Humans
Lazarus Complex Guide: How to Grow Humans in The Last Caretaker
Data Status
- Originally checked against the community wiki in April 2026. Food values, unlock tiers, the growth minimums and food plans now come from the data used across this site.
- Power and water estimates reviewed 2026-10-10 against post-Update 5.5 screens. Other sections have not been fully re-audited.
- Note: Update 4 added a second seed vault location, Eden Cradle; this guide covers the Seed Vault Prometheus route
TL;DR - Quick Summary
Repair a rack → check the growth estimates: 10.0 kWh estimated per human and 10,000 L estimated per human → food must push Height ≥ 30, Weight ≥ 20, Life Exp ≥ 10 (fewest items with tier 10–11 food: 2 High-Fat + 1 Nutri-Core + 5 Physique Fuel) → memory items in the rack → seed run with the countdown starting at about 2 hours.
"Not enough" means one of the three stats is under its threshold — see the fix or plan your combo in the Human Calculator.
The Lazarus Complex is the endgame facility where you grow humans from seeds. This guide covers the full process: retrieving seeds, repairing racks, preparing food, collecting memory items, and troubleshooting the common "not enough" error.
Want the full deep-dive walkthrough?
Our blog post covers the complete journey from Seed Vault Prometheus to your first human, including power setup, water infrastructure, and troubleshooting every common failure.
Read the Complete GuideQuick Navigation
How the Lazarus Complex Works
The Lazarus Complex is where you cultivate humans — the core objective of The Last Caretaker. The process has two main phases: preparing the facility, then retrieving and growing seeds.
While you are here, pick up the paint: 5 paints are found at the Lazarus Complex (Ink Strip, RexWreck, Salt Bloom, Sea Raid, Tide Girl). The paint finder lists every paint and where it is.
The Council of Humanity chamber is in this complex too. After your first launch you come back here to seat the humans you sent into space on committees.
The Process at a Glance
Key Insight: Pod vs Rack
The Lazarus Pod and Lazarus Rack are two separate things. The seed goes into the Pod first (a portable container), then the Pod goes into the Rack (the stationary incubation unit).
The Lazarus Pod blueprint is listed at skill tier 12 (B, checked against Early Access 0.8.5).
Repairing Lazarus Racks
Repairing a broken Lazarus Rack takes Plastic 20, Glass 10, Rubber 10, Iron 15, Gold 10, Aluminium 5, Titanium 5 and Carbon Fiber 5.
The repair screen for a broken Lazarus Rack lists 8 materials: Plastic 20, Glass 10, Rubber 10, Iron 15, Gold 10, Aluminium 5, Titanium 5 and Carbon Fiber 5.
Checked 2026-10-08
The repair’s electricity cost and time vary: 61 Wh and 0:12 in one game, 84 Wh and 0:16 in another, both on Early Access 0.8.5. The reason is not known.
Checked 2026-10-08
Short on Titanium or Carbon Fiber? See where to get Titanium and Carbon Fiber. For Gold and Iron from ore, see the Ores & Mining guide.
Start with one repaired rack; you can grow humans one at a time.
For verified dismantling information, see the Dismantle Tool Guide.
Power & Water Setup
Electricity: Growth Energy Estimate
The rack’s Estimation screen shows 10.0 kWh as the estimated electricity to grow one human. This is a growth energy estimate, not the rack’s continuous power draw. It stays the same whatever food and memory items you load.
Checked 2026-10-08
The downstairs wall sockets do not power the racks. Run your own cable from rooftop or balcony power sources; extenders can carry the connection down the elevator shaft.
See our Power Grid Setup Guide and Solar Panel Guide.
Fresh Water: Growth Estimate and Standby Use
The Water Purifier converts sea water into fresh water. See the linked pump → purifier → tank → equipment connection guide.
The rack’s Estimation screen shows 10,000 L of fresh water to grow one human. It stays the same whatever food and memory items you load; only the growth time changes.
Checked 2026-10-08
Correction, October 8, 2026: this page earlier said 1,000 L; the correct reading is 10,000 L.
Loading more food and memory items raises the estimated growth time, not the electricity or water. The screens we checked ranged from 1:00 with 2 kg loaded to 4:20 with 61.5 kg.
Checked 2026-10-08
A rack holding a seed uses 100 L/h of fresh water in standby, separate from the growth water estimate.
Checked 2026-10-05
A separate water supply line for each rack may help.
Checked 2026-10-05
If the rack still says No Power, see the official fixes.
Growth Estimates and Standby Use — Quick Reference
| Resource | Estimate or Use |
|---|---|
| Growth electricity | 10.0 kWh estimated per human |
| Growth fresh water | 10,000 L estimated per human |
| Standby fresh water | 100 L/h while holding a seed |
| Food | Multiple types (see below) |
| Memory Items | Set mental traits (see below) |
Food System: Soilforge → Food Processor
Food sets the human's physical stats. Here is the pipeline from Bio materials to the food you load into the rack.
Two-Step Food Pipeline
Soilforge unlocks at Tier 10 and the Food Processor at Tier 10 (B, checked against Early Access 0.8.5). You need both to make food for the Lazarus Racks.
Where the Rare Food Materials Come From
The elite foods below use Bioregulator, Nanite Nutrient and Mitochondrial Amplifier. Bio Flesh comes from dismantling creatures: one dismantled Talon Shark gave 8 Bio Flesh and one Arch Angel gave 4 in Update 5.5 (single examples). See the combat guide for the full drops, and how to make Mitochondrial Amplifier in a Soilforge.
Complete Food Recipes & Stat Values
Twelve of the thirteen recipes agree between sources; Nanite Infusion has two versions, so it is left out of any totals here. The Human Calculator lists each recipe with its sources (reviewed 2026-10-06 against game 0.8.5 data).
There are 13 food types. Each gives different amounts of Height, Weight, Life Expectancy, Strength, and Intellect. The table below shows what each food gives — use this to plan which foods you need to meet the minimum thresholds.
Basic Foods (Tier 10–11)
| Food | Tier | Height | Weight | Life Exp | Str | Int | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutri-Core | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 Fat · 3 Protein · 3 Carbohydrate |
| High-Fat | 10 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 Fat · 5 Protein · 5 Carbohydrate |
| Physique Fuel | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 Fat · 4 Protein · 2 Carbohydrate |
| Mind Surge | 11 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 2 Fat · 10 Protein · 1 Carbohydrate |
Advanced Foods (Tier 13–15)
| Food | Tier | Height | Weight | Life Exp | Str | Int | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Fortification | 13 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 1 Calcium · 12 Vitamin D · 2 Omega-3 |
| Bone-Fortify | 14 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 3 Vitamin D · 10 Calcium · 2 Omega-3 |
| Endura-Growth | 14 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 4 Vitamin D · 4 Calcium · 4 Omega-3 |
| Immune Boost | 15 | 6* | 6* | 6* | 6* | 6* | 1 Fat · 2 Protein · 3 Carbohydrate · 3 Vitamin D · 3 Calcium · 3 Omega-3 |
| Neuro-Boost | 15 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 15 | 3 Calcium · 3 Vitamin D · 10 Omega-3 |
* Immune Boost readings differ between game screens (the wiki gives 6 for each body stat, a November 2025 screen shows 5), so check yours before you count on it.
Elite Foods (Tier 17–19)
| Food | Tier | Height | Weight | Life Exp | Str | Int | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitochondrial Surge | 17 | 20 | 3 | 12 | 28 | 3 | 2 Nanite Nutrient · 2 Mitochondrial Amplifier · 2 Bioregulator |
| Hyper-Evolution | 18 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 1 Bioregulator · 3 Nanite Nutrient · 1 Mitochondrial Amplifier |
| Nanite Infusion | 18 | 25 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 25 | Two versions disagree: 1 Fat · 1 Calcium · 4 Nanite Nutrient, or 3 Bioregulator · 1 Mitochondrial Amplifier · 1 Nanite Nutrient |
| Ultimate Genesis | 19 | 50 | 10 | 40 | 10 | 50 | 1 Bioregulator · 1 Nanite Nutrient · 5 Mitochondrial Amplifier |
Elite recipes use Bioregulator, Nanite Nutrient and Mitochondrial Amplifier; see where Bio Flesh comes from above.
Fewest Food Items to Clear the Minimums
To clear only the growth minimums (Height ≥ 30, Weight ≥ 20, Life Exp ≥ 10), these are the smallest combinations of confirmed food values:
- • Tier 10 food only: 10 Nutri-Core (10 items)
- • Up to tier 11: 2 High-Fat + 1 Nutri-Core + 5 Physique Fuel (8 items)
- • All foods: 2 Ultimate Genesis (2 items)
For a specific profession, the human recipe finder gives the fewest food items for its requirements.
Memory Items & Mental Traits
Memory items determine the mental traits of the human you grow, separate from the physical stats that food controls. A complete, checked list of memory items and their values is not available yet.
Mental Traits and Professions
Each profession needs certain trait values on top of its physical requirements. The human recipes guide lists the trait targets for every profession.
The 10 Mental Traits
The growth minimums are physical only; mental traits count toward profession requirements. The wiki lists 40 professions.
Tip: Carry the Items You Want to Add
The community wiki says food and memory items are added to the rack from your inventory.
Seed Retrieval & the Countdown
Do NOT retrieve a seed until your rack is fully prepared
The current seed countdown starts at about 2 hours. Returning a seed to a cryogenic storage vault pauses its countdown. A seed in a Pod on a powered, fresh-water-supplied rack has its countdown stopped. Keep both supplies running.
Between November 2025 and January 2026, the countdown was described as one hour. This may reflect an earlier version, but no patch note confirms that explanation.
Countdown checked 2026-10-05: Human Seed — wiki revision 5030 · Wiki: Lazarus Rack, revision 6200
Seed Retrieval Process
Before you go: Verify your rack shows all requirements as met. Check power and fresh-water supplies against the current Estimation screen, food (stats above thresholds), and memory items. If anything is missing, fix it before retrieving the seed.
Minimum Stat Thresholds — The "Not Enough" Fix
If the rack says "not enough", check these minimums first:
Minimum Physical Stat Thresholds
Your food combination must reach all three minimums. One stat below the minimum is enough to stop the growth.
"Not Enough" Diagnostic Flowchart
Step 1: Check the rack screen — which stat is short?
Compare each total with the minimums above.
Step 2: Match the deficient stat to the right food
• Height too low? → Add Physique Fuel (+5), Bone-Fortify (+8), or Hyper-Evolution (+30)
• Weight too low? → Add High-Fat (+8), Muscle Fortification (+8), or Ultimate Genesis (+10)
• Life Expectancy too low? → Add Mind Surge (+6), Endura-Growth (+8), Neuro-Boost (+10), or Ultimate Genesis (+40)
Step 3: Carry the food you want to add
The community wiki says items are added from your inventory.
Step 4: Countdown still running with power and water connected?
See the known bug and its fix.
Example: Fewest Items with Tier 10–11 Food
- • 2x High-Fat → adds Height 2, Weight 16, Life Exp 2
- • 1x Nutri-Core → adds Height 3, Weight 3, Life Exp 3
- • 5x Physique Fuel → adds Height 25, Weight 5, Life Exp 5
Totals: Height 30, Weight 24, Life Exp 10 — all minimums cleared with 8 food items.
Food Processor ingredients: 29 Fat, 33 Protein, 23 Carbohydrate.
Use our Lazarus Human Calculator to plan your food combinations and verify stat readiness before a seed run.
Growing the Human
Once the Lazarus Pod is placed into a Rack that meets all requirements, the human grows. Rack Estimation screens show 1:00–2:20 of growth time, rising with more items; in play, a human has taken about 10 minutes to grow.
What Happens During Cultivation
- • The rack uses your supplied resources (power, water, food, memory items)
- • Physical stats are determined by the food combination you provided
- • Psychological traits are determined by the memory items you placed
- • When growth finishes, a human emerges with the resulting stat profile
Growth Outcomes
The wiki lists 40 professions. Which one the human qualifies for depends on:
- • Physical stats from food → Height, Weight, Life Expectancy, Strength, Intellect
- • Mental traits from memory items → the 10 traits listed above
Known Bugs & Fixes
Bug: The Seed Countdown Keeps Running on a Powered Rack
If the countdown keeps running despite power and water, save, exit and reload. The seed changing into a white cocoon indicates that preservation is working.
Report other problems to Channel37 in the official Steam discussions. The game is in Early Access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials do I need to repair a Lazarus Rack?
The repair screen for a broken Lazarus Rack lists 8 materials: Plastic 20, Glass 10, Rubber 10, Iron 15, Gold 10, Aluminium 5, Titanium 5 and Carbon Fiber 5.
What does the rack’s electricity estimate mean?
The rack’s Estimation screen shows 10.0 kWh as the estimated electricity to grow one human. This is a growth energy estimate, not the rack’s continuous power draw. It stays the same whatever food and memory items you load.
How much fresh water should I prepare?
The rack’s Estimation screen shows 10,000 L of fresh water to grow one human. It stays the same whatever food and memory items you load; only the growth time changes. A rack holding a seed uses 100 L/h of fresh water in standby, separate from the growth water estimate.
Q: Why do the racks say "not enough" when I have everything?
Your food needs to reach all three physical minimums: Height ≥ 30, Weight ≥ 20, Life Expectancy ≥ 10. If any single stat is below its minimum, growth will not start. One food type can be enough: 10 Nutri-Core clears all three.
Q: What if the seed countdown keeps running on a powered rack?
If the countdown keeps running despite power and water, save, exit and reload. The seed changing into a white cocoon indicates that preservation is working.
Q: When does the Food Processor unlock?
Tier 10 in the skill tree. You cannot make food for the Lazarus Racks without it. Plan your skill progression with our Skill Tree Planner.
Q: How long does cultivation actually take?
Rack Estimation screens show 1:00–2:20 of growth time, rising with more items; in play, a human has taken about 10 minutes to grow.
Q: How much time do I have to get the Lazarus Pod to a Rack?
The current seed countdown starts at about 2 hours. Returning a seed to a cryogenic storage vault pauses its countdown. A seed in a Pod on a powered, fresh-water-supplied rack has its countdown stopped. Keep both supplies running.
Q: Can I lose seeds permanently?
Keep the seed in a cryogenic storage vault until a rack has power and fresh water: returning it to the vault pauses the countdown.
