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How To Destroy Anomalies And Find Planetary Samples In The Alters

Are you looking for a way to destroy anomalies in The Alters? These odd and eerie objects can be found in various locations, and approaching them is extremely risky. However, some rewards await you if you're curious and brave enough. Our guide has all the details to help you with this particular facet of the game.

How to destroy anomalies in The Alters - Anomalies, ALX, and Planetary Samples guide

You'll start finding anomalies upon reaching the game's first act. As you continue to explore the rocky crags and steep cliffsides, you're bound to see strange phenomena in your surroundings. These objects appear as translucent, gaseous wisps that float in mid-air. However, the moment you approach them, Jan will start taking damage.

Types of anomalies

There are several types of anomalies in The Alters. The first type you'll encounter are static. They don't move from their spot, though you have to walk carefully to avoid them. Soon thereafter, you'll come across anomalies that track you down, homing in on you before they explode and inflict irradiation.

Much later in the game, you'll find even deadlier and more annoying anomalies. Some are even able to cause time dilation, which cna be a huge hassle when you're trying to make the most out of your precious few hours on the surface.

Lastly, there's an anomalous object known as an Interal. Compared to other anomalies, it has a bright greenish hue and it leads to a nifty reward.

Static anomalies are fairly easy to avoid since you can go through the gaps in between them.

How to craft the Luminator

When you first stumble upon an anomaly, you'll be able to speak with Jan Scientist, who's quite curious about these peculiar entities. Then, when you chance upon an Interal, you can talk to Jan Scientist once more. Doing so allows you to craft a Luminator, which requires 20x metals and 20x rapidium.

Talking to the Scientist unlocks a means of crafting the Luminator.

How to destroy anomalies to obtain ALX

The Luminator is essentially a flashlight that can eliminate anomalies in The Alters. If you've played the Alan Wake games before, then it's akin to shining a light on the darkness nodes to make them explode.

In any case, you can select the Luminator via the item/action wheel. Then, shine a light while aiming at the anomaly's bright core. Eventually, the core will burst open, allowing you to pick up a resource called ALX.

Note 1: After researching the corresponding techs, you can turn ALX into other resources via the Refinery.

Note 2: The Luminator gradually expends Suit Energy whenever you're shining the light on a target. You can either bring some extra Suit Batteries or recharge your energy via outposts.

Continuously shine the light on an anomaly's core to blast it.

How to destroy Interal Cores to obtain Planetary Samples

Let's go back to what we mentioned earlier regarding Interals. These greenish wisps can also be destroyed using the Luminator. The difference is that doing so reveals luminescent patches of grass and flowers. You then need to follow these lush growths to where they lead.

Eventually, you'll come across an Interal Vein Core. Activate the Luminator once more to blast the core so you can pick up a special item known as a Planetary Sample.

The Planetary Sample in The Alters can be used to unlock higher-tier techs in the Research Lab. These include suit upgrades, more advanced outposts, and better craftable tools.

Planetary Samples from Interal Vein Cores are quite valuable.

Note: If you decide to dawdle longer in a region until the sun gets dangerously close, it will trigger the "High Planetary Activity" state. It's possible to find another Interal Vein in another location in the region, which means you can obtain an extra Planetary Sample.

That does it for our guide on how to destroy anomalies in The Alters. If you want to get ready for other threats that you'd encounter on your adventure, then we advise you to read our Magnetic Storms guide.