How to Get Wolfram Powder in StarRupture: Complete Crafting & Automation Guide

Resource gathering and production chains are the backbone of StarRupture, and Wolfram Powder is one of those materials that seems simple until you realize there’s an entire multi-step manufacturing process behind it. Unlike basic resources you can just mine and use, Wolfram Powder requires a specific structure that’s locked behind corporation progression—plus a whole production line to automate it properly.

If you’ve been scratching your head wondering how to turn Wolfram ore into powder, or why you can’t seem to find the right building, don’t worry. I’m going to walk you through the entire process, from finding the ore deposits to setting up a fully automated production chain.

What is Wolfram Powder Used For?

Before diving into the crafting process, let’s talk about why you need this stuff. Wolfram Powder becomes essential once you start venturing deeper into Arcadia-7’s more dangerous zones.

Primary use: Assault Rifle ammunition

Your trusty pistol might carry you through the early game, but eventually you’ll face tougher enemies that demand more firepower. The Assault Rifle is a significant combat upgrade, and it runs on ammo crafted from Wolfram Powder. If you want to survive late-game encounters and underground cave expeditions, you’ll need a steady supply of this material.

Check out our weapons unlock guide for more info on getting the Assault Rifle and other advanced weaponry.

The Wolfram Powder Production Chain

Here’s the complete process from ore to powder:

Wolfram Ore → Wolfram Bars → Wolfram Powder

This requires three main structures (four if you’re shipping to corporations):

1. Ore Extractor (on Wolfram deposit)
2. Smelter (converts ore to bars)
3. Furnace (converts bars to powder)
4. Request Terminal (optional, for corporation shipments)

The tricky part? That Furnace is locked behind corporation progression. Let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Finding and Extracting Wolfram Ore

First things first—you need to locate Wolfram deposits on Arcadia-7’s surface.

How to identify Wolfram deposits:

Look for areas with a distinct bronze coloring on the planet’s surface. These bronze patches indicate Wolfram ore deposits. Once you’ve found one, mark it on your map for future reference.

Setting up your extractor:

1. Place an Ore Extractor directly on the Wolfram deposit
2. Connect power to the extractor (solar generator works fine)
3. The extractor will automatically start harvesting Wolfram ore

For maximum efficiency, consider setting up automated ore extraction systems so you’re not manually managing this process.

Step 2: Smelting Ore into Wolfram Bars

Now that you’ve got ore flowing from your extractor, it’s time to convert it into bars.

Building your smelter:

1. Construct a Smelter near your Wolfram extractor
2. Use a rail to connect the extractor’s output to the smelter’s input
3. Ensure the smelter has sufficient power (add another solar generator if needed)
4. Interact with the smelter and select Wolfram Bars from the production menu

If everything’s connected properly, you’ll see Wolfram ore automatically traveling along the rail from your extractor to the smelter, where it gets processed into bars. This is automation at work—no manual hauling required.

Need help with the basics? Our basic building materials guide covers the fundamentals of construction.

Step 3: Unlocking the Furnace (Critical!)

Here’s where many players hit a roadblock: you cannot access the Furnace until you reach Level 4 with the Selenian Corporation.

How to Reach Level 4 with Selenian Corporation

You need 6,400 reputation points with Selenian to unlock the Furnace blueprint. Here are your best strategies:

Method 1: Mass-produce easy materials

The most efficient approach is crafting and shipping materials that are easy to produce in bulk. Titanium Sheets are an excellent choice for this because:

• Titanium deposits are common
• The production chain is simple and quick
• You can automate large quantities easily

Set up a dedicated production line for whatever material you choose, and start fulfilling Selenian contracts consistently.

Method 2: Data Point acceleration

If you’ve been exploring and collecting plant samples, enemy drops, or discovering new locations, you’ve probably accumulated Data Points. Here’s the shortcut:

1. Enter your Habitat
2. Use the terminal screen inside
3. Select the option to send Data Points to a corporation
4. Dump your Data Points into Selenian Corporation

This can nearly instantly boost your reputation level if you’ve stockpiled enough points. It’s especially useful during the early game when you’re trying to unlock key structures quickly.

Pro tip: Combine both methods—fulfill contracts while periodically dumping Data Points for maximum progression speed.

Step 4: Converting Bars to Wolfram Powder

Once you’ve unlocked the Furnace at Selenian Level 4, you’re ready for the final step:

1. Place a Furnace near your smelter
2. Connect the smelter to the furnace using another rail
3. Add a solar generator (or additional power source) to ensure the furnace has enough energy
4. Interact with the furnace and select Wolfram Powder from the production options

Your automated production chain is now complete! Wolfram ore flows from the extractor to the smelter, becomes bars, then travels to the furnace where it’s converted into powder.

Manual vs. Automated Production

Not ready to commit to a full production line? There’s a simpler alternative for small-batch crafting:

Manual method:

If you just need a small amount of Wolfram Powder and don’t want continuous production:

1. Collect Wolfram Bars manually (or from your storage)
2. Place them directly into a standalone Furnace
3. Craft the powder as needed

This approach works fine for occasional crafting, but if you’re making Assault Rifle ammo regularly, the automated setup saves massive amounts of time and effort.

Optimizing Your Production Chain

Once you’ve got the basics running, consider these improvements:

Power management: Make sure you have enough solar generators (or other power sources) to run all structures simultaneously. Power shortages will halt your entire production line.

Storage solutions: Place storage containers at each stage to buffer materials and prevent bottlenecks. This is especially important if one stage produces faster than the next consumes.

Multiple production lines: As you progress, consider setting up duplicate chains for different materials. You might have one line for Wolfram Powder and another for Helium or Ignitium processing.

Rail organization: Keep your rails organized and clearly routed. A messy base makes troubleshooting production issues a nightmare.

Why Corporation Leveling Matters

The Furnace unlock is just one example of why building relationships with corporations is crucial in StarRupture. Each corporation level unlocks new blueprints, crafting recipes, and capabilities that expand what you can build and produce.

Don’t sleep on this progression system—it directly gates access to essential late-game content. Check our character guide for tips on which corporations to prioritize based on your playstyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wolfram Powder might seem complicated at first, but once you understand the production chain and unlock that Furnace, it becomes just another automated resource in your growing industrial empire on Arcadia-7.

Focus on leveling Selenian Corporation early, set up your production chain properly with good power management, and you’ll have a steady supply of Assault Rifle ammo ready for whatever threats you encounter.

For more essential crafting and resource guides, check out our articles on getting Calcium, unlocking grenades, and weapon modding. And if you’re just starting out, our beginner’s guide will help you build a solid foundation.

Ready to start your industrial empire? Grab StarRupture on Steam and start building your production chains today!