The research tree in Graveyard Keeper 2 converts points into blueprints, recipes, and perks. Every node sits inside a category, and unlocking one costs a fixed amount of red, green, and blue points. A few starter nodes work differently and open only after you talk to a specific character or hand over an item.
Quick answer: Spend red, green, and blue points at each node to gain its blueprints, recipes, and perks. The first node in Wood, Stone, and Smithing opens by speaking with the Bishop or the blacksmith, and Clay opens by making clay bowls for the Bishop.
How research nodes and point costs work
Point costs use three colors, written here as Red, Green, and Blue. Most nodes require a mix of them, while some perk nodes lean heavily on Blue. Unlocking a node reveals its entries in your build and crafting menus, so newly researched blueprints and recipes become available at the matching workbench right away.
- Building and Smithing are available from the start; the other categories have to be unlocked first.
- The opening node of a branch is gated by an NPC or a small task instead of a point cost.
- The three Zombie quarrying and mining nodes in Stone require you to speak with Gunter and dig up the zombie before spending points.
Building research nodes
Building splits into three material lines: Wood, Stone, and Clay. Together they cover felling, sawing, stone and marble cutting, ore mining, and pottery, plus the perks that speed up each trade.
Wood
| Technology | Unlocks | Cost or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| The Concept of Wood | Timber Stockpile Blueprint, Small tree felling, Wooden Stick | Speak with the Bishop |
| Sawing | Sawhorse Blueprint, Flitch, Wood Billet | 5 Red, 2 Green |
| Firewood | Chopping Spot, Firewood, Wood Wedge | 10 Red, 5 Green |
| Woodcutter | Big Tree felling, Axeman perk | 50 Red, 20 Blue |
| Zombie Woodcutting | Start building sawmill | 10 Red, 10 Green, 5 Blue |
| Woodworking | Carpenter’s Workbench blueprint, Wooden plank, Wood repair kit | 20 Red, 10 Green |
| Assembly Stand | Carpenter’s Workbench II, Jointing | 200 Red, 50 Green, 20 Blue |
| Fine Woodworking | Carved Wood | 300 Red, 50 Green, 50 Blue |
| Circular Saw | Circular Saw blueprint, Wooden beam | 200 Red, 20 Green, 10 Blue |
| Tricks of the Trade | Prayer for Excellence, Carpenter perk, Mason perk | 50 Red, 50 Blue |
The Firewood node adds the Chopping Spot and produces the fuel that burning stations such as furnaces and ovens rely on. Any station that lists a fire-fuel requirement will sit idle until that fuel is stocked.
Stone
| Technology | Unlocks | Cost or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| The Concept of Stone | Stone Stockpile blueprint, Stone Rock | Speak with the Bishop |
| Stoneworking | Stone cutter blueprint, A piece of stone, Stone Repair Kit | 15 Red, 5 Green |
| Stone Carving | Stone Cutter II, A polished brick of stone, A carved piece of stone | 150 Red, 70 Green, 50 Blue |
| Marble Quarrying | A piece of marble, Marble Repair kit, Big Marble Rock | 200 Red, 200 Green, 50 Blue |
| The Art of Stone | Polished Brick of Marble, Carved Piece of Marble | 300 Red, 50 Green, 50 Blue |
| Zombie Quarrying I | Zombie Stone Quarry | Speak with Gunter and dig up the zombie; 10 Red, 10 Green, 5 Blue |
| Zombie Quarrying II | Zombie Marble Quarry | Speak with Gunter and dig up the zombie; 20 Red, 10 Green |
| Mining | Iron Ore stockpile blueprint, Coal, Iron Ore | 10 Red, 10 Green |
| Zombie Mining | Zombie Ore mine | Speak with Gunter and dig up the zombie; 10 Red, 10 Green, 5 Blue |
| Precious Metals | Graphite, Gold Ore, Silver Ore | 10 Red, 50 Green, 10 Blue |
| Related Ore | Pyrite, Sulfur, Limestone | 10 Red, 100 Green, 10 Blue |
| Scent of Gold | Miner perk | 50 Green, 100 Blue |
| Gems | Diamond | 100 Red, 200 Green, 50 Blue |
| Best Friend | Jeweler perk | 150 Blue |
The Mining node also feeds the Smithing branch, since it opens the Iron Ore stockpile along with Coal and Iron Ore that the furnace needs for ingots.
Clay
| Technology | Unlocks | Cost or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| The Concept of Dirt | Sand, Clay | Make clay bowls for the bishop |
| Clay | Potter’s Wheel blueprint, Ceramic Bowls, Polishing Paste | 5 Red, 5 Green |
| Ceramic Firing | Ceramic Jug, Porcelain Pitcher | 20 Red, 10 Green, 5 Blue |
Smithing research nodes
Smithing runs from bronze-era basics up to steel gear, jewelry, and glasswork. The opening Iron node unlocks after you talk to the blacksmith, and from there the branch splits toward tools, weapons, smelting upgrades, and precious metals.
| Technology | Unlocks | Cost or requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | Furnace blueprint, Iron Ingot, Swamp Iron | Talk to the blacksmith |
| Primitive Forging | Wooden anvil blueprint, Nails, Simple iron parts | 10 Red |
| Tools | Shovel 1, Pickaxe 1, Axe 1 | 20 Red |
| Advanced Forging | Anvil blueprint, Complex iron parts, Iron Chisel | 40 Red, 5 Green |
| Inborn Blacksmith | Blacksmith perk | 20 Red, 30 Blue |
| Weapons | Sword, Iron Armor | 55 Red, 25 Green |
| Martial Skills | Prayer for Retribution, Prayer for Protection, Big Guy perk | 10 Red, 75 Blue |
| Steel | Anvil II blueprint, Steel chisel, Iron hammer | 100 Red, 50 Green, 10 Blue |
| Steel Weapons | Steel Sword, Steel Armor | 100 Red, 20 Green, 10 Blue |
| Skilled Casting | Steel sword with gem, Damask sword with gem | 300 Red, 50 Green, 50 Blue |
| Sword Master | Sword Master perk | 50 Red, 100 Blue |
| Engineer | Prayer for Excellence, Water Pump blueprint, Engineer perk | 50 Red, 100 Blue |
| Steel Tools | Axe II, Shovel II, Pickaxe II | 100 Red |
| Advanced Smelting | Furnace II blueprint, Steel ingot | 50 Red, 20 Green, 10 Blue |
| Rules of Burning | Lantern network blueprint, Place for lantern blueprint, Fireman perk | 10 Red, 50 Green, 30 Blue |
| Iron Castings | Furnace III blueprint, Steel parts | 200 Red, 50 Green, 20 Blue |
| Jeweler | Silver ingot, Gold ingot | 100 Red, 50 Green, 20 Blue |
| Precious Little Things | Jewelry table blueprint, Gold jewelry details, Jewelry | 150 Red, 50 Blue |
| Glass | Glass | 10 Green, 10 Red |
| Glass-blower | Conical flasks | 30 Red, 10 Green, 10 Blue |
| Glass-blower II | Advanced conical flasks, Lens | 50 Red, 10 Green, 30 Blue |
How to confirm a node unlocked
Once you pay the cost, the node lights up as researched and its listed items appear where you use them. Blueprints show up in your build menu, recipes appear at the matching workbench, and perks become available to slot. If a node hands over a perk, look for it in the perk lists tied to that trade. If it hands over a blueprint, the new station or upgrade will be placeable straight away.
