Best memetics to unlock first

Important takeaways

• Unlock memetics to advance in
  Once human
  & gain access to better equipment, tools, vehicles, weapons and advanced construction.
• Invest meme points and energy links in key unlocks such as disassembly bench, bronze crafting and intermediate gear bench.
• Important unlocks like Solar Generator, Garage and
  

  Rocket Launcher
  
  improve the gaming experience and offer significant benefits.

IN Once human players must unlock a bunch of recipes called memetics, which can be picked up using meme points and energy links. Players can earn 4 meme points each time they level up, and energy links can be obtained by completing challenges, quests, and other activities throughout the season.

The best memetics players can unlock are directly related to their character's progression, so we've put together a list of the ones they need to unlock first to unlock more gear, tools, vehicles, weapons, and advanced construction.

Updated on October 22, 2024 by Lucas Simons: A new season started with Way Of Winter, and the new map has introduced the Hypothermia mechanic to the game. This also means that new Memetics must be unlocked first as there are new crafting tools and useful consumables needed for cold weather expeditions. To simplify things, we've updated the order in which these must be acquired to manage a good Cypher balance between important unlocks and Quality Of Life unlockables that are also needed to progress further down the main quest. Needless to say, there's no need to unlock all of these in that specific order, but keep an eye out for Polar Expedition I and Leatherworking, as these are much needed in the new edition of Once Human. Some of the most important Memetics have been reduced in both Cypher cost and Energy Link cost, so we've updated the specifics as well.

10 Disassembly bench

The first thing players need to unlock

• Step requirements: 1
• Meme points required: 1
• Energy link required: 50

The Disassembly bench can be obtained by unlocking Disassembly techniques memetic at level 1. This should be the first thing players need to unlock if they want to go further Once human. Every time players go to loot, they will find “scrap” or “junk” that they can take back to their base and process into salvaged materials.

Several materials such as Metallic fiber and Refined parts can only be obtained by using Disassembly benchand they will need them for intermediate and advanced crafting. So it's easy to say that this memetic is the key to everything in the game.

9 Polar Expedition I

Unlock this before stepping into the cold zones

• Step requirements: 1
• Meme points required: 1
• Energy link required: 50

Polar Expedition I unlocks the recipes for Thermoium, Heatium, and Coldium, made with gravel, so they're pretty cheap. Keeping the thermoium in the backpack grants Tier 1 Cold Resistance, but the item only lasts for one hour. Similar to backpack mods, these stones will regulate the temperature in certain weathers, and since these are keys during the Way Of Winter, adventuring without one will only lead to certain death.

Further down the line, upon unlocking Polar Expedition II, players will be able to craft a portable lantern and chaosium to power it. This equipment is manufactured in the intermediate supply station and uses kaosium to provide sustained heat, more so than thermoium. Unlock this Memetic line as soon as possible.

8 Leather processing

Most winter gear needs leather, this has to be a priority

• Stage requirements: 1
• Meme points required: 1
• Energy link required: 50

As we already mentioned, Leatherworking will allow players to craft leather and advanced leather later on. Hunting animals has become key in the Way of Winter as their fur provides a steady source of leather for crafting cold-resistant gear.

This means players will need plenty of salt as well, so the Cooking Station will provide the necessary recipes to refine salt, which is made with seawater and wood in the stoves. Seawater can be collected from any source near the coast, but a nearby area for low-level players will be Whalebones Town, down by the fishing port.

7 Bronze Crafts And Pickaxes

Will put players on the right path to leveling

• Stage requirements: 2
• Meme Points Required: 3 each (6 total)
• Energy Link Required: 200 (400 total)

Unlocking Bronze Crafting will be players' first step towards advancing levels. Bronze can be made with tin and copper, and to mine tin players need at least one Copper pickaxe. Then they can go ahead and unlock Bronze pickaxe from the stage 2 infrastructure line.

Once players get their hands on one Bronze pickaxethey will be able to mine iron, and from there they can pretty much continue to scale and unlock new tools as they please. Remember that other players in the Hive can help them craft better tools and increase their level scaling speed.

Players need it to jump levels and create better equipment

• Stage requirements: 3
• Mem score required: 6
• Energy link required: 750

The Gear Bench will allow players to craft up to Tier 2 weapons and armor, but to continue improving they will eventually need to unlock the Intermediate Gear Bench. This allows them to craft up to Tier V Epic quality gear. However, players will need the Advanced Gear Bench for Legendary Gear.

The Intermediate Gear Bench requires vanadium crystals to be crafted, which can be found in most level 20-25 zones. Remember to keep your eyes open for other ingredients such as scrap, Acid, Gunpowderand Fireproof plastic. Of course, to do that they need one Disassembly bench and plenty of storage space to keep your valuable materials safe.

5 Synthesis bench

Craft Explosives and Staroid

• Stage requirements: 3
• Meme points required: 5
• Energy link required: 700

Unlocking the Synthesis Bench gives you access to explosive (throwable) crafting, which players need to complete the toughest (and most rewarding) challenges in the game, and also allows them to synthesize Steroida key material they can use in advanced crafting and events.

Once players have unlocked Synthesis benchmake sure to grow lots of Acid and Gunpowderas they will need them to craft most of the explosives found in this bench. Players can unlock more explosive recipes by investing in Explosive throwables memetic with 5 meme points and 700 Energy Link.

4 Solar generator

Power up the base, a must

• Stage requirements: 3
• Meme points required: 5
• Energy link required: 700

Most of the intermediate and advanced base facilities will require energy to operate. From the electric smelter to the containment units, all need power to function smoothly. So the first thing players need to do when they have meme points and Energy Link over is to invest in Solar generator memetic.

This will unlock solar panels, which can be built with 15 Steel ingot8 Copper ingot5 Glass4 Refined parts4 Fireproof plastic8 Electronic partsand 3 Fuse. Players can get most of the materials through farming, but fuses must be made in the Supplies Bench with 5 copper, 2 glass and 10 scrap metal. Once they have built their solar panels, they can connect them to the facilities by connecting cables to them from the build mode – a similar system to that in Fallout 4.

3 Garage and alterations

Move faster, explore further

• Stage Requirements: 1 (Garage), 2 (Mods)
• Meme Points Required: 2 (Garage), 3 (Mods)
• Energy Link Required: 100 (Garage), 200 (Mods),

If players want to get to know every nook and cranny of Nalcott (Once human map), they must unlock the garage to create their first vehicle: The Street Motorcycle. To do so, players should unlock the Garage memetic with 2 meme points and 100 Energy Link. Building their first vehicle (Bike) will allow them to explore faster, and of course to gather resources more efficiently.

After they build their first bike, players will wonder what to do next. Well, the next thing they should do is to unlock its modifications by spending 3 extra meme points and 200 Energy Link. Modifications allow them to improve their vehicles through the garage panel and improve their handling, speed, fuel consumption and capacity.

2 Dishes And Advanced Cooking

Better food offers buffs and lasts longer

• Stage requirements: 2
• Meme points required: 3
• Energy link required: 200

Cooking is an important part of Once human as players must maintain consistent levels of hydration and energy to make their character perform at their best. The basic food and water will keep them fed and hydrated but provide no additional benefits. The better food and drink they consume, the more benefits they receive.

So it is important to unlock Dishes 2 and the Advanced Cooking station as soon as possible, so that players can access blue and purple food recipes, which provide considerable buffs such as boosted HP, Stamina, Sanity Recovery, PSI power and more. If they have Chefosaurus Deviant in the base, cooking becomes easier.

1 Rocket Launcher

Because some bosses need it, plus: raiding

• Stage requirements: 3
• Meme points required: 7
• Energy link required: 900

Rocket Launcher are extremely useful in the mid-late game stages, as some bosses have a protective layer similar to a shell, which can only be broken with explosives such as grenades, or the rocket launcher, of course.

If players are playing on a PVP server, they may be wondering how to raid other players: Rocket Launcher is the answer. These powerful weapons can be expensive at first, and their ammunition is difficult to craft, but the long-term rewards are worth the investment. Players need an Intermediate Gear Bench to craft these beauties.