Obolite

**Obolites** are one of the resources found in **Returnal.** This currency is found in two forms: stable and unstable. Stable Obolites are those that can be picked up via smaller yellow clusters on the ground, or embedded in larger yellow clusters and statues with glowing eyes that both have to be destroyed in order to get the Obolites. Unstable Obolites, on the other hand, drop from killing enemies or actually destroying the statues with glowing eyes. These Obolites disappear after a short period of time if not picked up by Selene. Obolites are used to purchase and fabricate various resources during a loop via Fabricator Pods, Augment Stations, or any similar station. Obolites and Ether can also be exchanged at the Obolite Repository, which is only available by playing online. However, all held Obolites will be lost when Selene dies, forcing her to start from scratch.

## Obolite-Related Consumables and Artifacts

Some Consumables and Artifacts found in Returnal can affect Obolites and Fabricator Pods. Those that can affect Obolites and Fabricator Pods are listed below:

### Obolite-Related Consumables

* **Dismantler:** The Dismantler destroys any nearby enemies and turns them into Obolites. Enemies closer to Selene when the Dismantler is used give off more Obolites.
* **Anti-Energy Pulse:** The Anti-Energy Pulse creates a large, yellow field that turns enemy projectiles into Obolites. The field lasts for a period of time before disappearing.
* **Weapon Harvester:** The Weapon Harvester turns a nearby weapon (excluding the one Selene is currently carrying) into Obolites, consuming the Harvester in the process.
* **Parasite Harvester:** The Parasite Harvester turns a random attached Parasite into either Obolites or a random item, consuming the Harvester in the process.
* **Fabricator Shifter:** The Fabricator Shifter refreshes the inventories of all nearby Fabricator Pods, even if Selene has already used them. It is important to note that the icon must be orange before using the Shifter, otherwise nothing will happen.
* **Obolite Siphon:** The Obolite Siphon, upon activation, lets collected Obolites restore Integrity for 30 seconds. It is currently unknown if, while picking up Obolites after using the Siphon with full Integrity, Maximum Integrity can be increased via this method.
* **Obolite Seeder:** The Obolite Seeder, upon activation, lets killed enemies drop twice as many Obolites for a short period of time.

### Obolite-Related Artifacts

* **Obolite Extractor:** While equipped, the Obolite Extractor makes killing enemies that have hit Selene reward 50% more Obolites.
* **Obolite Stabilizer:** While equipped, the Obolite Stabilizer makes unstable Obolites, or Obolites that drop from enemies, last 3 seconds longer.
* **Golden Coil:** While equipped, the Golden Coil increases all damage that Selene deals by 5% for every 200 Obolites carried. This bonus stacks up to 20% more damage (or 1000 Obolites carried), and the damage increase applies to all damage sources, not just to weapons.

## Databank Entries

### Research Level 1

A previously unknown radioactive material with a crystalline structure and a golden glow. After separating the material from any [UNKNOWN ERROR] can be auto-gathered by the suit's resource tank. The radiation signatures on the local structures indicate that this has been the primary energy source for the sentient civilization, so it is highly likely that the collected minerals can be used to power dormant xeno-type machinery.

### Research Level 2

In addition to natural occurrences within rock formations, sentient structures and devices, it is also found accumulating in local fauna. The mineral's capacity to bind to biological matter [MISSING VARIABLE] mathematically impossible, as if its grasp somehow exceeds its reach. Additionally the amounts accumulated should be harmful to any complex organism and cause severe developmental deformations, but instead they seem to be able to [DATABASE MISMATCH] in heightened capacity. This could indicate either a very long adaptive evolutionary process or intentional genetic engineering.

### Research Level 3

}#[^\*new beginning. The structure itself was massive, its engineering sleeker than reality should have been able to allow. Mechanical poetry. A hymn of human ingenuity. "An affirmation," she intoned. He glanced over at her, concerned by her detached and malevolent grin, but instead only wondered how this could possibly end without\*^;/=

## Trivia

* There are two meanings of the word "Obolite" depending on if its definition is literal or taken from the more common word "Obolus":
	+ The word "Obolite" literally means a fossil brachiopod of the genus *Obolus*, an extinct type of lamp shell from the Cambrian period that inhabited shallow marine waters. This ties in fairly nicely with the oceanic theming and atmosphere of the game.
	+ The definition of the word Obolus, related to the word Obolite, is a silver coin from ancient Greece worth one-sixth of a drachma. This makes a strong tie-in with Selene's own fantasies, with her submerged in Greek myth and fighting ancient monsters.
* The smaller Obolite chunks can drop 10-15 Obolites.
* The larger Obolite chunks can drop 55-61 Obolites.
* The Obolite statues can drop 8-14 Obolites.
* At the very start of a fresh run, Selene can only pick up Obolites by manually picking them up (when she manually picks one up, then they will start flying to her when she is close enough). Until Selene does, however, all Obolites that are normally unstable do not disappear, instead remaining on the ground for Selene to pick them up.

## See also

* Obolite Repository
* Fabricator Pod
* Dismantler
* Anti-Energy Pulse
* Weapon Harvester
* Parasite Harvester
* Fabricator Shifter
* Obolite Siphon
* Obolite Seeder
* Obolite Extractor
* Obolite Stabilizer
* Golden Coil