Mastering the Research Desk in PlateUp: Upgrades and Uses

As you navigate the world of PlateUp, you'll encounter various items that can help or hinder your progress. One of the most important and often misunderstood items is the Research Desk. In this guide, we'll delve into the Research Desk's functionality, its upgrades, and how to use it effectively.

What is a Research Desk?

The Research Desk is one of the most valuable early items in PlateUp. Think of it as an investment in your future, rather than a tool for immediate kitchen success. The Research Desk allows you to upgrade certain items, turning them into more efficient appliances.

Imagine turning a washing basin into a dishwasher or upgrading your hob to a safety hob. The Research Desk gives you more control over the game's random drops, helping you achieve specific goals.

How Does the Research Desk Work?

Using the Research Desk can be tricky, but it's essential to grasp its mechanics. Instead of interacting with the Research Desk directly, you need to:

1. Place the Blueprint Cabinet in your restaurant.
2. Position the upgradeable appliance next to the Blueprint Cabinet.
3. Interact with the Research Desk to start the upgrade process.

Once you've initiated the upgrade, a new item will appear in your Blueprint Cabinet. After the round, you can remove the appliance and purchase the upgraded version.

What Items Can Be Upgraded?

There are numerous items in PlateUp that can be upgraded using the Research Desk. These upgrades fall into two categories: Linear and Cyclic.

Linear Upgrades: These upgrades have a single path or cannot be cycled between options. Once you've upgraded, you're committed to that path.

Cyclic Upgrades: These upgrades can be repeatedly upgraded and cycled between options in a fixed sequence.

Linear Upgrades:

• Oven -> Microwave
• Counter -> Workstation or Freezer
• Prep Station -> Frozen prep Station
• Plates -> Auto Plater
• Dining Table -> Bar Table or Metal Table or Table-Simple Cloth or Table – Fancy Cloth
• Mop -> Lasting Mop or Fast Mop -> Robot Mop
• Floor Buffer -> Robot Buffer
• Dumbwaiter -> Teleporter
• Ordering Terminal -> Specials Terminal

Cyclic Upgrades:

• Research Desk -> Blueprint Desk or Discount Desk or Copying Desk -> Blueprint Desk or Discount Desk or Copying Desk
• Hob -> Safety Hob or Danger Hob -> Danger Hob or Safety Hob
• Bin -> Compact Bin or Composter Bin or Expanded Bin -> Composter Bin or Expanded Bin or Compactor Bin
• Sink -> Power Sink or Wash Basin or Dish Washer or Soaking Sink -> Power Sink or Wash Basin or Dish Washer or Soaking Sink
• Conveyor -> Grabber -> Smart Grabber or Grabber – Rotating -> Grabber- Rotating or Smart Grabber
• Mixer -> Rapid Mixer or Heated Mixer or Conveyor Mixer -> Heated Mixer or Conveyor Mixer or Rapid Mixer

Every upgrade is essentially a faster or automated version of the base appliance, except for the Research Desk. The Research Desk's upgrades offer unique benefits:

• Blueprint Desk - Cycles through blueprints to be available the next day
• Discount Desk - Reduces the cost of blueprints in a surrounding Blueprint Cabinet by 50%
• Copying Desk - Upgrades blueprints in a surrounding Blueprint Cabinet

Mastering the Research Desk and its upgrades can be the key to a thriving restaurant in PlateUp. Experiment with different upgrades to find what works best for your playstyle.