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Surviving on a hostile planet isn’t an easy task inThe Alters, as there are many obstacles that Jan Dolski must overcome to ensure the success of the Rapidium mission. From severe night radiation to numerous anomalies scattered outdoors, exploring and surviving is far from a walk in the park.
However,magnetic storms are definitely the worst of them all, posing an urgent danger to every Alterand the entire base. If players aren’t properly prepared, and don’t know exactly what to do, or what to avoid, magnetic storms can significantly slow their progress andeven lead to a Game Over screen.
Below, this guide coverseverything players need to know to survive even the toughest magnetic stormsinThe Alters: from recommended technology research and forecasts to preparations, survival tips, and winning strategies for both the player and the Alters.
Everything you Need to Know About Magnetic Storms, Explained
Magnetic storms are natural events that occur regularly inThe Altersandcan last up to two days straight. During that time,radiation becomes much strongerboth during the day and at night, causing the base’s Radiation Barrier to consume Radiation Filters at a much faster rate. Additionally, players cannot turn the barrier off manually during a storm. Magnetic storms also severely damage base modules,leading to much faster module malfunctions.
Generally, players willface magnetic storms every 10 to 12 daysinThe Alters, with each storm lasting one to two days. While it’s still possible to leave the base and assign Alters to work outdoors during that period, it’scrucial to monitor each character’s radiation levelto keep it within safe limits. If players or any of the Alters receive too much radiation, it’s essential to assign them to rest in the Infirmary (which must be built as an additional base module first).
There aresome advantages to take from magnetic stormsin the game. First, mining deep deposits ofRapidium and Organics is twice as fast during a storm, so it’srecommended to have at least one respective outpost readybefore the storm hits. Second,all Alters automatically switch to overtime workduring storms, with no negative impact on their mood. Finally, after surviving a magnetic storm, the morale of all Alters automatically improves.
Be careful not to assign any Alter to Enriched Metals mining deposits during magnetic storms, as they will receive double the radiation — even when working for a short period.
Recommended Research and Item Upholds for Magnetic Storm
Players can make life much easier during magnetic storms byresearching specific technologies early on. Following the first storm in the game, players will be able to conduct magnetic storm analysis,unlocking the ability to predict future storms. After that, a notification will appear five days before each storm, with daily reminders until it hits the base.
Since the main objective during a storm is to keep the base safe,researching the base maintenance workplace is a must. It unlocks a second workstation for assigning Alters to base repairs. With the player also helping,up to three malfunctioning modules can be repaired simultaneously, which can be an advantage that’s hard to overstate.
As a general rule, avoid working overtime, including during magnetic storms, as it’s almost never worth it. When tired, Jan works athalf efficiency, and staying awake while exhausted will cost valuable productivity the next day.
Further research isn’t strictly necessary, as players can survive future magnetic storms without it, but it can still significantly ease the challenge. This includes the Radiation Repulsor module, which makes Radiation Filters more efficient, and two costly Module Shield upgrades.Each requires one Planetary Sample. In return, Module Shield 1 slows the deterioration rate of a specific module by 50% and reduces the chance of damage during storms, whileModule Shield 2 ensures a module never breaks or gets damagedduring a storm.
In addition to research, players must maintain asteady supply of both Radiation Filters(at least two to survive a two-day storm) and,more importantly, Repair Kits. It’s recommended tohave at least four Repair Kits available (set Uphold to 4)before a magnetic storm begins. If the Workshop malfunctions during a storm and no Repair Kits are left, players won’t be able to craft more, making it difficult to keep the base in working order.
General Tips for Surviving Magnetic Storms in The Alters
With all the preparations and technologies out of the way, it’s time to cover general strategy for the safest approach during magnetic storms, assuming players don’t yet have access to Module Shield 2, which makes survival almost trivial.
With all that in mind, players should be more than prepared to live through any magnetic storm inThe Alters, regardless of the Act they’re currently in. Remember: safety first!
