CONTROL Resonant Crafting Guide: How to Build & Upgrade Gear

Introduction to Crafting in CONTROL Resonant

Crafting is a core survival mechanic in CONTROL Resonant. As you fight through the procedurally generated halls of the mechanical courthouse, you will collect scrap, components, and blueprints. The crafting system allows you to create new weapons, upgrade existing gear, and modify your loadout to match your playstyle. Unlike traditional RPGs, crafting here is fast-paced and directly tied to your combat performance—you can build mid-run using materials dropped by enemies.

Every piece of gear you craft can be the difference between a victorious escape and a brutal reset. This guide covers everything from basic material types to advanced upgrade paths, ensuring you never enter a run unprepared.

Crafting Stations and How to Use Them

Crafting in CONTROL Resonant is done at specific stations scattered throughout the courthouse. There are three main types of stations:

• Workbenches: Found in safe rooms and hub areas. Here you can craft new weapons and armor from blueprints and materials.
• Upgrade Terminals: These allow you to enhance existing gear using upgrade modules and currency. Each upgrade increases base stats and can unlock a bonus perk slot.
• Modification Labs: Found deeper in the courthouse, these let you apply mods to your gear for special effects like increased fire rate, elemental damage, or lifesteal.

To use a station, simply interact with it while carrying the required materials. Your inventory is shown on the left, and the recipe list on the right. Hover over any item to see its stat preview. For a full list of available upgrades, check our gear guide.

Materials and How to Farm Them

Materials are the lifeblood of crafting. Here are the primary resources you will need:

• Scrap Metal: Dropped by mechanical enemies and breakable objects. Used for basic crafting and repairs.
• Circuit Boards: Found in elite enemies and loot chests. Required for weapon upgrades and mod installation.
• Resonant Cores: Rare drops from bosses and mini-bosses. Essential for crafting high-tier gear and unlocking special abilities.
• Fabric Scraps: Dropped by humanoid enemies. Used for armor crafting and durability restoration.
• Data Fragments: Collected from terminals and hidden areas. Used to unlock new blueprints at the hub.

The best farming strategy is to clear side rooms and optional encounters. These areas often contain extra loot chests and elite enemies. For a detailed farming route, see our farming guide.

Step-by-Step: Crafting Your First Weapon

Follow these steps to craft your first weapon in CONTROL Resonant:

1. Gather Materials: Ensure you have at least 20 Scrap Metal and 5 Circuit Boards. These are common drops from early enemies.
2. Find a Workbench: The first workbench is located in the safe room after the tutorial area.
3. Select a Blueprint: Open the crafting menu and choose the "Pulse Rifle" blueprint (default unlocked). This weapon offers balanced damage and fire rate.
4. Craft the Weapon: Confirm the recipe. The weapon will appear in your inventory instantly.
5. Equip and Test: Press the inventory key and equip your new weapon. Test it on the practice dummy or nearby enemies.

For more weapon options, refer to our weapons guide.

Upgrading Gear and Unlocking Perks

Upgrading your gear is crucial for surviving later floors. Each piece of equipment has a level cap of 10. To upgrade, you need:

• Upgrade Modules: Purchased from the hub vendor or found in supply crates.
• Currency: Earned by completing encounters and selling unwanted items.

At level 5 and level 10, your gear unlocks a perk slot. Perks are passive bonuses that can drastically change your build. Common perks include:

• Lifesteal: Heal for 5% of damage dealt.
• Shield Regen: Regenerate shields faster.
• Critical Boost: Increase critical hit chance by 10%.

Choose perks that complement your playstyle. For example, a melee build benefits from lifesteal, while a ranged build prefers critical boosts. For more perk options, check our perks guide.

Advanced Crafting: Mods and Special Effects

Once you reach the mid-game, you can apply mods to your gear at Modification Labs. Mods are consumable items that add special effects. There are three mod slots per weapon: barrel, grip, and sight.

• Barrel Mods: Affect damage type and range. Examples: "Fire Barrel" adds burn damage, "Silenced Barrel" reduces noise.
• Grip Mods: Affect handling and recoil. Examples: "Stabilized Grip" reduces spread, "Ergonomic Grip" increases reload speed.
• Sight Mods: Affect accuracy and targeting. Examples: "Holographic Sight" increases zoom, "Targeting Sight" adds a weak point highlight.

Mods can be removed and reused, so experiment freely. For a complete mod list, see our mods guide.

Best Crafting Builds for Early and Late Game

Here are two recommended crafting builds to get you started:

Early Game Build: "Scavenger"

• Weapon: Pulse Rifle (crafted)
• Armor: Light Armor (crafted from Fabric Scraps)
• Mods: Stabilized Grip, Holographic Sight
• Perks: Shield Regen (from upgrade)

This build focuses on mobility and sustained damage. It is ideal for learning enemy patterns and resource management.

Late Game Build: "Resonant Tank"

• Weapon: Heavy Cannon (requires Resonant Cores)
• Armor: Heavy Armor (requires Circuit Boards and Fabric Scraps)
• Mods: Fire Barrel, Ergonomic Grip, Targeting Sight
• Perks: Lifesteal, Critical Boost

This build excels in boss fights and high-difficulty floors. The heavy armor provides damage reduction, while lifesteal keeps your health topped up.

For more character-specific builds, visit our character builds guide.

Common Crafting Mistakes to Avoid

Many new players fall into these traps:

• Hoarding Materials: Use your materials early. Crafting a weapon upgrade can double your damage output.
• Ignoring Blueprints: Always collect Data Fragments to unlock new blueprints. Some of the best gear is hidden behind these.
• Skipping Upgrades: Even a single upgrade level can make a noticeable difference. Prioritize upgrading your primary weapon.

For more beginner tips, check our beginner tips guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I dismantle crafted items?
Yes, you can dismantle any item at a workbench to recover a portion of its materials. This is useful for recycling unwanted gear.

Do crafting stations reset between runs?
Yes, stations are procedurally placed each run. However, the hub workbench is always available.

Is there a limit to how many mods I can carry?
You can carry up to 10 mods at a time. Excess mods are stored in your hub inventory.

Can I craft consumables?
Yes, you can craft healing items and grenades at specific stations using Fabric Scraps and Scrap Metal.

For more answers, see our wiki FAQ.