Catalyst

Catalyst is a late-game material in Timberborn, produced at the Refinery by combining 25 Extract and 25 Maple Syrup to yield 125 Catalyst over a 3-hour production cycle. This generous output ratio makes each Refinery batch highly efficient, though the input requirements link Catalyst production to two separate supply chains: Badwater processing (for Extract via the Centrifuge) and Maple tree tapping (for Maple Syrup via Tapper's Shacks).

Catalyst serves as a performance booster for Timberbots in the Folktails faction. When supplied with Catalyst, Timberbots receive enhanced capabilities that improve their productivity beyond what Biofuel alone provides. This makes Catalyst a force multiplier for your mechanical workforce, turning already-efficient bots into even more productive workers. The combination of Biofuel for basic operation and Catalyst for enhanced performance creates a two-tier fuel system for Folktails bots.

Producing Catalyst requires balancing two very different resource streams. Extract depends on Badwater availability, which fluctuates with Badtide cycles, while Maple Syrup requires mature Maple trees and functioning Tapper's Shacks. Plan your Catalyst production around Badtide schedules: process and store Extract during contamination events, then combine it with stockpiled Maple Syrup at the Refinery during calm periods. The 125-unit output per batch means that even infrequent production runs can build up significant reserves. Keep your Catalyst stored and ready for when your Timberbot fleet needs the performance boost.