Anomalies are the world’s longest-lasting threat. They irradiate Jan, distort the game world, cut you off from mining nodes, and—if not dealt with—can destroy an entire run. The trick is to learn how to turn them from lethal roadblocks into a renewable resource stream. What follows is a more extended summary that still keeps bullet lists to a minimum in order to give you more context and usable tips.
Suit Alerts and Initial Triage
The moment Jan’s suit begins its rapid‑fire beeping, slow down and get your bearings. Radiation inside an anomaly builds in sudden spikes, not a gradual trickle; a single mis‑step can eat a third of your bar. If Jan collapses, an idle Alter will attempt a rescue, sacrificing their own radiation meter and advancing the in‑game clock. With no Alter available, you’re forced to reload. In short: play all anomalies like ticking time bombs and plan your move.
Opening the Luminator
Real anomaly management starts when you clone the Scientist Alter and introduce a Research Lab. The Scientist reverse-engineers early anomalies and prototypes the Luminator, a handheld beam which:
- scans for hidden anomaly cores;
- destroys the cores, eliminating the threat;
- exposes ALX, a crystalline byproduct used in late-game crafting.
Constructing the Luminator requires ordinary metals, but charging it consumes suit batteries rapidly. Bring along a minimum of two spares on your tool belt when exploring new areas.
Upgrades That Make a Difference
The standard Luminator works, but two research nodes enable it to perform far better:
- Range Modulator – enables you to incinerate remote cores without taking radiation.
- Density Amplifier – halves the beam time to annihilate tougher anomalies.
Investing in both turns chaotic dash‑and‑zap combat into leisurely clean‑ups.
Turning Anomalies into Profit: ALX Refinement
Every anomaly you destroy drops fragments of ALX. Pipe ALX into the Refinery and you can transmute it into Metals, Minerals, or Organics. Transmuting it to Organics has a hidden bonus: those units disregard storage maximums and flow directly into your reactor fuel tank, enabling you to accumulate surplus energy without loading cargo bays. Get an idle Alter busy queuing refinery orders so ALX never backs up.
Identifying—and Neutralizing—Each Anomaly Type
Appearances differ, but every anomaly has at least one core. Destroy all the cores and the field does indeed collapse.
Static
A shimmering bubble that never moves, often spawned in narrow ravines to close off mineral deposits. Walk in, burst the core, walk out—simple, but keep a pylon handy for battery recharges.
Following
You’ll hear a low drone and see the bubble drift toward you. Backpedal at walking speed while keeping the Luminator trained on its single oversized core. A Density Amplifier melts it before it reaches you.
Pulsating
The sphere inflates and deflates rhythmically. Wait for the contraction phase, rush inside, break the exposed core, and retreat. A faint second glow usually appears on the inner wall—clear that too or it will regenerate.
Time
Time anomalies are innocuous-looking but accelerate the day/night cycle when Jan is inside them. One careless excursion will fast-forward you right into a Magnetic Storm. Locate the lone core (generally hovering above head height) and nuke it with all due haste.
Prism
These break light and destroy your sense of direction. Three dispersed cores are somewhere inside. Pick a compass direction, walk until you exit, enter from a different angle, and repeat until all three are down. The Range Modulator is very useful here.
Long‑Term Strategy
As the sun strays closer each chapter, anomaly density detonates. Clearing them early maintains mining paths open, provides a steady ALX income stream, and prevents end‑game bottlenecks when all routes are radioactive. Managing anomalies is like gardening: cut the threats early, and you’ll never have a jungle you cannot traverse.
Master these routines and the planet’s weird physics will shift from existential threat to valuable resource. When the storms hit and new anomalies spawn overnight, you’ll already have the tools—and the confidence—to carve a safe path forward.
