ByYurii LuzhkoUpdated July 10, 2026

Kenshi Tech Tree

The full Kenshi research tree — all 195 technologies across 8 branches and 6 tech levels. Tap any research to trace its prerequisite path, then build a plan and get the exact cost in Books, Ancient Science Books, Engineering Research and AI Cores — prerequisites included.

Kenshi interactive map

0 No cost1 Book1 Ancient Science Book1 Engineering Research1 AI Core

80%

Quick goalsone click → a full plan with every prerequisite & its cost

Your research0/1950%

Mark techs researched (on any node or in the plan) — your progress is saved on this device and the planner shows only what's left to farm.

Core

Crafting

Smithing

Farming

Electrics

Defense

Industry

Training

Tech 1

Tech 2

Tech 3

Tech 4

Tech 5

Tech 6

Load a goal above, or add targets with ＋ Add to plan. We total your targets and every prerequisite— then subtract what you've already researched to show the exact books & artifacts still to farm.

The 8 research branches

Kenshi's research menu is split into eight branches. Each unlocks a different side of your outpost — building, crafting, defense, power, farming and more.

Core Tech

16 research

Tech levels, storage, housing and building shells — the backbone every base needs.

Crafting Tech

15 research

Robotics, skeleton repair, cooking and material presses — workshop benches and their kits.

Smithing Tech

42 research

Weapon smithing grades, armour crafting and crossbows — everything for a functioning armoury.

Farming Tech

19 research

Crop farms, hydroponics, cooking and booze — food and trade-good production.

Electrics Tech

39 research

Generators, batteries, lighting and wind/fuel power — the grid that runs automated machines.

Defense Tech

18 research

Walls, gates, harpoon and crossbow turrets, search lights — outpost fortifications.

Industry Tech

31 research

Ore drills, stone & iron refineries, wells and biofuel — raw-resource extraction and refining.

Training Tech

15 research

Training dummies, thievery, assassination and turret drills — skill-training equipment.

Research materials & total cost

Every research is paid for in one of four consumables. These are the totals to research the entire vanilla tree (Kenshi v1.0.68) — most players only ever need a fraction, which is what the plan calculator above is for.

Books

317

Bought from Bookshops / looted everywhere. The staple cost of low-level research.

Ancient Science Books

154

Found in Ancient Labs and ruins across the map. Gate most mid-tier (level 3-5) tech.

Engineering Research

Rare data artifacts recovered from ruins — needed for advanced engineering and skeleton tech.

AI Cores

The rarest research artifact, guarded deep in dangerous ruins. Required for the highest-tier tech (hydroponics, robotics limbs, top turrets).

About this tech tree

This planner indexes 195 researches and 162 prerequisite links across 8 branches and 6 tech levels, pulled from Kenshi Wiki (Fandom) (official game data (Kenshi v1.0.68)). Tech levels, prerequisites and material costs are factual game data; descriptions are licensed CC BY-SA.

Kenshi research FAQ

How does research work in Kenshi?

You build a Research Bench and assign a character with the Science skill to it. Each of Kenshi's 195 technologies needs a research bench of the right level (I-V), a set amount of time, and consumable materials — Books, Ancient Science Books, Engineering Research or AI Cores. Completing research unlocks new buildings, crafting benches, turrets, farms or upgrades. This planner maps every research, its prerequisites and its exact cost.

What is Engineering Research in Kenshi?

Engineering Research is a rare research artifact looted from Ancient Labs and ruins. Along with AI Cores it gates Kenshi's advanced technology — skeleton limbs, automated mining, high-tier turrets and power. In this tool you can filter research by cost to see exactly which techs spend Engineering Research and how many you need.

What are Ancient Science Books and AI Cores used for?

Ancient Science Books unlock most mid-tier research (tech levels 3-5) and are found in Ancient Labs. AI Cores are the rarest research material, required for the highest-tier tech such as Hydroponics, robotics and the best defensive turrets. The plan calculator totals both across your selected research targets plus every prerequisite.

How do I raise my tech level in Kenshi?

Tech level is raised by researching the 'Tech Level' upgrades in the Core branch (Tech Level 2 through 6), each needing a higher-level Research Bench and more books. Higher tech levels unlock the ability to research the deeper technologies in every branch.

How many Books does it take to research everything in Kenshi?

Researching the entire vanilla tech tree costs roughly 317 Books, 154 Ancient Science Books, 19 Engineering Research and 18 AI Cores (Kenshi v1.0.68). Most players never research everything — use the plan calculator to price only the techs you actually want.