Frostpunk 2gives players a lot of difficult choices about how to build their city, such as deciding whether to salvage or settle Winterhome. These choices can have lasting consequences, so it’s better if the player always considers their options and the potential outcomes. Making tough choices is part of the game, and players need to be ready to make some characters or factions angry.

InFrostpunk 2, at the end of Chapter 3, players face a pivotal decision that will shape the course of their game. They must decide whether to salvage Winterhome for its valuable resources or settle it and establish a new community. Both options present unique challenges and benefits, but there is a clear better choice for players to make. Keep in mind that deciding if you should salvage or settle In Winterhome will make one faction unhappy, but it will solidify support for the other.

A Council gathering from Frostpunk 2 with participants standing all around

What Happens If You Settle Winterhome In Frostpunk 2?

This Is The Best Option For The Long Term

Choosing to settle Winterhome inFrostpunk 2is a long-term investment that requires patience and careful resource management. The initial task is to transform a hostile, toxic environment into a habitable settlement. This means prioritizing the construction of Fume Filtration Districts to cleanse the air while dealing with sabotage attempts from the Stalwarts who oppose the decision.While this option is harder and takes the most time to see benefits, it is still the best choicebecause it’s one of thebest ways to reduce cold.

This is the best choice in the game because it offers the most long-term benefits. Winterhome gives players access to many resources and valuable steam, which reduces the strain on the main city, New London. It also provides a solution for overcrowding and is a great buffer during severe weather events. This choice also aligns with the Pilgrims' philosophy of diversification and earns their loyalty, bolstering their support in the game’s later stages.

Frostpunk 2 charactert covered in ash wearing goggles that show fire in the reflection, behind them is a snow covered city from above.

If you choose to settle Winterhome, you will get more protection from whiteouts because a severe weather front will hit your settlements in turn, but not at the same time.

What Happens If You Salvage Winterhome inFrostpunk 2?

Immediate Payoff, But The Game Will Be Harder In The Long Run

Salvaging Winterhome inFrostpunk 2is a more immediate, resource-focused path. Salvaging means extracting all the cores from the abandoned city to power up the generator in New London. This requires building temporary extraction districts and dealing with the hazardous environment, risking the health and lives of workers. Additionally, there will be social unrest as the Pilgrims perceive the player’s decision to salvage as a betrayal. This is just the tradeoff, because the Stalwarts would feel the same way if the other option was chosen.

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While this option gives the most immediate benefits, it’s not a good long-term solution. This isn’t the better choice because once the Cores are salvaged, Winterhome is abandoned. Essentially, the player loses the district entirely, leaving the entire population concentrated in New London and vulnerable to whiteouts. However, the upgraded generator significantly improves the city’s resilience, which is important in the short term. This also earns Stalwarts' support, and they will help the player in the game’s final challenges.

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The choice to salvage Winterhome should only be picked if you’re ready for a challenge. It takes a lot of planning because the harsh environment is much harder to deal with than settling.

While this choice may seem like a long-term vs short-term situation, choosing to salvage makesFrostpunk 2harder. Salvaging removesadditional resources, steam access, and population distribution from players, which is a big loss. Having an extra district helps a lot, particularly in the game’s later stages. It also plays well with the narrative themes of adaptation and progress. The best option is to settle and deal with the extra time taken to repair and get the district running.