In Scrap Mechanic, raids are a recurring challenge designed to test your base's defenses and your engineering prowess. They are primarily triggered by your farming activities and aim to destroy your base and its valuable contents.
Raid Trigger Mechanism
Raids are initiated based on the value of crops growing within your base's territory. Beginning each in-game day from 4:30 AM, the game continuously scans random sections of your world for planted crops. Specifically:
- Scanning Process: Throughout the day, starting at 4:30 AM, the game systematically checks random "chunks" of the terrain.
- Crop Value Assessment: During this scan, the total value of all crops detected within a scanned chunk is calculated.
- Raid Initiation: If the combined value of crops in any single scanned chunk exceeds a threshold of 10, a raid event is automatically generated and saved for your base. This means that once the condition is met, a raid is set to occur, regardless of subsequent actions.
- Persistent Threat: Crucially, if you harvest your crops after a raid has been triggered but before the raid actually begins, it will not prevent the attack. The raid event remains active and will still target your base.
This system ensures that as you progress in farming and accumulate valuable crops, you will face increasing defensive challenges.
What Happens During a Raid
Once triggered, a raid involves waves of hostile Farmbots or other enemy types attempting to breach your defenses and destroy your structures, especially your more valuable assets like Refineries, Packing Stations, and, critically, your precious crops and stored resources.
- Enemy Waves: Expect multiple waves of enemies, with their numbers and types often scaling with your progression and the difficulty settings.
- Targeting: Enemies will typically prioritize the shortest path to your valuable assets, but can also attack any obstacles in their way, including walls, defenses, and even decorative elements.
- Objective: Your primary objective during a raid is to protect your base, its resources, and yourself from destruction. Successfully defending against a raid often rewards you with components and resources dropped by defeated enemies.
Preparing for Raids
Effective raid defense requires thoughtful base design and a robust defensive infrastructure.
- Layered Defenses: Construct multiple layers of walls, fences, and other barriers to slow down and funnel incoming enemies.
- Automated Turrets: Utilize various types of automated turrets (e.g., Spud Guns, Shotgun Turrets, Spear Guns) strategically placed to cover approach paths and choke points. Ensure they have sufficient ammunition.
- Traps and Obstacles: Incorporate traps like Electric Traps, Saw Blades, and strategically placed obstacles to damage or impede enemy progress.
- Elevated Positions: Building critical structures on elevated platforms can provide a defensive advantage, forcing enemies to find ramps or staircases, which can be protected.
- Resource Management: Keep a steady supply of ammunition, repair kits, and building materials readily accessible for mid-raid repairs and reloads.
- Backup Power: Ensure your defenses have a reliable and redundant power supply, as power generators can be targeted by enemies.
Understanding the trigger mechanism and preparing proactively are key to surviving and thriving in the challenging world of Scrap Mechanic.
