Space Engineers 2 is now available in early access, offering players a massive sandbox to explore, create, and conquer. While some features are still being added, building remains the heart of the experience. Whether you’re crafting a compact planetary rover or an interstellar battleship, the tools are already in place to unleash your imagination.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about building—from beginner tips and creative shortcuts to advanced techniques like blueprint manipulation and mobile grid specialization.
Getting Started Building in Space Engineers 2
If you’re just starting out, your first task is understanding how building in Space Engineers 2 works. Structures are made up of blocks in three different sizes:
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2.5m blocks form the foundation of large structures and ships.
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50cm blocks work well for filling medium-sized gaps or adding layered detail.
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25cm blocks are best used for intricate work, like cockpit interiors or fine aesthetic features.
Once you select a block from your toolbar (which you access using the G-Menu), you’ll enter Block Placement Mode. From here, construction begins.
As a beginner, make sure you’re familiar with:
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The difference between Creative Mode and Survival Mode.
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How to use your Toolbar to cycle through and select blocks.
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What a “grid” is—whether it’s a static base or a mobile vehicle—and how it affects things like power flow, mobility, and connectivity.
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The difference in build philosophy: for aesthetic builds, it’s common to start with a hull and add function later. For survival-oriented ships, many builders do the reverse—placing essential systems first, then wrapping them in armor.
And always—back up your work by creating blueprints or uploading to the Workshop.
Block Placement and Manipulation
Precision is key when placing blocks. The controls make it easy to fine-tune:
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Hold Ctrl to adjust the position of a block more precisely.
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Click and drag to place multiple blocks in a line, or hold Right Mouse Button and drag to remove lines of blocks efficiently.
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Use Undo/Redo options to quickly fix mistakes.
You can also activate Symmetry Mode with T, which mirrors your block placements across an axis—perfect for creating balanced ships. Adjust the gap by holding Ctrl while modifying symmetry distance. Just note that some tools may temporarily disable symmetry, so you may need to re-enable it as you switch tools.
Intermediate Construction Tips
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you’ll start developing smarter workflows.
In Survival Mode, use unwelded blocks to build cheap scaffolding. Need a flat surface on a planet? Drop a Landing Gear first—this creates a stable anchor for your build. You can later grind it off once your mobile grid is ready.
Planning is everything: if your design is symmetrical, consider ahead of time whether your grid should have an even or odd width. This affects whether you can center key blocks like cockpits or landing gear. That said, Space Engineers 2 allows asymmetric builds to fly just as well.
You’ll also get more comfortable with using the conveyor system to transfer items between containers and machines. It’s often wise to plan a ship’s layout around this system if logistics are central to its function. Likewise, understanding Life Support and pressure systems becomes crucial when designing long-range crewed ships.
Crashes are part of life in space. When a rover ends up flipped, experienced players use pistons as jacks, gyroscope overrides for rotation, or unwelded batteries as makeshift counterweights to get moving again.
Partial Blueprints and Copying Structures
Rather than rebuild the same shapes repeatedly, you can create Partial Blueprints to copy parts of your builds.
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Press Ctrl+P to enter selection mode.
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Use WASD to move the selection box and mouse wheel to adjust its size.
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Click to confirm, and you’ll be able to paste this partial blueprint elsewhere. Rotate and adjust as needed.
You can reuse these sections across projects, saving time and ensuring consistency. Whether it’s a wing segment, interior room, or engine cluster, partial blueprints make modular design effortless.
Advanced Techniques and Tools
As you grow more confident, you’ll gain access to more complex methods. Blueprints can be used not only for copying but also in conjunction with Projectors and even full-scale 3D printing systems using Welders.
In Creative Mode, you can:
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Enable Spectator Mode for building without movement restrictions.
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Use Safe Zones as temporary guides when building spheres or other precise shapes.
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Spawn any item or structure using the Spawn Menu.
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Set a zero-RPM override on a gyroscope to act as a passive stabilizer for ships and vehicles.
For aesthetic effects, you can leave blocks in their unwelded build state. Some builders even grind down Creative Mode blocks deliberately to achieve a specific “half-built” look. Just remember that some blocks have slightly larger hitboxes when unwelded, which can impact placement in Survival Mode.
And if you’re working on multigrid structures (like mechanical arms or folding doors), you’ll rely on rotors, pistons, and hinges. These components are key to creating dynamic, moving parts—just be mindful of physics interactions.
Specializing Mobile Grids
A common pitfall is trying to make a ship that does everything. In Space Engineers 2, mass matters—especially for mobile grids. Specializing your ship’s function allows it to excel in its role.
Ask yourself: is your ship a hauler, a miner, a fighter, or an exploration craft? Then design accordingly. For example:
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A mining ship needs drills, cargo containers, and ore detectors.
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A combat vessel should emphasize weapons, armor, and redundancy.
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An exploration ship might favor jump drives, solar panels, and low mass.
Here are a few common add-ons based on purpose:
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Repair or fabrication: Projectors and Welders.
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Survival capability: Medical Rooms, Cryo Chambers, or Survival Kits.
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Mechanical movement: Rotors, Pistons, Hinges.
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Visuals and navigation: LCDs, Cameras, Spotlights, Air Vents, Gravity Generators.
Ultimately, specialized ships outperform generalist builds in both form and function.
Survival Mode Blueprint Placement
Want to paste an unwelded blueprint into Survival Mode without handing out free components? There’s a method:
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Open the Admin screen with Alt+F10 and disable creative tools.
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Open the Blueprint screen with F10 and double-click the blueprint (this loads it silently).
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Return to the Admin screen, re-enable creative tools, and press Ctrl+V to paste.
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Disable creative tools again to return to normal gameplay.
This lets you paste in “ghost” blueprints that need to be welded by hand—perfect for multiplayer servers or authentic survival experiences.
Understanding Grid Pivot and Center of Mass
When building ships, it’s useful to understand the difference between the Grid Pivot and the Center of Mass (CoM).
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The Grid Pivot is based on the first block placed—it determines the point around which the structure rotates when pasted or projected.
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The CoM is dynamic and reflects how the ship behaves in flight, especially during maneuvers.
Both can be viewed on the Info Screen, helping you make balanced ships and avoiding issues like tailspins or awkward rotations.
What Blocks Are Available to You
Sometimes you’ll see others using blocks you can’t find. This usually happens because:
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Progression is enabled, and you haven’t unlocked the block.
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The block is part of a mod or DLC.
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You’re simply overlooking it—check the community forums if you’re unsure.
The Future of Space Engineers 2
As Space Engineers 2 continues its development, more tools, features, and improvements are on the way. But even in early access, the game already offers a deep, satisfying building system that rewards creativity, planning, and engineering skill.
Whether you’re a returning veteran or brand-new builder, the universe is yours to shape—one block at a time.