Graveyard Keeper 2 Early Tech: What to Unlock First
A safe unlock order for the opening tech tree — reasoning first, exact costs launch-gated.
The demo's tech tree shows four tabs (Character, Tech Tree, Inspirations, Quests, Map) and categories such as Building and Nature. Node names below are read directly from the demo UI; exact point costs are launch-gated until the full game confirms them. Last verified: 2026-09-21 (demo build). Re-check after the 2026-09-22 launch..
Tier 1 — processing before everything
- The Concept of Wood — the demo's first wood node; everything downstream needs it.
- Woodworking I + Chopping — planks and firewood: the backbone of early crafting and building.
- The Concept of Stone — stone blocks feed graveyard construction and workstations.
Tier 2 — tools and graveyard basics
- Tool Rack — verified demo node; better tools speed up every gathering loop.
- Simple Weapons / Simple Barricades — verified demo nodes pointing at the defence layer (zombies are coming — see zombie automation).
- Pottery I / Brick Making — verified demo nodes; bricks unlock sturdier structures.
- Stone Polishing / Oiled wood — quality tiers for when you start pushing graveyard rating. Rating guide
What to postpone
- Cosmetic and comfort nodes before your processing chain is complete — output first, comfort later.
- Alchemy-adjacent tech until you've visited the Astrologer's Tower and know what it feeds. Alchemy hub
- Anything costing a colour of points you haven't earned yet — check the tech points guide first.
Decision rule
When two unlocks compete, pick the one that removes a bottleneck in the loop you actually repeat: gather → process → build → bury. If neither does, both can wait.
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
What should I unlock first in Graveyard Keeper 2?
Wood processing (The Concept of Wood → Woodworking I → Chopping), then stone — the demo-verified backbone of the early game.
Are exact tech costs listed anywhere?
Not until they can be verified in the full game; printing guessed costs is how guides go wrong. This page updates after launch.
Do tech points carry between colours?
No — red, green and blue are separate counters, which is why the unlock order matters as much as the total.