Mastering Science Points in Graveyard Keeper: Step-by-Step Earning Strategies for Every Stage

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Introduction

Progress in Graveyard Keeper depends on your ability to research and unlock advanced technologies. Science points are central to this process, as they allow you to study items at the study table and gain blue, red, and green points essential for advancing your technology tree. However, the game does not always make it clear how to obtain or maximize science points. This guide offers comprehensive, actionable strategies for acquiring and using science points from the early game through to late-game mastery. All information is based on verified sources, and all recommended steps have been tested in the current versions of the game.

What Are Science Points and Why Do They Matter?

Science points are a unique resource in Graveyard Keeper, consumed at the study table in order to analyze objects and unlock new technologies. Studying objects is one of the most reliable ways to earn blue points , which are otherwise difficult to obtain through basic gameplay. Without science points, your ability to unlock critical skills and progress through the game’s tech trees is severely limited [2] .

Getting Started: Unlocking the Study Table

Before you can use science points, you need access to the study table. This requires:

Gaining access to the church by following the main quest line.
Unlocking the basement of the church , where the study table is located.
Once the study table is available, you can begin converting science resources into useful research progress [2] .

Early Game: Earning Science Points with Paper

The most accessible way to earn science points in the early game is using clean paper at the study table. Each clean paper provides two science points when ‘studied.’ Here are step-by-step instructions to get started:

Build a church workbench inside the church.
Harvest skin from corpses at your morgue.
Convert skin into pigskin paper at the church workbench.
Further process pigskin paper into clean paper .
Take clean paper to the study table and study it to gain science points. Each piece returns two points [2] [3] .

Alternative Early Game Method: You may also purchase clean paper directly from the Astrologer at the Lighthouse for one silver per two pieces, allowing you to skip some crafting steps if you have the funds [2] .

Mid-Game: Expanding Science Point Production

As you progress, you gain access to more efficient ways to generate science points. Consider these strategies:

Crafting Notes and Chapters: After building a desk, combine
ruined books
(found in dungeon chests or as quest rewards) with river sand to produce clean paper. Use surplus books to create notes and chapters at your desk, which can also be studied for additional science points.
Studying Books: Books and chapters crafted or found throughout the game can be studied for a larger amount of science points, but may require more faith or materials.
Trading and Automation: Some players automate the creation of paper and notes using zombies in the late mid-game, freeing up time for other tasks [2] .

Example: If you have several ruined books, craft them into clean paper. For each, you receive two clean paper, and each clean paper provides two science points at the study table, for a total of four science points per ruined book.

Late Game: Advanced Sources and Automation

In the late game, advanced crafting stations and automation offer even more ways to generate science points. Consider these methods:

Studying Lenses and Books: Lenses, which require advanced crafting materials, can be studied for a significant science point yield. Books, especially those crafted at higher-tier workstations, yield large amounts of science and blue points.
Zombie Automation: Set up zombies to automatically craft paper, notes, and books at various workbenches, then regularly collect these items to study for science points. This approach dramatically increases your science point production with minimal manual effort [2] .
Efficient Resource Use: As you accumulate more resources, focus on studying items that offer the highest science point return per material used. Check your inventory for surplus items that can be converted into research resources.

Potential Challenge: In the late game, balancing resource allocation between crafting, automation, and research can be complex. Prioritize studying items you have in abundance, and automate where possible to avoid bottlenecks.

Using Science Points: Studying Items for Blue Points

Once you have science points, you can use them to study items at the study table . Each study requires at least one science point and one faith point. Many items yield blue points, which are critical for unlocking advanced technologies. The process is as follows:

Collect the item you wish to study and ensure you have at least one science point and one faith point.
Go to the study table in the church basement.
Select the item and choose to study it. If it has not been studied before, you will receive a notification and a reward of blue points, and sometimes red or green points as well [1] .
Each item can only be studied once, but with careful planning, you can maximize your blue point gain by prioritizing unique items.

Tip: Consuming a cake before studying grants an extra blue point per item, if you have cake available [3] .

Alternative Approaches and Additional Tips

If you find yourself short on science points or faith, consider these alternatives:

Purchase clean paper from the Astrologer if you lack crafting materials or wish to save time.
Increase faith generation by improving your church and holding regular sermons. Faith is required for each study action, so maintaining a steady supply is crucial.
Explore the dungeon and complete quests to find ruined books and other studyable items.
Study surplus or low-value items for science points if you have excess inventory.

For those who want to optimize further, track which items yield the highest return in blue points per science point spent, and focus on those for maximum efficiency.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Challenge: Running out of faith points.

Solution: Ensure you perform sermons at the church every week, as this is the main way to generate faith. Improving your church’s decorations and graveyard quality increases the faith awarded per sermon.

Challenge: Lack of crafting materials for paper.

Solution: Harvest more corpses for skin, explore for ruined books, or consider purchasing paper from the Astrologer as a stopgap measure while you build up your own supply lines.

Step-by-Step Quick Reference

1. Unlock the study table in the church basement. 2. Gather skin from corpses, convert to pigskin paper, then to clean paper. 3. Take clean paper to the study table and study for science points. 4. Use science points and faith to study unique items for blue points. 5. Automate and expand production as you progress to the mid and late game. 6. Supplement with purchases from the Astrologer or dungeon exploration as needed.

Conclusion

Efficiently earning and utilizing science points in Graveyard Keeper will accelerate your research progress and unlock advanced technologies. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you can ensure a steady flow of science points throughout all stages of the game. Whether you are just starting or optimizing for the late game, the key is to leverage both crafting and automation while maintaining a steady supply of faith and research materials.