Quests in Area 3

This page reveals plot points (including the ending!) far in advance of when you would naturally encounter them through play, and may spoil the joy of discovery. Proceed at your own risk.

*Main article: Quests*

Comprehensive list of tutorial quests in Area 3 and the deep layer.

## Travel to Area 3 and mine

*"We are getting closer to our final destination! Reach the Area 3 and gather materials in this region."*

Objectives: Travel through the granite passage to Area 3 and surface at Shallow Dock.

Note: Surfacing anywhere in Area 3, even in a cave, will complete the quest.

*"Well done!"*

## Side quest: Improved Tracks

*"Another tracks upgrade can be installed at this point. The biggest advantage for improved tracks is adding extra speed bonus when surfacing and going underground. This is very useful for emergency situations when only few seconds are left and eruption is coming."*

Objective: produce and install the Improved tracks upgrade.

*"Chance to quickly escape from the blast wave is always a great benefit."*

## Side quest: Steel Hull

*"The COG attacks are getting stronger as we are moving closer to the Volcano core. Every extra armor we can get is welcome and increases our chances to hold on long enough till turrets are done with the work. Parts for the Steel hull can be found in some T2 and most certainly in all T3 drillship. Make sure to check the Stats panel."*

Objective: produce and install the Steel hull upgrade.

*"Extra armor is a welcome improvement!"*

## Attack COG drillship T3

*"We are close to obtaining the last technology tier to produce the most advanced modules. Rush towards a T3 COG drillship equipped with T3 Production and Refinery modules. Take them down and scavenge the destroyed parts. If possible, check the storage modules, and maybe you find some extra tech that would help us in the future."*

Objectives: Collect three each Destroyed production module T3 and Destroyed refinery module T3, and place them in your drillship storage.

Note: The quest displays a directive to approach an enemy drillship, but simply collecting Destroyed Modules from technology spawns will complete it.

*"Well done! Once the research systems are up, we will use these to produce intel."*

## Research module T3

*"The ultimate laboratory can now be built and added to the drillship. Any kind of intel or schematic can be researched quickly without waiting."*

Objective: Research Advanced research schematic, then produce and install Research module tier 3.

Note: The T3 Research module isn't actually needed for anything. All intel and schematics can be produced by the T2 module, the only new capability the T3 adds is synthesizing three T2 intel into a T3. Given this module's large size and enormous power demand, it may be best to remove or deactivate it once the quest is complete.

*"Well done, finally we can start producing T3 devices."*

## Advanced Production Line

*"Finally we can change our production line into state-of-the-art engineering. Gather all required components and produce the advanced production upgrade. From now on, we will be able to produce most efficient machines that can match COG Elite drillships."*

Objective: Research Advanced production schematic.

*"Well done, now let's produce something great!."*

## Top tier production

*"With the advanced production line in place, we can begin with construction of the top tier modules. First that needs to be done is the production module T3 that is needed in order to construct all the other T3 modules. Make sure to have enough free space in the drillship as it takes up three slots. Keep in mind you can still use the T2 and T1 modules to speed up production times."*

Objectives: Produce and install Production module tier 3.

Note: For the same crafting speed, one T3 and several T1 production modules are just as power-, space- and core-efficient as multiple T3s and much more flexible, though the T1s are more vulnerable to attacking COGs.

*"I believe we will be able to make some new weapons with this!"*

## Upgrade advanced refinery

*"More complex devices and materials demand better smelting technology. Upgrade the drillship to allow production of higher tier upgrades and smelting of new materials. If you are missing items for production, try to target Refinery drillships and raid them. All ships have some amount of each technology, but specialized drillships always have the most."*

Objectives: research Advanced refinery schematic.

*"Perfect! There is no material on the island that can't be refined!"*

## Refinery module T3

*"Materials in this part of the island are the toughest you can find around here. We are going to need an advanced refinery module to get enough heat for smelting the ingots. It will be worth it, as it gives us access to latest technology."*

Objectives: produce and install Refinery module tier 3.

Note: All six refinable ores can be smelted with just the T2 Refinery module, but the T3 is needed to make the alloy for top-tier drillship upgrades, and for scrapping T3 technology.

*"Great work! Everything you find on the island can be smelted now."*

## Advanced Geothermal Module

*"A more efficient and larger geothermal energy power module is now available for your drillship. Building it is highly recommended!"*

Objective: Produce and install Advanced geothermal module.

*"Large amounts of free energy are now available to you!"*

## Side quest: Gatling Gun

*"Latest technology improvements on the drillship systems allow us to upgrade the weapon arsenal. Finally you get the chance to equip yourself with the fast firing gatling gun, shredding through countless enemies. COG drillship that just surfaced is no longer an issue, since you can take out everything coming from the door. Produce Gatling gun and ammunition to see it in action."*

Objective: Produce Gatling gun and 500x Gatling ammo and collect them from storage.

Tip: This weapon is very powerful, but isn't an instant kill and wielding it makes you quite sluggish. Carry a backup weapon. It's also a good idea at this point to research Advanced explosives and create high-explosive ammo, Titanium armor and the Detonator.

*"Make sure to carry this the next time you are going to raid a COG drillship!"*

## Attack and destroy COG Flagship

*"Our next objective is to locate and destroy the COG Flagship that holds parts to the most advanced upgrade, the Titanium hull. We can't travel to the Volcano, unless our drillship is equipped with this technology. We roughly know where the Flagship surfaces. It has strong defense and attack groups. Be well equipped before you launch the attack. The timing is also crucial, as the Flagship might retreat before eruption and all your efforts would be wasted. Ideally launch the attack right when it surfaces the first time. Good luck!"*

Objectives: travel to near COG Hills, attack and destroy the COG Flagship, and harvest the wreck for Titanium hull parts and other loot.

Notes: The COG Flagship doesn't have more advanced modules than regular T3 military drillships, but it has a stronger hull, more turrets and a massive Spawn tube loadout. An underground Flagship wreck provides T4 drill and tracks parts, but not the hull.

Tips: This ship is a very tough nut to crack. Bring lots of High-explosive mortar grenades and Titanium armor kits, and get inside and blasting with your Gatling Gun as soon as possible. And while it's tempting to let the Flagship surface at Lake View and attack down the slope, doing this actually just leaves you exposed to massed COG gunfire. As an alternative, with the Advanced Tracks and Steel Hull, it's just barely possible to penetrate the thinnest part of the Magma Sanctuary's magma barrier without losing any modules, and attack the Flagship there instead.

*"Excellent work! You have outdone yourself on this one!"*

## Titanium Hull

*"The time is now! We are finally able to upgrade the drillship to the point where we can reach the Volcano core and shut it down. We will have to travel through the magma channels in order to reach the depths of Volcano. Produce final hull upgrade with the use of Titanium hull parts we got from the COG flagship."*

Objectives: produce and install Titanium hull upgrade.

Note: in addition to increased armor, this upgrade makes the Drillship completely immune to heat. Even if it just sits in the hottest traversable magma (generating geothermal power!), it will never take damage or lose modules. Still not eruption-proof, though.

*"Drillship is finally capable of entering the Volcano!"*

## Third laser destruction

*"The time has come to siege another important COG structure. As we took down the previous Laser Device, we can be sure they improved defenses and guard the whole area. Be sure to bring enough ammo and explosives. It might take a lot of time to get to the crane legs as you fight your way through. You want to be sure the crane won't hide before eruption when you finally get to it."*

Objectives: Travel through the magma barrier to reach Magma Sanctuary, then attack and destroy the Laser Device there.

Tip: This laser device is guarded by another COG Flagship. On the bright side, High-explosive mortar grenades are much more destructive than anything you had last time you attacked a laser.

Note: After completing this quest, the layer passages to the Volcano Hearth will appear.

*"Excellent work! Volcano core is now the only COG structure left!"*

## Volcano Heart

*"The final quest is here! Travel into the Volcano Hearth and silence it for good! Make sure you time it right. The final fight will take a while, and your effort will be wasted if you have to withdraw because of incoming eruption."*

Objective: Travel through the lava passages to the deep caves, surface in Volcano Heart, then attack and destroy the Laser Device there.

Note: In addition to Volcano Heart, the deep layer includes three other caves, two safe and one with a single Flagship. Also, the layer has all seven ores underground, though not all are available in caves.

Tip: Volcano Heart is larger than previous Laser Device caves, with five landing sites, and is guarded by no less than three COG Flagships. Good luck!

Once this quest is completed, Volcano eruptions and all COG operations will stop permanently. The volcano timer will read ∞, and the ruins of the final Laser Device will stand forever.

*"The Adranos expedition has been successful! Thanks to you, the exiled islanders can now return to their homes."*