Skills
The Last Caretaker: How to Level Up Fast and Get XP
You earn XP by picking up loot and resources, completing quests and killing enemies. The quickest early XP comes from dismantling and recycling junk and picking up the materials, because every pickup counts. Each level unlocks the next skill tier, and every 5 levels raises your security level.
Cross-checked (B) between the community wiki, Steam players and the game 0.8.5 item data; there is no official XP table. The level cap and XP tricks are kept apart in the player reports box.
What Your Level Unlocks
Enter your character level to see how many blueprints your level has made available, what the next level adds and your security level.
- Blueprints available so far
- 64 of 143
- Security level
- 2
New at level 10: Flamethrower, Food Processor, ONi PetroFlow, Petrol Tank, Red Dot Sight, Soilforge.
Next: level 11 adds 30 round rifle magazine, Battery Barrel, Bolt Rifle, Consumable Medium Battery, Dehumidifier, FortiHold, ONi VoltPlus, Rifle Slam, Water Tank.
Counts only the 143 blueprints whose unlock tier is cross-checked (B) between the wiki Crafting table and the game 0.8.5 item data. Reaching the level makes a blueprint available; you may still need points or a quest to unlock it. The Skill Planner lists the checked point costs and quest requirements; read what the shield numbers mean in the security level guide.
What Gives XP
XP comes from picking up loot and resources, completing quests and killing enemies.
Cross-checked (B). Wiki Mechanics revision 7239 and Steam threads from December 2025 and August 2026. Sources: Community wiki: Mechanics (revision 7239) · Steam discussion: not getting XP (December 17, 2025) · Steam discussion: levelling balance (August 16, 2026)
Early on, dismantling and recycling junk is the biggest source of XP. Players report levelling quickly this way, often well before they reach the later story locations.
Cross-checked (B). Several players on Steam threads from November 2025 and August 2026. Sources: Steam discussion: levelling balance (August 16, 2026) · Steam discussion: how to get the most XP from recycling (November 6, 2025)
Picking up the materials that come out of the Recycler gives XP.
Cross-checked (B). Steam threads from November 2025 to September 2026. Sources: Steam discussion: how to get the most XP from recycling (November 6, 2025) · Steam discussion: repeatable XP from recycling crafted parts (September 13, 2026) · Steam discussion: not getting XP (December 17, 2025)
How to take junk apart and recycle it is in the dismantle tool guide; quest walkthroughs are in the quest list.
What Each Level Unlocks
Each level unlocks the skill tier with the same number: a blueprint listed at Tier 15 becomes available at character level 15.
Cross-checked (B). Wiki Crafting revision 7364 matching the game 0.8.5 item data, which gives each unlock as a character level. Sources: Community wiki: Crafting table (revision 7364) · Community item listing with unlock levels (game 0.8.5)
Every 5 levels also raises your security level by one, which opens doors marked with a higher shield number.
Cross-checked (B). Separate Steam threads from November 2025 to September 2026. Sources: Steam discussion: about security levels (November 12, 2025) · Steam discussion: sealed doors at Lazarus Complex (September 19, 2026)
Your level is the number in the small box beside the power and health bars at the bottom of the screen; the box fills up as you earn XP.
Cross-checked (B). Official Early Access launch screenshot, November 6, 2025, and wiki Caretaker revision 7240. Sources: Official press kit: Early Access launch screenshot with the level box (November 6, 2025) · Community wiki: Caretaker (revision 7240)
Reaching a tier makes its blueprints available; you may still need points or a quest to unlock each one. The Skill Planner lists every blueprint by tier with the checked point costs and quest requirements.
Player reports, not yet verified (C)
Each of these has only one source, or may be out of date. Reports from November 2025 to September 2026.
The wiki says each level needs more XP than the last, and that levelling and quests also award enhancer points. Neither has been cross-checked.
Sources: Community wiki: Mechanics (revision 7239)Players said the level cap was 25 in December 2025 and that XP stopped there; by February 2026 one player had reached level 29, and another mentioned level 34 in August 2026. The current cap is not confirmed.
Sources: Steam discussion: level cap at 25 (December 31, 2025) · Steam discussion: level 29 but the Levels tab stops at 25 (February 28, 2026) · Steam discussion: levelling balance (August 16, 2026)One player reported in September 2026 that crafting parts in the Fabricator and recycling them gives XP again each time you pick up the materials. This could be changed at any time.
Sources: Steam discussion: repeatable XP from recycling crafted parts (September 13, 2026)One player says dismantling gives XP when you loot the scraps, and that scraps put in through the Recycler's inventory screen give XP while scraps thrown into it do not.
Sources: Steam discussion: how to get the most XP from recycling (November 6, 2025)
Leveling FAQ
What gives XP in The Last Caretaker?
Picking up loot and resources, completing quests and killing enemies. Picking up the materials that come out of the Recycler counts too.
What is the fastest way to level up?
Early on, dismantle and recycle junk and pick up the materials: players report this is the biggest source of XP. Quests and enemies add more as you explore.
Does recycling give XP?
Yes. Picking up the materials that come out of the Recycler gives XP, which is why scrapping junk levels you up quickly.
What does leveling up unlock?
The blueprints in the skill tier with the same number as your new level become available, and every 5 levels raises your security level by one.
Where do you see your level?
In the small box beside the power and health bars at the bottom of the screen. The box fills up as you earn XP.
All sources
- Official press kit: Early Access launch screenshot with the level box (November 6, 2025)
- Community wiki: Mechanics (revision 7239)
- Community wiki: Caretaker (revision 7240)
- Community wiki: Crafting table (revision 7364)
- Community item listing with unlock levels (game 0.8.5)
- Steam discussion: how to get the most XP from recycling (November 6, 2025)
- Steam discussion: not getting XP (December 17, 2025)
- Steam discussion: level cap at 25 (December 31, 2025)
- Steam discussion: level 29 but the Levels tab stops at 25 (February 28, 2026)
- Steam discussion: levelling balance (August 16, 2026)
- Steam discussion: repeatable XP from recycling crafted parts (September 13, 2026)
- Steam discussion: about security levels (November 12, 2025)
- Steam discussion: sealed doors at Lazarus Complex (September 19, 2026)
