How Cauldrons Work

Simple rules, exact results

You never need to calculate these values yourself. The Codex uses them to test every unique ingredient combination.

Normal Cauldron

3 different

(A + B + C) × 1.00

2 equal

(A + A + B) × 0.65

3 equal

(A + A + A) × 0.50

The product with the smallest scaled distance to the calculated value wins. An exact tie uses the lower item ID.

Advanced Cauldron

Different ingredients

| A − B |

Only targets below the higher ingredient cost are eligible.

Same ingredient

Next target above A

The closest strictly higher target wins; the input itself is excluded.

Factory upgrades

Only Factory Efficiency affects Cauldrons — +25% production speed and +25% heat/s per level. It never changes which item you get, only time, heat/s and crafts/min. The other 9 research upgrades do not alter cauldron results.

Verified example

Gentian Nectar + Gentian → Clay

420−400=20 · Clay