Ray Receiver

Ray Receiver is a power building that harvests energy from a Dyson Sphere or Dyson Swarm. It is one of the more mechanically complex buildings in the game, with several linked variables shown in its UI, and it is the main structure used to convert the sphere’s output into either local grid power or Critical Photons for antimatter production.

A Ray Receiver has two modes. In Energy Generation mode, it immediately supplies electricity to the local grid, starting at 6 MW and rising to 15 MW at full continuous receiving. In Photon Generation mode, unlocked by Dirac Inversion Mechanism, it converts received energy into Critical Photons, which are required for Universe Matrix production through antimatter. At maximum efficiency, Photon Generation produces 6 Critical Photons per minute. The Receiver’s maximum output is not fixed: it scales with Continuous Receiving, Photon Generation mode, and whether a Graviton Lens is being used. Continuous Receiving starts at 0% on a newly built Receiver and increases slowly as the building keeps receiving uninterrupted power, reaching 100% after 20 minutes.

Several of the Receiver’s values matter at the same time. Strength describes how well the Receiver is aligned with the sphere or swarm and determines the theoretical maximum it can draw. Receiving efficiency describes how much power is lost in transmission; the Receiver always draws up to its rated output, and lower efficiency simply causes the sphere or swarm to send more power to cover the loss. The total power shown by the building is the actual output after these calculations. If the Dyson Sphere or Dyson Swarm cannot supply enough power, output is scaled down by available supply.

The building requires direct line of sight to its energy source by default, so placement matters a great deal. On planets with low axial inclination, placing Receivers near the poles is ideal because those locations stay within line of sight more reliably. In contrast, planets with higher axial inclination have fewer perfect spots. Building Receivers inside a Dyson Sphere can also keep the efficiency bonus from degrading, as long as the relevant shell is maintained. A Dyson Swarm can provide power as well, but because solar sails expire, it is usually a less stable source early on.

Once Planetary Ionosphere Utilization is researched, a Graviton Lens can be inserted to improve performance. Lenses are consumed at a rate of one every 10 minutes, regardless of mode, and they substantially improve both output and receiving behavior. With a lens, the Receiver can also collect reflected energy through a planet’s ionosphere, allowing it to work in many more locations across the planet. Proliferated lenses further improve the bonus, reducing the number of Receivers needed.

• Continuous Receiving is valuable because it raises both output and transmission quality over time.
• On low-tilt planets, build at the poles for the best uninterrupted performance.
• In Photon Generation, the Receiver is part of the antimatter production chain, so it is usually reserved for late-game infrastructure.
• Receivers cannot be directly belted into one another; extracting Critical Photons and supplying Graviton Lenses requires sorters and belt routing.
• Early in the game, a Dyson Swarm may not be efficient enough to justify heavy use, so the Receiver is often more useful after sphere construction begins.