Research Progression Guide
/guides/research-progression
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.
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.