SteamWorld Tiers - Zaexides/SteamWorld GitHub Wiki

Tier 1: Steaite

Steaite is a strong, dense metal found plenty underground. It is the core material for any Tier 1 machine. Even though it is easily found underground, beware that you try not to mine it with any tool weaker than a diamond one.
Steaite can be grinded into dust, which can then be melted into ingots. Or the ore can be melted into ingots directly. Once in the form of an ingot, it can be crafted into blocks or nuggets, or into one of the various SteamWorld machines.
The Steaite Tier contains most of the basic machinery, including the Steam Generator, Steam Furnace and Steam Grinder, as well as a couple of other useful machines, such as the Fertilizer, Fisher, Farmer and Lumberjack.

Tier 2: Ancite

Ancite is, like the name would imply, an old, forgotten material. It's easily found within one of the many ancient structures, which can appear either underground or on the surface. It's very rare, so it's best to find an alternative way of obtaining it as soon as you can. There are rumors that you may be able to assemble ancite using a Diamond Block, a Lapis Block and some redstone.
Ancite is the core material for Tier 2 machines, which include, upgrades from Tier 1 aside, the Steam Assembler, the expensive Nether Steam Generator and the Experience Machine.

Tier 3: Endritch

Unlike the former two tiers, Endritch needs to be assembled into its crystal shape. The creation of Endritch requires materials not found within the Overworld or the Nether, but instead requires materials from The End and its inhabitants.
The Endritch Tier machines include mostly upgrades from the former Tiers, as well as the Nether Steam Generator Accelerator. This machine increases the speed of nearby Nether Steam Generator without the need of any steam, but at a different cost.
Additionally you may craft a teleporter, which allows you to quickly travel from and to other teleporters spread across the multiverse.