Lazarus Complex Guide: How to Grow Humans in The Last Caretaker
Data Status
- Verified against: Official wiki, Neoseeker, TheGamer, Steam community reports
- Game version: Early Access (Steam App 1783560)
- Some mechanics may change with future patches — always verify in your build
The Lazarus Complex is the endgame facility where you grow humans from seeds. This guide covers the full process: retrieving seeds, repairing racks, preparing food, collecting memory items, and troubleshooting the common "not enough" error.
Want the full deep-dive walkthrough?
Our blog post covers the complete journey from Seed Vault Prometheus to your first human, including power setup, water infrastructure, and troubleshooting every common failure.
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How the Lazarus Complex Works
The Lazarus Complex is where you cultivate humans — the core objective of The Last Caretaker. The process has two main phases: preparing the facility, then retrieving and growing seeds.
The Process at a Glance
Key Insight: Pod vs Rack
The Lazarus Pod and Lazarus Rack are two separate things. The seed goes into the Pod first (a portable container), then the Pod goes into the Rack (the stationary incubation unit). This two-step process confuses many players.
The Pod blueprint unlocks after finding your first Pod during the main quest. Crafting: 1 Data Storage Chip, 1 Display Screen, 1 Logic Chip, 1 Nano Mesh, 1 Storage Cylinder. Requires 3 Wh of electricity.
Repairing Lazarus Racks
There are 4 Lazarus Racks in the Complex, but they all need to be repaired before use. Repair requires rare materials that you won't find just lying around — you need to dismantle things.
Repair Materials
- Carbon Fiber — dismantle certain high-tech items and structures
- Titanium — dismantle broken robots, reinforced equipment
- Other materials vary by rack — check each rack's repair menu for the exact list
Where to Find Rare Materials
- • LED Displays — dismantle for electronic components
- • Broken Robots — dismantle for Titanium and circuits
- • Scrap machinery — scattered across the map, especially in industrial areas
- • Use the Dismantle Tool Guide for more dismantling tips
You don't need all 4 racks repaired to start — repair one first, get the process working, then repair more as you have materials.
Power & Water Setup
Electricity: 10.0 kWh per Rack
Each Lazarus Rack requires 10.0 kWh of power. You can supply this via:
- • Generators — gasoline-powered, connect directly to the Complex
- • Solar panels — place on the rooftop for daytime power
- • Wind turbines — supplement solar for more consistent output
See our Power Grid Setup Guide and Solar Panel Guide for detailed setups.
Fresh Water: 10,000 Liters per Rack
Each rack needs 10,000L of fresh water (not salt water). Setup:
- • Water Pump — extracts water from a source
- • Desalinator — converts sea water to fresh water
- • Each rack needs its own supply line
Resource Requirements per Rack — Quick Reference
| Resource | Amount per Rack |
|---|---|
| Electricity | 10.0 kWh |
| Fresh Water | 10,000 L |
| Food | Multiple types (see below) |
| Memory Items | At least 1+ (see below) |
Food System: Soilforge → Food Processor
Food is the most complex requirement — and the #1 reason players fail. You need to understand the full pipeline: where to get Bio materials, how to process them, and which foods to make.
Two-Step Food Pipeline
Soilforge unlocks at Tier 6. Food Processor unlocks at Tier 10. You need both to make food for the Lazarus Racks.
Bio Materials → Food Materials (Complete Table)
| Bio Material | Food Material | Rarity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bio Seaweed | Carbohydrate | Common | Ocean (ship's net) |
| Bio Seaweed | Protein | Common | Ocean (ship's net) |
| Bio Waste | Fat | Common | Ocean / dismantle canisters |
| Bio Organic | Omega-3 | Uncommon | Crawlers |
| Bio Light | Vitamin D | Uncommon | Pink Slime (finite!) |
| Bio Dark | Calcium | Uncommon | Red Slime (finite!) |
| Bio Flesh | Bioregulator | Rare | Talon Shark |
| Bio Flesh | Nanite Nutrient | Rare | Talon Shark |
| Bio Flesh | Mitochondrial Amplifier | Rare | Talon Shark |
Warning: Bio Light (Pink Slime) and Bio Dark (Red Slime) are finite resources — they don't respawn. Plan your food production carefully.
Complete Food Recipes & Stat Values
There are 13 food types. Each gives different amounts of Height, Weight, Life Expectancy, Strength, and Intellect. The table below shows exactly what each food gives — use this to plan which foods you need to meet the minimum thresholds.
Basic Foods (Tier 10-11)
| Food | Tier | Height | Weight | Life Exp | Str | Int | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutri-Core | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Fat x3, Protein x3, Carb x3 |
| High-Fat | 10 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Fat x8, Protein x5, Carb x5 |
| Physique Fuel | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | Fat x2, Protein x4, Carb x2 |
| Mind Surge | 11 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | Fat x2, Protein x10, Carb x1 |
Advanced Foods (Tier 13-15)
| Food | Tier | Height | Weight | Life Exp | Str | Int | Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Fortification | 13 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 2 | Calcium x1, Vit D x12, Omega-3 x12 |
| Bone-Fortify | 14 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 2 | Vit D x3, Calcium x10, Omega-3 x2 |
| Endura-Growth | 14 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 12 | Vit D x4, Calcium x3, Omega-3 x4 |
| Immune Boost | 15 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | Fat x1, Prot x2, Carb x3, Vit D x3, Cal x3, Omega x3 |
| Neuro-Boost | 15 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 15 | Calcium x3, Vit D x3, Omega-3 x10 |
Elite Foods (Rare Bio Flesh materials required)
| Food | Height | Weight | Life Exp | Str | Int | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitochondrial Surge | 20 | 3 | 12 | 28 | 3 | Requires Mitochondrial Amplifier |
| Nanite Infusion | 25 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 25 | Requires Nanite Nutrient |
| Hyper-Evolution | 30 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 20 | Massive Height + Intellect |
| Ultimate Genesis | 50 | 10 | 40 | 10 | 50 | Best single food — clears Height + Life Exp (Weight still needs supplement) |
Elite foods require Bio Flesh from Talon Sharks. All three rare Food Materials (Bioregulator, Nanite Nutrient, Mitochondrial Amplifier) come from Bio Flesh.
Quickest Path to Meeting Thresholds
If you just want to clear the minimums (Height ≥ 30, Weight ≥ 20, Life Exp ≥ 10):
- • Easiest (if you have Bio Flesh): 1x Ultimate Genesis + 2x High-Fat clears all three thresholds (UG alone has Weight 10, below the 20 minimum)
- • Tier 10 only: Combine multiple Nutri-Core (3/3/3 each) — you'd need 10 for Height alone, plus High-Fat to cover Weight. Doable but material-heavy
- • Balanced mid-tier: Mix Physique Fuel (Height), High-Fat (Weight), and Mind Surge (Life Exp) to cover each threshold efficiently
Memory Items & Mental Traits
Memory items are physical objects scattered across the world. They determine the mental/psychological traits of the human you grow — separate from the physical stats that food controls.
Where to Find Memory Items
- • Desks and shelves — offices, homes, schools
- • Containers — storage rooms, warehouses
- • Vents — hidden in ventilation systems
- • Dark corners — easy to miss, explore thoroughly
Hover over memory items before picking them up to check their trait values. Higher quality items have a greater effect.
The 9 Mental Traits
Mental traits have no minimum thresholds (unlike physical stats), but they affect the human's growth outcome. There are 40 possible growth predictions based on the combination of physical stats and mental traits.
Tip: Items Must Be in Your Backpack
Memory items (and food) must be in your backpack inventory to appear in the Lazarus interface. Items stored elsewhere won't show up. Move everything you need into your backpack before interacting with the rack.
Seed Retrieval & the 1-Hour Timer
Do NOT retrieve a seed until your rack is fully prepared
The moment you take a Human Seed from the Seed Vault Prometheus, a strict 1-hour countdown begins. If you don't get the seed into a working rack before time runs out, the seed is lost permanently.
Seed Retrieval Process
Before you go: Verify your rack shows all requirements as met. Check power (10 kWh), water (10,000L), food (stats above thresholds), and memory items. If anything is missing, fix it before retrieving the seed.
Minimum Stat Thresholds — The "Not Enough" Fix
This is the #1 reason players fail at the Lazarus Complex. The racks say "not enough" even when you think you've provided everything. Here's why:
Minimum Physical Stat Thresholds
Your food combination must push ALL THREE stats above these minimums. One stat below = "not enough". Stats shown in red on the rack interface are below the threshold.
"Not Enough" Diagnostic Flowchart
Step 1: Check the rack interface — which stats are red?
Red stats are below their threshold. This tells you exactly what's missing.
Step 2: Match the deficient stat to the right food
• Height too low? → Add Physique Fuel (+5), Bone-Fortify (+8), or Hyper-Evolution (+30)
• Weight too low? → Add High-Fat (+8), Muscle Fortification (+8), or Ultimate Genesis (+10)
• Life Expectancy too low? → Add Mind Surge (+6), Endura-Growth (+8), Neuro-Boost (+10), or Ultimate Genesis (+40)
Step 3: Make sure food is in your backpack
Items in storage or on the ground won't appear in the Lazarus interface. Move them to your inventory.
Step 4: Still showing "not enough" with all stats green?
This is likely the known bug — save inside the Complex, exit the game completely, and reload.
Example: Minimum-Cost Threshold Clear
Using only basic Tier 10-11 foods:
- • 6x Physique Fuel → adds Height 30, Weight 6, Life Exp 6
- • 3x High-Fat → adds Height 3, Weight 24, Life Exp 3
- • 2x Mind Surge → adds Height 2, Weight 2, Life Exp 12
Totals: Height 35, Weight 32, Life Exp 21 — all thresholds cleared.
11 food items using only common materials (Fat, Protein, Carbohydrate). No rare materials needed.
Use our Lazarus Rack Readiness Checker to plan your food combinations and verify stat readiness before a seed run.
Growing the Human
Once the Lazarus Pod is placed into a Rack that meets all requirements, the actual cultivation process is fast — about 10 minutes.
What Happens During Cultivation
- • The rack uses your supplied resources (power, water, food, memory items)
- • Physical stats are determined by the food combination you provided
- • Psychological traits are determined by the memory items you placed
- • After ~10 minutes, a human emerges with the resulting stat profile
Growth Outcomes
There are 40 possible growth predictions a Human Seed can develop, depending on the physical and mental traits you contribute. The specific outcome depends on:
- • Physical stats from food → Height, Weight, Life Expectancy, Strength, Intellect
- • Mental traits from memory items → the 9 traits listed above
Known Bugs & Fixes
The Lazarus Complex has several known bugs in Early Access. Multiple players have reported these on Steam Discussions, and workarounds have been found.
Bug: Lazarus Racks Won't Accept Anything
Symptoms: Rack has power, water, food, and memory items but still won't start. Requirements show as unmet even though everything appears correct.
Fix (Method 1):
Save your game inside the Lazarus Complex → completely exit the game → reload the save.
Fix (Method 2):
Remove all food and memory items from the rack → save → exit and restart the game → re-add all items.
Bug: Lazarus Pod Disappears After Loading (Unconfirmed)
Symptoms: Pod placed in rack but vanishes, or rack shows empty after loading. This has been reported by some players but is not as widely confirmed as the rack acceptance bug.
Suggested fix:
Save and reload inside the Complex. If the Pod is truly lost, you'll need to retrieve a new seed.
Report bugs to Channel 37 via the Steam Discussion page. The game is in Early Access, and these issues are being tracked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do the racks say "not enough" when I have everything?
Your food needs to push all three physical stats above their minimums: Height ≥ 30, Weight ≥ 20, Life Expectancy ≥ 10. If any single stat is below its threshold, the rack rejects the attempt. Make sure you have a variety of food types, not just large quantities of one type.
Q: How do I fix the rack bug where it won't accept anything?
Save inside the Lazarus Complex, fully exit the game, and reload. This fixes most rack-related bugs. If that doesn't work, remove all items from the rack, save, restart, and re-add them.
Q: When does the Food Processor unlock?
Level 10 in the skill tree. You cannot make food for the Lazarus Racks without it. Plan your skill progression accordingly — check our Skill Tree Planner for optimal builds.
Q: How long does cultivation actually take?
About 10 minutes once the Pod is in a Rack with all requirements met. The long part is preparation — gathering materials, repairing racks, making food, and finding memory items.
Q: Can I lose seeds permanently?
Yes. If the 1-hour timer expires before you place the Pod in a working Rack, the seed is lost. Always have your rack fully prepared and verified before retrieving a seed.
Related Resources
Lazarus Rack Readiness Checker
Check if your resources and stats are ready before retrieving a seed.
Power Grid Calculator
Plan your power infrastructure for the 10 kWh per rack requirement.
Resource Farming Guide
Efficient methods for gathering Bio materials, metals, and rare components.
Complete Lazarus Walkthrough
Full deep-dive blog post covering every step from Seed Vault to first human.