Bots are one of the most powerful mechanics in Factorio, enabling efficient automation and unlocking massive scalability in your factory. Whether you’re planning colossal builds, optimizing logistics, or preparing for late-game expansion, mastering bots is essential. This guide walks you through everything—from your first roboport to advanced uses of construction bots, logistic bots, blueprints, and spidertrons.

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Getting Started with Bots

Factorio features two main types of bots:

1. Construction Bots – Used to build structures, place blueprints, repair machines, and deconstruct parts of your base.
2. Logistic Bots – Handle item transport within your logistics network and can restock your inventory automatically.

To unlock bots:

• Research Robotics, which requires red, green, and blue science.
• Then unlock Construction Robotics or Logistic Robotics, depending on your needs.
• Ensure your blue science production is stable to access these techs early in the mid-game.

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Building the Bot Infrastructure

Bots require a supporting infrastructure to function, consisting of:

• Roboports – Provide charging stations, storage for bots, and network coverage.
• Logistic Chests – Enable bots to move, store, or request items intelligently.

This infrastructure must be carefully placed to maintain continuous coverage and power.

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Understanding Roboport Coverage

Each roboport provides two coverage zones:

• 🟩 Construction Area (Green, 110×110 tiles) – For construction bots to build/deconstruct.
• 🟧 Logistic Area (Orange, 50×50 tiles) – Where logistic bots operate and logistic chests function.

📌 Tip: Place roboports no more than 100 tiles apart to maintain continuous construction coverage, and ensure overlapping logistic areas for seamless bot delivery.

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Logistic Chests: Key Functions

There are five types of logistic chests, each with unique functionality:

1. Passive Provider Chest (Red) – Supplies items to the logistic network.
2. Active Provider Chest (Purple) – Forces items into storage automatically.
3. Requester Chest (Blue) – Asks for specific items to be delivered by bots.
4. Buffer Chest (Light Blue) – Both requests and provides items; good for prioritized delivery.
5. Storage Chest (Yellow) – General dumping ground for excess or deconstructed items.

Use these strategically to control your inventory flows.

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Mastering Construction Bots

Construction bots are your go-to builders:

• Use ghost placement (Shift + Left-click) to plan ahead without needing materials on hand.
• Add extra roboports in high-traffic zones to reduce recharge bottlenecks.
• Distribute construction orders logically to avoid overloading bots.
• Ensure ample materials are available in passive provider or buffer chests.

They also excel at deconstructing and upgrading infrastructure using planners.

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Leveraging Logistic Bots

Logistic bots shine once you’ve researched speed and capacity upgrades:

• Automate your inventory resupply with personal logistics requests.
• Move intermediate products or recycle unused items efficiently.
• Support satellite factories and outposts when train logistics are impractical.

⚠️ Caution: Bot swarms are power-hungry. Monitor your electricity grid closely to avoid unexpected blackouts.

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Advanced Bot Tools

• Blueprints – Save and replicate factory layouts quickly.
• Deconstruction Planner – Clear structures with custom filters (e.g., only remove trees or assemblers).
• Upgrade Planner – Automate upgrades (e.g., replace yellow belts with red).
• Blueprint Books – Group and organize blueprints for large-scale projects.

These tools save time and reduce repetitive micro-management.

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Spidertrons: Mobile Building Powerhouses

Spidertrons, unlocked in the late game, are mobile construction hubs:

• Equip them with personal roboports, fusion reactors, and a supply of building materials.
• Build remotely from the map view.
• Use them as mobile radar stations, auto-builders, or wall deployers.

A lead spidertron can coordinate multiple builder spidertrons for maximum efficiency across planetary surfaces or space platforms.

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Conclusion

Bots transform Factorio from a hands-on game into a fully automated empire-builder. Mastering their use—especially construction and logistic bots—enables massive scalability, smart logistics, and optimized mega-factories. Combine them with blueprints, planners, and spidertrons, and there’s virtually no limit to what you can achieve.

👉 Want to power your bot empire sustainably? Don’t miss our guide on nuclear power—a must-read for late-game energy mastery!

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