How to get Science in Graveyard Keeper 2, load it into the Study Table, use Clean Paper and Science Kits, and fix common Study Table problems.
Updated · version 1.006
Quick answer
Science does not drop from normal crafting and is not awarded automatically. You have to load Science into the Study Table by decomposing Clean Paper or a Science Kit there. Clean Paper gives 1 Science, Science Kit I gives 30, and Science Kit II gives 60.
The tower laboratory contains a small starting supply, including Clean Paper and Science Kit I. Do not waste it on random items before studying the ingredients required for early progression and alchemy.
Science is the resource spent when researching items at the Study Table.
It does not buy technologies directly. Instead, you spend Science to study a specific object, and that study can reveal or reward:
The Study Table is especially important for alchemy because an ingredient's runes can remain hidden until it has been researched.
If alchemy is your blocker, see Graveyard Keeper 2 Alchemy Guide.
The early tutorial can make the research location sound more confusing than it needs to be.
The Study Table is in the tower laboratory.
It performs two different jobs:
decompose paper and Science Kits into Science;
spend stored Science to research other items.
That distinction matters. Carrying a Science Kit in your backpack does not mean you already have 30 Science available.
The laboratory's starting supplies are enough to begin the system.
Early on you can obtain:
That gives you roughly 31 Science before you build a renewable paper chain.
It is enough for the first required research if you do not spend it randomly.
Use the Study Table and select an item that can be decomposed into Science:
Unlike normal research, decomposition consumes the paper or kit.
The resulting Science is stored in the Study Table and can then be spent on research.
1 Science
This is the basic renewable source once you can make paper reliably.
See How to Make Paper.
30 Science
This is the first substantial research package.
Once your writing production is established, kits are much more convenient than feeding individual sheets into the table.
60 Science
A later, larger package for research-heavy progression.
It arrives after further writing-related technology.
The safest rule is to research what your current progression actually needs rather than every object with colorful point icons.
For early alchemy, Water and Blood are especially important.
Studying them:
If Laboratory ingredients are greyed out, check whether they have been studied before assuming the lab is broken.
Several different requirements can block research.
Science must be stored in the Study Table itself.
A Science Kit sitting in your inventory is not yet usable Science.
Some items require Faith in addition to Science.
If the Science amount is correct but the study still cannot begin, check the secondary requirement.
See Faith and Inspirations Explained.
An item type is generally researched once.
Research is not an infinite tech-point farm where you repeatedly study identical objects.
Different quality versions can also belong to the same research group, so do not assume a higher-star copy automatically gives you another study.
No.
When you study an item, the researched object is not consumed.
The consumables that disappear are the items you decompose specifically to generate Science: paper and Science Kits.
Both operations happen at the same workstation, which is why players often confuse them.
After the starting supplies run out, you need the paper/writing production chain.
The basic loop is:
produce Paper Glop;
turn it into Clean Paper with the Paper Press;
use Clean Paper directly for 1 Science or as an input for Science Kits;
decompose the resulting paper/kits at the Study Table.
Once that chain exists, Science stops being a mysterious limited resource.
There really was a launch bug involving this workstation.
Update 1.005 specifically fixed a case where the Study Table could lock after an item was inserted for Science, preventing research from starting.
If the interface behaves abnormally:
make sure you are on 1.006 or newer;
leave the workstation;
save by sleeping;
reload the save;
try again.
If it still fails on the current patch, you may be dealing with a new bug rather than a misunderstood requirement.
Science and tech points are different resources.
Decomposing paper or a kit gives Science.
Spending Science to research an item gives tech points.
The full loop is:
Paper / Science Kit → Science → study an item → tech points + runes
Simply loading 30 Science does not advance the technology tree by itself.
Early on, prioritize:
quest/alchemy requirements;
objects that give the tech-point colors you currently need;
new ingredients whose runes matter;
rare items only when you know the research is useful.
Do not treat the Study Table as a place to click every inventory item immediately.
Research does not require a minimum Book Writing Mastery just to function, but higher skill can make the work more efficient, and later perks improve the process further.
For the broader Mastery system, see Graveyard Keeper 2 Mastery Explained.
Unlock renewable Clean Paper and Science Kit production through writing progression.
No. Science itself is stored in the Study Table, although the materials used to generate it can come from production or trading.
No. Research is Keeper work.
Use whatever you have early. Once production is established, Science Kits are much more convenient as large bundles.
Crafting
How to make Clean Paper in Graveyard Keeper 2, unlock the Paper Press, produce Paper Glop, and use paper for Science, prayers and writing.
Alchemy
How the new Alchemy system works: studying ingredients, red/green/blue runes, Laboratory I and II, Dream Dust, flasks and Reanimation Liquid.
Getting started
How to get Faith, how Inspirations feed the talent system, how they affect Mastery, and why spending all your Faith on the first available upgrade can slow progression.
Getting started
How Mastery works in Graveyard Keeper 2, which tools increase it, how talents and food buffs contribute, and why you should not grind Faith before checking your gear.
