You open your tech tree or try to build a sturdy foundation, only to realize everything demands a resource you don’t have. The game also doesn’t explain where to find your first pieces of metal. You can absolutely jumpstart your scrap economy without spending a single piece of metal.
In this guide, we will explore the hidden entry points for early materials and explain why this specific resource dictates whether your colony lives or dies.
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How to Get Metal in the Beginning
At the start, the tech tree looks impossible. Most options show a metal cost right away. This makes it seem like you missed an obvious step. Actually, the starting points are just hidden. You have four clear ways to start your metal supply without needing any to begin with.
- Metal Crane: This is your real entry point. You can research the Metal Crane without any metal. Once you unlock it, the whole tech tree opens up. It leads directly to collection boats and better structures.
- Metal Gathering Hut: You can research and build this hut for free. Place it near some debris. Your workers will automatically pull scrap from nearby objects. You do not need perfect placement. Just make sure scrap is in range.
- Explosives: You might feel completely stuck and just need a tiny boost. Explosives solve this. You can blow up broken concrete walls to get instant metal. It is a great shortcut to place your first key building.
- Early Boats: You can also research a basic boat early on. This allows your sailors to bring in scrap from outside your immediate zone.
Best Ways to Produce Metal Later
Once you get those first few pieces, the game transforms. You move from a state of restriction to a state of resource management. Your next goal is to build a reliable economic engine.
- Recycling Center: This is a fantastic building. You can assign your engineers and workers here to turn regular junk into usable metal.
- Metal Boats and Sailors: Put your sailors to work. Send them out on metal boats to gather resources from distant ruins. They will bring back a steady supply of scrap.
Why You Need Metal Fast (Hell Rain)
You might wonder why you need to rush this material at all. Wood is cheap and plentiful. It solves your initial housing problems. However, relying on wood for too long is a fatal mistake.
All Will Fall features a brutal physics system and devastating storms known as Hell Rain. These storms bring heavy winds and rising water levels. If your colony relies on a wooden foundation, the pressure will snap your supports. Your entire city can collapse like a fragile Jenga tower in a few seconds.
You must treat metal foundations as a mandatory survival requirement.
| Material | Structural Support | Storm Resilience | Recommended Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Extremely low | Very vulnerable | Early emergency shelters only |
| Metal | Massive (up to 800) | Highly resistant | Mid to late-game towers and bridges |
Late Game Metal Uses and Final Goal
The ocean will not give you more space. Horizontal land is almost zero. Therefore, you have to build vertically. You need to stack houses on top of warehouses.
Because of gravity and physics, you need strong pillars. Metal supports allow you to build much longer bridges and much taller towers. Always check your stress overlay before adding a new floor.
Finally, you need this resource for the ultimate objective. The game gives you an end goal to escape the crumbling world. You will need to build a huge steel ship. This requires 300 metal, 300 fuel, and 60 tools. So, start hoarding your scrap early!
