Getting Started
The first hour of CIFI in order: what to buy, what to ignore, and where the game opens up.
Early game · beginner, basics, first hour · updated 2026-10-25
CIFI (Cell: Idle Factory Incremental) is an idle game. Generators make Cells. Cells buy more generators, ships, crew and upgrades. Then you reset on purpose to get stronger and do it again. That cycle is the whole game.
Do this, in order:
- Buy Generators with your Cells. Start at MK1 and work up as new tiers unlock.
- Build your first ship, the Cradle, then spend Cradle crew and Rank Points on its installs. See Ship Build Order by Tier.
- Buy Auxesia as soon as you can afford it. It opens Tech Upgrades. See Auxesia.
- Buy Zagreus next. It opens Loops and Mod Points, the Mod Tree and your first When to Do a Loop Reset.
- Spend your first Mod Points in the Mod Tree Basics. Follow Mod Buy Order.
- Do your first Loop Reset. Expect it to take a few hours. Older community advice says 4 to 8 hours (unverified for current versions).
- After the reset, Rebuild After a Reset right away.
- Check Daily Routine every day. It is free progress.
Ignore for now:
- Anything with a Diamond price. You do not need it. See Diamonds.
- Research, Academy and Ouroboros. They unlock later. See Koios Research, Zeus Academy, Ouroboros and Traversal.
- Perfect optimization. A decent plan you actually run beats a perfect plan you never start.
Read Common Mistakes before your first reset.
Lost on a term? See the Glossary. Want the big picture first? Read The Core Loop, Resource Overview and Ships Overview. For the gaps in this guide, see What Is Not Verified Yet.