Surviving on a hostile planet isn't an easy task in The Alters, as there are many obstacles that Jan Dolski must overcome to ensure the success of the Rapidium mission. From severe night radiation to numerous anomalies scattered outdoors, exploring and surviving is far from a walk in the park.
However, magnetic storms are definitely the worst of them all, posing an urgent danger to every Alter and the entire base. If players aren't properly prepared, and don't know exactly what to do, or what to avoid, magnetic storms can significantly slow their progress and even lead to a Game Over screen.
The Unwritten Rules of The Alters Explained
The Alters is defined by flexibility, freedom, and player expression, but all the same, there are some guidelines players should follow.
Below, this guide covers everything players need to know to survive even the toughest magnetic storms in The Alters: from recommended technology research and forecasts to preparations, survival tips, and winning strategies for both the player and the Alters.
Everything you Need to Know About Magnetic Storms, Explained
Magnetic storms are natural events that occur regularly in The Alters and can last up to two days straight. During that time, radiation becomes much stronger both during the day and at night, causing the base's Radiation Barrier to consume Radiation Filters at a much faster rate. Additionally, players cannot turn the barrier off manually during a storm. Magnetic storms also severely damage base modules, leading to much faster module malfunctions.
Generally, players will face magnetic storms every 10 to 12 days in The Alters, with each storm lasting one to two days. While it's still possible to leave the base and assign Alters to work outdoors during that period, it's crucial to monitor each character's radiation level to keep it within safe limits. If players or any of the Alters receive too much radiation, it's essential to assign them to rest in the Infirmary (which must be built as an additional base module first).
There are some advantages to take from magnetic storms in the game. First, mining deep deposits of Rapidium and Organics is twice as fast during a storm, so it's recommended to have at least one respective outpost ready before the storm hits. Second, all Alters automatically switch to overtime work during storms, with no negative impact on their mood. Finally, after surviving a magnetic storm, the morale of all Alters automatically improves.
Be careful not to assign any Alter to Enriched Metals mining deposits during magnetic storms, as they will receive double the radiation — even when working for a short period.
The Alters: Is It Possible to Return Rebel Alters in Act 3?
The aftermath of the Alters splitting is the most impactful in the game, but is it possible to make things in Act 3 as they once were in The Alters?
Recommended Research and Item Upholds for Magnetic Storm
Players can make life much easier during magnetic storms by researching specific technologies early on. Following the first storm in the game, players will be able to conduct magnetic storm analysis, unlocking the ability to predict future storms. After that, a notification will appear five days before each storm, with daily reminders until it hits the base.
Since the main objective during a storm is to keep the base safe, researching the base maintenance workplace is a must. It unlocks a second workstation for assigning Alters to base repairs. With the player also helping, up to three malfunctioning modules can be repaired simultaneously, which can be an advantage that's hard to overstate.
As a general rule, avoid working overtime, including during magnetic storms, as it's almost never worth it. When tired, Jan works at half efficiency, and staying awake while exhausted will cost valuable productivity the next day.
Further research isn't strictly necessary, as players can survive future magnetic storms without it, but it can still significantly ease the challenge. This includes the Radiation Repulsor module, which makes Radiation Filters more efficient, and two costly Module Shield upgrades. Each requires one Planetary Sample. In return, Module Shield 1 slows the deterioration rate of a specific module by 50% and reduces the chance of damage during storms, while Module Shield 2 ensures a module never breaks or gets damaged during a storm.
In addition to research, players must maintain a steady supply of both Radiation Filters (at least two to survive a two-day storm) and, more importantly, Repair Kits. It's recommended to have at least four Repair Kits available (set Uphold to 4) before a magnetic storm begins. If the Workshop malfunctions during a storm and no Repair Kits are left, players won't be able to craft more, making it difficult to keep the base in working order.
The Alters: How Many Days
The Alters takes an unconventional approach to the survival genre, so many players may be curious if there is a day or time limit in the game.
General Tips for Surviving Magnetic Storms in The Alters
With all the preparations and technologies out of the way, it's time to cover general strategy for the safest approach during magnetic storms, assuming players don't yet have access to Module Shield 2, which makes survival almost trivial.
- Pay attention to magnetic storm predictions each morning, and monitor the yellow gauge in the left corner once the storm starts to see how long it will last.
- Check the state of base modules regularly (having Technician always assigned to base maintenance is recommended), and make sure to enable low failure risk indicators in machinery to see potential weak spots early. Make sure the base is well-maintained before the storm begins.
- Before each storm, ensure a spare supply of two to three Radiation Filters and three to four Repair Kits (having more is always a plus).
- Try to build at least one Organic or Rapidium outpost before the storm starts to take advantage of faster mining during that period.
- It's best to assign an Alter to work outdoors on Organic or Rapidium mining, in case an extra pair of hands is needed for base maintenance if modules begin to fail faster than anticipated.
- Monitor radiation levels for Jan Dolski and his Alters closely during magnetic storms, and send them to the Infirmary overnight if needed.
With all that in mind, players should be more than prepared to live through any magnetic storm in The Alters, regardless of the Act they're currently in. Remember: safety first!
The Alters
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- June 13, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Publisher(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- PC Release Date
- June 13, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- June 13, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- June 13, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Strategy, Management
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
