	・9 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Tension is significantly decreased
* Labour Camp	Poverty Eradication	・27 Weeks ・200 Heatstamps	・Tension is increased ・Crime is significantly decreased ・Unlocks the 'Hard Labour' District Ability, which greatly increases the efficiency of the Labour Camp
* Empowered Management	Workplace Control	・9 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Production Efficiency is significantly increased

Ideas marked with a red asterisk (*) are Radical Ideas.

Society

All Idea Types
Heating	Resources	Frostland
City	Society	Hubs

Title	Branch	Research Costs	Effects
Surveillance Watchtower	Watchtowers	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Crime is slightly decreased ・Unlocks 'Random Searches' District Ability, which decreases Crime but causes Tension to rise
Watchtower	Watchtowers	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Crime is slightly decreased ・Unlocks 'Random Searches' District Ability, which decreases Crime but causes Tension to rise
Liberated Youth	Youth	・9 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Trust rises slightly ・Unlocks 'Youth Employment Programme' City Ability, which bolsters the City's Workforce but decreases Heatstamps Income
Teaching Hospital	Hospitals	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly decreased ・Research Speed is slightly increased ・Will regularly cure a significant number of Sick Absentees ・Unlocks 'Preliminary Triage' District Ability, which decreases Disease but will result in deaths
Hospital	Hospitals	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly decreased ・Will regularly cure a significant number of Sick Absentees ・Unlocks 'Preliminary Triage' District Ability, which decreases Disease but will result in deaths
Dutiful Youth	Percentage of Active Workers is increased	・9 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Crime is slightly decreased ・Unlocks the 'Youth Volunteer Duty' City Ability, which bolsters the City's Workforce, but decreases Trust
Communal Parenthood	Parenthood	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Percentage of Active Workers is significantly increased ・Population Growth is marginally decreased
Dedicated Motherhood	Parenthood	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Population Growth is increased ・Percentage of Active Workers is slightly decreased
* Birthing Programme	Procreation	・4 / 10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Population Growth is marginally increased ・Disease is significantly increased
Relationship Rotation	Relationships	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Population Growth is significantly increased
Mandatory Marriage	Relationships	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Population Growth is increased
Recovery Hospital	Hospitals	・5 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Disease is slightly increased ・Population Growth is slightly increased ・Will regularly cure a significant number of sick Absentees ・Unlocks the 'Preliminary Triage' District Ability, which decreases Disease but will result in deaths.
Experimental Treatment	Treatment	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Research Speed is marginally increased ・Disease is marginally decreased ・Unlocks the 'Conduct Medical Trial' Ability in Districts with Hospitals, which reduces Disease at the cost of potential casualties.
Conservative Treatment	Treatment	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Disease is decreased
Pharmaceutical Testing Laboratory	Pharmaceuticals	・13 Weeks ・200 Heatstamps	・Disease is significantly decreased ・Research Speed is slightly increased ・Unlocks the 'Boost Research' District Ability, which increases Research Speed, but reduces the Laboratory's effect on Disease
Pharmaceutical Laboratory	Pharmaceuticals	・13 Weeks ・200 Heatstamps	・Disease is significantly decreased
Patrol Watchtower	Watchtowers	・5 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Crime is slightly decreased ・Unlocks the 'Random Searches' District Ability, which decreases Crime but causes Tension to rise
Thought-Correction Prison	Prison	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Crime is slightly decreased ・Trust falls slightly ・Unlocks the 'Mobilise Prison Wardens' District Ability, which provides additional Guard Squads, but reduces the Prison's effect on Crime
Punitive Prison	Prison	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Tension is slightly increased ・Crime is greatly decreased ・Unlocks the 'Conscript Inmates' Disctrict Ability, which provides additional Guard Squads, but reduces the Prison's effect on Crime
Isolation Prison	Prison	・9 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Crime is significantly decreased ・Unlocks the 'Mobilise Prison Wardens' District Ability, which provides additonal Guard Squads, but reduces the Prison's effect on Crime.
* Human Experimentation	Crime Reparations	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Research Speed is significantly increased ・Crime is decreased
* Sterilisation	Crime Elimination	・4 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Population is significantly decreased ・Crime is significantly decreased
* Lunatic Asylum	Asylum	・TBA	・Trust rises
* Guard Immunity	Guard Immunity	・TBA	・Crime is decreased
* Mandatory Procreation	Procreation	・10 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Population Growth is significantly increased ・Heatstamps Income per capita is slightly decreased
* Incubation House	Incubation	・25 Weeks ・400 Heatstamps	・Population is increased ・Unlocks the 'Incentivise Foetus Donations' District Ability, which greatly increases natural growth at the cost of Heatstamps
* Public Executions	Crime Elimination	・6 Weeks ・50 Heatstamps	・Crime is slightly decreased ・Unlocks the 'Execute Prisoners' Ability in Districts with Prisons, which drecreases Crime
* Frostland Deportation	Crime Reparations	・TBA	・Outpost Upkeep is slightly decreased ・Crime is significantly decreased
* Panaceum Factory	Panaceum Factory	・25 Weeks ・400 Heatstamps	・N/A

Ideas marked with a red asterisk (*) are Radical Ideas.

Hubs

All Idea Types
Heating	Resources	Frostland
City	Society	Hubs

Title	Branch	Research Costs	Effects
Rail Hub	Rail Hub	・10 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Proximity: Efficiency in neighbouring Extraction, Industrial or Food Districts is increased
Communication Hub	Communication Hub	・10 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Proximity: Trust in neighbouring Housing Districts is increased
Surveillance Hub	Surveillance Hub	・10 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Proximity: Crime in neighbouring Housing Districts is decreased
Emergency Medical Hub	Emergency Medical Hub	・10 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Proximity: Disease in neighbouring Housing Districts is decreased
Air Transport Hub	Air Transport Hub	・10 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Proximity: Workforce Requirement in neighbouring Districts is decreased
Maintenance Hub	Maintenance Hub	・10 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Proximity: Materials Demand in neighbouring Districts is decreased
Fighting Hub	Fighting Hub	・10 Weeks ・100 Heatstamps	・Proximity: Tension in neighbouring Housing Districts is decreased

Ideas marked with a red asterisk (*) are Radical Ideas.

Radical Ideas Explained

Ideas Born by High Zeitgeist

When your level is high on a specific City Direction, certain Ideas will emerge based on that Zeitgeist. These will form Radical Ideas, which can be found on the Idea Tree as red-colored Ideas instead of the usual yellow. Fulfilling Radical Ideas will increase the City Direction level and the Relation of the Faction that the Idea is under.

Additionally, some Radical Ideas will boast the most expensive research costs out of the entire Idea Tree.

What is the Idea Tree?

Where Factions Propose Ideas

All Factions will present different Ideas in order to improve the City, within various categories such as Heating, Resources, Frostland, City, Society, and Hubs. Each Idea has different requirements in order to be implemented, with all of them costing a certain amount of weeks and Heatstamps. Implementing an Idea marked with a Zeitgeist will move the City Direction towards that Zeitgeist. In turn, it can also affect the Relations of Factions.

List of All Factions

Unlocks Buildings

Majority of Buildings are locked behind the Idea Tree, many of which provide helpful upgrades and features to the City and its Districts. Do take note that constructing some of the Buildings will affect the Relations of Factions and the City Direction.

List of All Buildings

Frostpunk 2 Related Guides

Frostpunk 2 Wiki Front

Frostpunk 2 Walkthrough Wiki

Frostpunk 2 Wiki Contents
Story Walkthrough	Tips and Tricks
Factions	Laws
Resources	Buildings
Districts	Hubs
Idea Tree	News and Updates