You are likely stuck at the Alien Ruins. You need to unlock the Axum door and fix the alien turbine. To do this, you must have a feedback resonator, gather 30 specific ingots, and clear the Angel Comb puzzle. This guide covers all the exact steps to restore power and open the door without wasting your time.
What we cover:
TL;DR: Alien Ruins Checklist & Preparation
If you want a quick summary before you travel, check this table. It shows exactly what you need to bring and what you will earn.
| Requirement / Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Must-Have Tools | Feedback Resonator, Bioscanner upgrade |
| Main Objective | Fix the Alien Turbine and open the Axum Door |
| Major Rewards | Engine Efficiency Upgrade, Axum Vision Adaptation |
| Distance | 1100 meters east of the Lifepod |
How to Find the Alien Ruins Location
If you finish the Tadpole Pens objective, the game gives you a map marker for the ruins. The location sits about 1100 meters east of your Lifepod.
The journey is long and dangerous. You should swim near the ocean surface to avoid the collector leviathan that patrols the deep waters. Once you arrive at the research outpost, look around the area. You will find the engine efficiency upgrade. This is a great early reward that speeds up your vehicle.
Step 1: Solve the Angel Comb Puzzle (Axum Vision)
You cannot read the alien terminals right away. You need a biological upgrade first to understand their language.
Look for the Angel Comb. It is a large alien plant with a pink bulb, located directly beneath a broken turbine. Follow the purple tendrils branching off from this plant to find three bloom cankers. These are blue, corrupted nodules that close up if you get too close.
Here is how you clear them:
- Equip your feedback resonator.
- Shoot the bloom cankers with sonic projectiles from a safe distance.
- Follow the first branch to a ravine and a cavern below the base to find the first nodules.
- Follow the next branch to an eerie green pool known as the metal farms.
- Swim higher toward the plateaus to find the cicada wreck. You will find more nodules inside this crashed ship.
- Return to the angel comb after you destroy all the cankers.
- Interact with the exposed pink bulb.
You will receive the Axum Vision Adaptation. This skill finally lets you read alien glyphs and inscriptions.
Step 2: How to Repair the Alien Turbine
Go to the lower cliffside control room and press the button on the terminal. This action lowers the turbine structure. Swim up to the propeller and scan it with your bioscanner upgrade. This reveals the “Turbine Repair Plan” in your databank.
Required Crafting Materials
You must farm several resources to fix the machine. Use a processor to craft these specific ingots.
| Material | Quantity Needed | Where to Find or Refine |
|---|---|---|
| Titanium Ingot | 10 | Refine from 30 Titanium total. |
| Strontium | 10 | Refine from 20 Celestine total. |
| Mangalloy Ingot | 10 | Combine 10 Titanium Ingot, 10 Atacamites (ruins seabed), and 10 Troilites (near Metal Farms). |
How to Power the Turbine
Once you repair the propeller, you need to activate the system. Head to the control room located higher up the cliffside.
Interact with the left and right terminals. You must switch the dials until the symbols match the position of the arrows. The symbols will turn green when they are correct. Press the switch with the claw-like symbol to activate them. Finally, check the central terminal and press its switch to restore power to the entire zone.
Step 3: Open the Axum Observatory Door
Now that the area has power, swim back to the main observatory doorway. Use your new axum vision adaptation to interact with the lever on the bloom pedestal. This opens the Axum door.
Swim inside the room and pull the next lever to activate a large hologram. You can also scan the orrery in the center. Your NoA device will translate the message. This message reveals a new region called Xanadu located somewhere across the Great Trench. It also warns you about dangerous creatures called Crypters lurking below.
3 Survival Tips for the Alien Ruins
The ruins are full of dangers. You need to play smart to survive this biome.
- Drop Flares: Large monsters like Needlers patrol this area. You can drop Flares to distract them easily while you explore.
- Holster your Survival Multitool: Never strike wildlife with this tool. If you hit them, they will become permanently hostile and hunt you. Just use your scanner or swim away.
- Build a forward base: The 1100-meter trip from the Lifepod is very far. You should build a small base here with a NoA device and a Biobed. This creates a safe respawn point so you do not lose progress if you die.
FAQ
Are there full underwater cities in the Alien Ruins?
No. The game lore takes place on an underdeveloped moon. You will find abandoned bases, shipwrecks, and large megalithic structures, but no massive, sprawling cities.
Is the Engine Efficiency Upgrade required to progress?
It is not required to solve the puzzles, but it is a major reward located in this zone. You should grab it to make your future travels much faster.
