Sandustry Aura Extractor
A late-game building that gathers ambient resources from the surrounding environment — improved controls in v0.5.5.
The Aura Extractor is a late-game building in Sandustry designed to gather ambient resources from the surrounding environment. Unlike Shakers or conveyors that process physical materials you drop on them, the Extractor pulls in resources that drift through the air or settle on surfaces nearby. It becomes available once you progress deep enough into the research tree and have the infrastructure to sustain its energy demands.
What the Aura Extractor does
The Extractor scans an area around its placement tile and collects ambient particles — floating resources that exist in certain biomes or after specific production chains emit them. Think of it as a passive income building: once placed and powered, it continuously gathers without you needing to shovel input into it. The collected resources drop below or beside the building for conveyors or drones to pick up.
The exact resources depend on biome and adjacent production. In areas with heavy steam or gas output, the Extractor pulls those particles. Near botanical setups with Flowers and Amethelis, it can collect stray petals. Near lava zones, it captures heat-adjacent particles. Placement strategy matters — putting it next to your Voidbloom-to-Fluxite line yields different results than placing it above a slag burner.
Swarm targeting indicators (v0.5.5)
Before Update 0.5.5, the Extractor’s controls felt opaque. You placed it and hoped for the best. The patch added:
- Clearer hover guidance — hovering over the Extractor now shows its collection radius and which resource type it is currently targeting.
- Swarm targeting indicators — visual cues that show which ambient particles the Extractor is locking onto, so you can reposition if the wrong resources dominate.
These changes make the Extractor far more readable. If you placed one before 0.5.5 and abandoned it because output was confusing, revisit it — the new visuals explain what is happening.
Research requirements
The Aura Extractor sits deep in the research tree. You need significant Gold investment and likely Fluxite upgrades before it becomes available. Check Research Tree for exact unlock nodes and Fluxite Upgrades for the upgrade path that makes late-game buildings viable.
If you have not yet unlocked Drones or the Kinetic Slag Press, the Extractor is probably not your next target. Focus on the core refinery loop first — How to Get Gold and Slag Processing — then come back.
Placement tips
- Biome matters. The Extractor collects what is in the air around it. Place it in biomes that produce the particles you need, not in empty shafts.
- Height affects collection. Ambient particles often rise (steam, gas) or fall (ash, petals). Position the Extractor at the right altitude for your target resource.
- Clear space below. Collected resources drop from the building. If the space below is filled with buildings or walls, output gets stuck. Leave at least one open tile underneath for conveyors.
- Pair with automation. The Extractor is passive, but its output still needs routing. Place conveyors or a drone hauler path below to move collected resources to storage or processing.
- Energy cost. The Extractor draws power. Make sure your battery infrastructure from How to Get Energy can sustain it alongside other late-game buildings.
Aura Extractor vs other collection methods
Manual shoveling, conveyors, and drones all move physical materials. The Extractor is different — it targets ambient resources that are not sitting on a surface. This makes it complementary to, not a replacement for, your main factory lines. Think of it as a bonus income stream on top of your Shaker-and-press gold loop.
For general factory planning, cross-read Materials for resource behavior, Buildings Hub for all machine types, and Factory Tiers for when late-game buildings unlock relative to your factory level.
Related
- Update 0.5.5 — Hover guidance and swarm targeting improvements.
- Buildings Hub — All building categories.
- Research Tree — Unlock path.
- How to Get Energy — Power for late-game buildings.
- Factory Tiers — Factory level progression.
FAQ
If the Extractor output seems low, check: (1) is it in the right biome for your target particle, (2) is there open space below for output, (3) is your energy supply stable, and (4) are adjacent production chains actually emitting the particles you want. The v0.5.5 hover tooltip answers most of these questions at a glance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common Sandustry questions.
What does the Aura Extractor do in Sandustry?
It passively gathers ambient resources from the surrounding environment — floating particles, steam, petals, or heat-adjacent materials depending on biome and adjacent production.
When should I unlock the Aura Extractor?
After you have stable gold income, Fluxite upgrades, and energy infrastructure. It is a late-game building. Check Research Tree for the unlock node.
What changed about the Aura Extractor in v0.5.5?
Clearer hover guidance showing collection radius and target resource, plus swarm targeting indicators for visual feedback. See Update 0.5.5.
Does the Aura Extractor replace conveyors?
No. It targets ambient particles that are not on surfaces. You still need conveyors or drones to move its output to storage.
Where should I place the Aura Extractor?
In biomes with the target particles at the right altitude. Leave open space below for output. Pair with conveyors or drone paths.
Does the Extractor need energy?
Yes. Make sure your battery infrastructure can sustain it. See How to Get Energy.