Astronium is widely considered the rarest ore in Astroneer, standing out as one of the most elusive resources in the game. Its scarcity makes it a highly sought-after material for advanced progression and research.
Unveiling Astronium: The Apex of Rarity
While Astroneer features a variety of valuable resources, Astronium distinguishes itself through its extreme rarity and unique acquisition methods. Unlike common ores that are found in abundant veins on planet surfaces or in shallow caves, Astronium demands deep exploration and often specialized equipment to locate and extract. It is not a traditional ore that can be smelted into ingots, but rather a raw, exotic material with specific, high-tier applications.
Why is Astronium So Rare?
The scarcity of Astronium stems from several factors related to its in-game generation and accessibility:
- Deep Underground Spawns: Astronium is exclusively found deep within the core of planets, making it one of the most challenging resources to reach. Players must drill extensively through multiple layers of rock to even get close to its deposits.
- Irregular Distribution: Even at the planet's core, Astronium does not appear in predictable, large veins like other resources. Its deposits are often small and scattered, requiring thorough searching.
- Limited Occurrence: While present on most planets, the total amount of Astronium available on any given world is significantly less than other fundamental resources.
The Value and Uses of Astronium
Despite its rarity, Astronium holds immense value due to its critical role in Astroneer's late-game mechanics and technological advancements. Its primary utility lies in powering and activating core game features.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Exclusively found deep within the core of planets. |
| Primary Use | Research, activating planetary gateways, and the Planetary Engine. |
| Obtainment | Requires powerful drills (e.g., Drill Mod 3) and efficient digging strategies. |
| Rarity | One of the rarest resources, demanding extensive exploration. |
Astronium is essential for:
- Activating Gateway Engines: This resource is consumed to activate the massive Gateway Engines found at the core of each planet, which are crucial for traveling between star systems and progressing through the game's story.
- Research: Astronium can be placed into a Research Chamber to generate a substantial amount of research bytes, accelerating the unlocking of new technologies and blueprints. Given its high byte output, it's an efficient, though rare, source of research.
Strategies for Finding Astronium
Due to its elusive nature, finding Astronium requires a dedicated approach:
- Drill to the Core: The most straightforward method is to tunnel directly down to the planet's core using a powerful drill, ideally mounted on a large rover for maximum efficiency and storage.
- Utilize Proximity Repeaters: When searching for scattered deposits, setting up proximity repeaters can help identify resource locations, including Astronium, within a certain radius.
- Automated Mining: For players looking to gather significant quantities, establishing automated mining operations at the planet's core using Auto Arms and Storage Silos can be effective, though complex to set up.
- Explore Multiple Planets: Since Astronium deposits are limited per planet, exploring the cores of different celestial bodies will increase your overall yield.
