In a pure survival game like Astroneer, there is no plot to drive the action. Instead, you are pulled along by a desire to improve your technology and to solve the mysteries of the world and there is no greater mystery than the gateway chambers. These ancient artifacts can teleport you from one to another. And once you activate your first gateway, you learn of an even deeper mystery: the gateway engine at the planet's core.
Reaching this engine is no mean feat. You have to be prepared not just for the main task, but for the hazards and potential contingencies. Here are the ten things you will need to ensure success in a trip to the core.
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Updated January 6, 2022, by Jamie Pellikaan: Astroneer continues to be a successful sandbox space adventure allowing you to explore a variety of planets and colonize them. Reaching a planet’s core, where an important artifact lies dominant, remains an essential task to truly understanding a planet’s secrets.
While it is not ridiculously difficult to reach a planet’s core, the right tools are essential for getting the job done. Each planet presents its own unique challenges and having a large variety of equipment at your disposal will allow you to overcome anything that comes your way. Here's what you'll need.
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14 A Vehicle
A vehicle offers many benefits wherever you go, whether you're going to another planet or traveling to the core. It not only helps you move quickly, but it's also an oxygen source, a platform, and even an emergency battery. Plus, it protects you from falls. This is especially important when going to the core as you'll tunnel into numerous voids and chambers that create deadly drops.
Because you'll spend all your time tunneling in tight quarters, a simple tractor and trailer might be the best choice, especially since they're cheap and easy to replace if you die. However, a rover obviously gives you more flexibility and options.
13 An Oxygen Tank
As you journey to the planet core, you will be tethered to your vehicle and only able to make short forays away. They will be especially short if you don't have an oxygen tank.
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There are many things you can and should count on crafting when and if you need them, but since an oxygen tank is crafted with a refined resource (glass) that has limited alternative applications, it's best to just go ahead and craft your oxygen tank before you head out.
12 A Portable Oxygenator
As careful as you are with your vehicle, there is a good chance that you'll be separated from it at some point. In fact, there will be some places you need to go where you can't take your vehicle. A portable oxygenator (PO) is your backup plan. It gives you the time you need to find your vehicle again or pursue other contingencies (more on this later).
The PO is very high up the tech chain, both in terms of unlocking it and being able to make the nanocarbon alloy you need to craft it, but it's worth it. It will save your life often. Plus, there are some places you won't be able to take your vehicle, and having your PO will give you time to do what need there.
11 A Source Of Power
You need power for virtually anything you do in Astroneer, and if you're heading to the core, you'll need a decent amount of it. Obviously, solar panels aren't going to help, so you're going to be relying on wind power and generators. It's good to have a mix of both.
Generators can be a reliable backup, but it's unlikely that you'll find enough organic resources to rely on them primarily. Now that you're high up the tech tree, you might consider an RTG (radioisotope thermoelectric generator) for your vehicle, but you'll still need personal power.
10 A Battery
If you use an RTG for your vehicle, you don't need an extra battery for that application. However, the PO has one limitation (besides the initial cost): it requires a lot of power. This means that you'll want to make sure you not only have power, but you also have a reserve.
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Even having a generator running won't be enough to supply your PO, so unless you like standing in the terrifying dark while you try to build up your oxygen reserves, it's a good idea to have a battery. As always, a battery also makes it easier to improve the effectiveness of renewable power like wind.
9 A Drill Mod or Drill
As you travel to the core, you will encounter harder and harder soils. At this point, the standard-issue terrain tool is insufficient and you simply won't be able to make it. In order to reach your destination, you will need some type of drill. The easiest way to get where you're going is to put a drill on the front of your vehicle.
This is where a rover might come in handy. However, putting a drill on the front of a tractor makes it harder to power the rover and have room for cargo. Whether you're using a drill mod or vehicle-mounted drill, level two or higher is recommended.
8 Basic Resources
Although the interior of the planet contains a wealth of advanced minerals, it becomes increasingly devoid of the basic resources you need to craft some of the most essential materials. This includes resin and compounds for making things like oxygen filters, generators, printers, and platforms.
Even quartz will get hard to find for a while. Organic material will be available, but limited. If you are going to be prepared for contingencies like getting separated from your vehicle, it's a good idea to bring this stuff with you.
7 Field Shelter
There may not be dinosaurs on the way to the core, but there are plenty of other dangers. If you find yourself separated from your vehicle and you're running out of resources to keep your PO running, you might need some literal breathing room to assess your options and get ready to move on.
A field shelter is great for this. It supplies oxygen and power, and it only takes one spot in your pack when packaged. And, once you solve your issue and are prepared to resume your journey to the core, you can repackage it and take it with you in case you need it again.
6 Aluminum
Aluminum is a great thing to bring if you want to be really prepared. It gives you the ability to make a soil centrifuge with a relatively low material investment. With aluminum, it only takes five compounds and four resins to get to the soil centrifuge. If you properly use your printer slot, you can carry all this with you, along with power, battery, drill mod, and oxygenator.
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Once you have the centrifuge, you can produce virtually unlimited organic, resin, and compound to reprovision yourself to resume the journey. Or you can set up a miniature research base or refinery to take advantage of the rich data and mineral resources on the way to the core.
5 Activating Resource
At the core, you will find the gateway engine, which is a bizarre structure, unlike the normal gateways you encounter on or above the planet's surface. While those gateways require power to be activated, this one requires resources. The type of resource depends on the planet whose core you're approaching. For Sylva, you'll find the resource you need nearby.
Other planets are more complicated, and it might be better to come prepared. On the other hand, once you're properly provisioned, it might not be so bad to turn around and head back to your base to make what you need.
4 Cargo Space
While digging around a planet to find its core, you are bound to come across some interesting items you will want for yourself. You will need space for all your newfound items and resources so ensuring you have the proper cargo room is important before you begin an expedition to a planet’s center.
Make sure you have the proper storage container or space available since certain items can only be stored in certain containers. For example, a small canister can only hold soil.
3 Worklight
You won’t know the conditions of the center of a planet till you reach it, and being able to see the space around you is essential in working your way down. Worklights allow you to illuminate a given area and are more powerful than the lights on your tether.
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You can craft a work light at a small printer or backpack and cost one copper to create. While it needs a power source to operate they don’t actually consume any energy to stay powered up during your dig.
2 Tether
An essential item to have during your Astroneer playthrough, the tether can help transfer oxygen to you while you dig to find a planetary core. These items can be crafted in your backpack and even produce some light for you while you explore the surrounding area.
You can even link tethers together and have them clinging to walls and ceilings. They only need to be within distance of each other and don’t need to be within eyesight to connect.
This tool gives you everything you need to properly dig to a planet’s core and it's something you should already have in your possession. The terrain tool allows you to dig and excavate the land around you meaning you can quickly create tunnels, ditches, and anything else you need.
The Terrain tool even allows you to flatten, lower, or raise the terrain around you meaning you can create a safe and stable passage to the core of any planet you find yourself on.
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FAQs
What do you need to get to the core in Astroneer? ›
- 14 A Vehicle.
- 13 An Oxygen Tank.
- 12 A Portable Oxygenator.
- 11 A Source Of Power.
- 10 A Battery.
- 9 A Drill Mod or Drill.
- 8 Basic Resources.
- 7 Field Shelter.
Power generation on Sylva is balanced enough for the player to effectively use solar panels, wind turbines, or generators.
What material do you need to activate Atrox core? ›Atrox is the only planet that has Helium. Atrox is the only planet that requires a Gas to activate its core.
What material does each planet need Astroneer? ›| Planet | Type | Gateway Engine Material |
|---|---|---|
| Sylva | Terran | Quartz |
| Desolo | Terran Moon | Zinc |
| Calidor | Arid | Explosive Powder |
| Vesania | Exotic | Graphene |
Astronium is a rare resource in Astroneer. Astronium appears as iridescent clusters, fading from green in the center to fuchsia on the edge.
How do you get to the core of the earth? ›Realistically, we will never get anywhere near the Earth's core. The levels of heat, pressure and radioactivity (one of the main sources of internal heating) are so high that even if we could bore through over 6,000km of rock and metal, a probe would be unable to survive.
What resource do you need to activate the core of desolo? ›Desolo has two Gateway Chambers, each requiring 8U/s of power for 30 seconds to be activated. 4 Small Generators or a Medium Generator on a Medium Platform A will do the job.
What material do you need to activate the core of Novus in Astroneer? ›Novus has two Gateway Chambers, each requiring 21U/s of power for 30 seconds to be activated. Three Medium Generators on a Large Platform B is the easiest way to achieve this.
How do you activate planet core in Astroneer? ›The player must take the triptych up one of the three sides to the opposite platform. There, in the center, is a single platform with a slot for the triptych. Once it is placed, the engine will activate and reveal an Odd Stone, allowing teleporting to chambers on the surface, as well as to the satellite.
What is the big purple thing in Astroneer? ›Inactive chambers are a purple navpoint with a dot in the center, while active chambers have a chamber icon instead.
How do you get VTOL Astroneer? ›
Players will obtain a free VTOL and its Schematic from completing a long chain of Missions: By completing either Fuel for Thought or Onboarding, players obtain Vertical Thinking.
How do you activate the Atrox core in Astroneer? ›This achievement requires you to activate the portal of Atrox, the radiation planet of this solar system. Like other cores, you need to activate a portal chamber before the core. When you reach the core you will find on one side of the core 3 sockets with resource sockets, insert the hydrogen.
Does Astroneer have an ending? ›Titled 'Awakening', this is the culmination of the game's story, ending what has been a beautiful journey across space.
What is the end goal of Astroneer? ›The player is tasked with colonizing planets, creating structures, and collecting resources. The character is called an Astroneer and the player can travel to planets to activate cores and complete the game.
How long does it take to 100% Astroneer? ›When focusing on the main objectives, Astroneer is about 21 Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 64½ Hours to obtain 100% completion.
Can you fight in Astroneer? ›Exploring Planets
I love the freedom to explore in Astroneer, which is free of combat and hostile enemies, aside from some flora that explodes.
Radiated is one of the Planets in Astroneer. It is the smallest and innermost planet in the Astroneer solar system, and can be accessed by flying to it with a Spaceship. Due to its slow rotation, the day/night cycle on the Radiated planet takes more time than the on the Terran planet.
What is the deepest probe into the Earth? ›Humans have drilled over 12 kilometers (7.67 miles) in the Sakhalin-I. In terms of depth below the surface, the Kola Superdeep Borehole SG-3 retains the world record at 12,262 metres (40,230 ft) in 1989 and still is the deepest artificial point on Earth.
How hot is the core? ›The inner core is a hot, dense ball of (mostly) iron. It has a radius of about 1,220 kilometers (758 miles). Temperature in the inner core is about 5,200° Celsius (9,392° Fahrenheit). The pressure is nearly 3.6 million atmosphere (atm).
How deep is the inner core? ›Earth's innermost layer is the core, which is separated into a liquid outer core and a solid inner core. The outer core is 2,300 kilometers (1,429 miles) thick, while the inner core is 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) thick.
What does Novus core need? ›
To activate the Engine on Novus you need Silicone*. Inside the Engine (Core) you have 2 "sides", one with a central platform and one with 3 triangle platforms on which you can connect a ressource. Plug some Silicone in one of the 3 slots, it will make a Geometric Triptych.
What does Desolo mat need? ›For Desolo, 1 exo chip, 2 copper, 2 zinc, 2 plastic and 2 aluminum alloy are required in order to complete mission.
How do I activate Xenobiology Astroneer? ›The Xenobiology Lab is spawned in using the Strange Object rewarded from the Bait & Switch mission. When using the Strange Object, a portal will appear and a few seconds later the lab will materialize, as will a small field of debris surrounding the module.
What is the sun room in Astroneer? ›The Sun Room is the virtual control center for the entire Astroneer Training Program. From here, I can monitor every crew member in every instance while still interfacing with the Elysium's core systems.
What is iron used for Astroneer? ›...
Uses.
| Module | Output | Input |
|---|---|---|
| Medium Printer | Trade Platform | Iron Tungsten EXO Chip |
| Large Printer | XL Wind Turbine | Iron Ceramic Graphene Aluminum Alloy |
| Extra Large Platform A | Iron x2 Ceramic x2 | |
| Extra Large Platform B | Iron x4 |
The core formed during accretion, as metal from impactors sank through a magma ocean to the center of the Earth. Liquid metal in contact with liquid silicate equilibrated at high pressures and temperatures, resulting in the core and mantle compositions that we see in the Earth today.
What does the curious item do in Astroneer? ›The Curious Item is an item in Astroneer that contains recovered entries from workers on the ESS Elysium attempting to recover the ESS Triton. Each entry is different, some containing dates, others producing error codes before the entry logs.
What is the main planet in Astroneer? ›Sylva is the starting planet in Astroneer. Offering wide open plains pocked with occasional mountains and forests, Sylva contains most of the basic resources in the game.
What do the pets do in Astroneer? ›Galastropods, also known as Space Snails, are fauna that may be found in Astroneer. Following a chain of missions using the Xenobiology Lab, the player will unlock all seven snail friends, one for each planet. Each snail provides a different buff that requires feeding various hazardous flora seeds to activate.
What is the point of the zebra ball in Astroneer? ›It is black and white striped and is found in deep caves. It is usually next to Hookers (Black cables with red dots) and if the Hooker is dug out it would spit out gas for the last time in its life. It gives more research than regular research capsules.
What is the strange object in Astroneer? ›
The Strange Object is used to summon in the Xenobiology Lab for the Strange Object mission, and leads to gathering all seven Galastropods.
Is there a drone in Astroneer? ›Aero the Aerial Assistant is a camera drone item in Astroneer. Aero gives players a free camera in Creative Mode, with options to hide the UI or have filters similar to the Small Camera.
Is there a VTOL jet? ›This led to the development of V22 Osprey by a collaboration of Bell Aircraft Corporation and Boeing Rotorcraft systems in 1985. Developed in the 1950s, with a total flight time of over 20 million hours, the Harrier Jump Jet is the first and the most successful VTOL aircraft in aviation history.
Do VTOL jets exist? ›It was developed from the Yakovlev Yak-36 experimental aircraft in the 1970s. Before the Soviet Union broke up, a supersonic VTOL aircraft was developed as the Yak-38's successor, the Yak-141, which never went into production.
What gives the most power in Astroneer? ›Overall, we recommend building RTGs, as well as larger renewable sources of power, such as the XL Wind Turbine and Solar Array.
What is the best planet to live on besides Earth? ›Mars has liquid water, a habitable temperature and a bit of an atmosphere that can help protect humans from cosmic and solar radiation. The gravity of Mars is 38% that of the Earth.
What item has the most bytes in Astroneer? ›Evidently, clay is the most efficient choice in terms of byte output per canister.
What does Glacio core need? ›To activate the Engine on Glacio you need Diamond*. Inside the Engine (Core) you have 2 "sides", one with a central platform and one with 3 triangle platforms on which you can connect a ressource. Plug some Diamond in one of the 3 slots, it will make a Geometric Triptych.
Are there caves on Atrox Astroneer? ›Cauldron Caves: This biome is located in the mantle of Atrox, and is scattered with large Flora resembling giant cauldrons full of yellow tendrils.
What mission unlocks the hoverboard in Astroneer? ›Once all eight resources have been provided, the last mission, Onboarding unlocks. The player just needs to activate the MAT, in order to be able to collect the rewards: The Hoverboard, its Schematic, as well as a QT-RTG.
Are worlds in Astroneer infinite? ›
You will land alone, or with a small crew of friends, on a planet to call your own. Harsh but bountiful, infinite worlds will beckon you to explore, exploit, and ultimately to reshape to your desire.
Does your backpack disappear in Astroneer? ›If a player dies before retrieving their items, the backpack will be despawned and any attached items will pop off onto the ground. These items can retain the model size they would be on the backpack after being detached, but this is fixed after attaching them to a new backpack or module.
Can you go to space in Astroneer? ›To travel to other planets, you will need a space shuttle. There are different sizes of shuttles, but for your first time, you can just make a small shuttle. Below, you can find each shuttle type, where you can print it, and what materials you will need.
How long is an Astroneer day? ›The average time it takes to complete a day/night cycle is approximately 13 minutes. It is crucial to bring resources such as Compound and Resin to Arid as they are rare on the planet.
Is Astroneer similar to no man's sky? ›When we asked about the 1.8 quintillion planet elephant in the room, Bromell explained that No Man's Sky was certainly an inspiration, but Astroneer is a very, very different kind of game. Bromell told us the game was about “an intimate experience in your own solar system.
Do you have to activate all gateways in Astroneer? ›As you make your way around Sylva, the starting planet, you will come across giant structures that appear to be made from a dark glass material. These are called Gateway Chambers, and they will need to be activated to see their full potential.
What resource is needed for desolo core Astroneer? ›With its primary resource being Wolframite and due to its proximity to Sylva, Desolo is often the second stop on the player's adventure. The Tungsten derived from the available Wolframite allows players to craft Medium Generators and the Chemistry Lab.
What resource is needed to activate desolo core? ›Desolo has two Gateway Chambers, each requiring 8U/s of power for 30 seconds to be activated. 4 Small Generators or a Medium Generator on a Medium Platform A will do the job.
What material do I need for Desolo core? ›| Difficulty | Primary Resource | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | Wolframite | Zinc |
To activate the Engine on Calidor you need Explosive Podwer*. Inside the Engine (Core) you have 2 "sides", one with a central platform and one with 3 triangle platforms on which you can connect a ressource. Plug some Explosive Powder in one of the 3 slots, it will make a Geometric Triptych.
How do I activate my Desolo Gateway Chamber? ›
Activating A Gateway Chamber
Gateway Chambers need to be powered up. This can be done with generators, as well as batteries. To power up a chamber with a generator, simply place the generator next to one of the platforms on the chamber and attach it with a cable plug.
The second stop in Astroneer should almost certainly be Sylva's moon Desolo, which is a small and easy planet (yes, we know moons aren't planets) with ready supplies of Aluminum, Zinc, and Copper. These materials are perfect for crafting shuttle boosters, mid-game drill upgrades, Worklights, or Medium Batteries.
How do I unlock VTOL? ›How To Unlock The VTOL In Astroneer. You can unlock the VTOL schematic and get a free VTOL by completing a set of missions that starts with "Fuel For Thought" and ends with "Finished Product". Missions can be accessed via the mission log, which you can find on the side of landing pads or in your quick menu.
Can you fly to other planets in Astroneer? ›Navigating. Once in space, you will see a few options, including 'Launch To Another Planet'. Select this option, which will display a map of the solar system. From here, you just need to select the planet you wish to travel to and watch your shuttle navigate you there.
What is the curious item used for Astroneer? ›The Curious Item is an item in Astroneer that contains recovered entries from workers on the ESS Elysium attempting to recover the ESS Triton. Each entry is different, some containing dates, others producing error codes before the entry logs.