Spore Press

Spore Press is a production block that compresses Spore Pod into Tar. It converts raw biological resource into a denser liquid commodity used elsewhere in the tech tree and as turret ammunition. The block was added in Build 155.

Mechanically, the Spore Press consumes Spore Pod at a rate of 3 per second, requires 42 power per second, and completes a processing cycle every 0.333 seconds, yielding Tar at a rate of 18 per second. These rates imply the Press performs rapid, small cycles to convert batches of Spore Pod into Tar; provision the input side with steady delivery to maintain full throughput.

Place Spore Presses near Spore Pod collection points or on efficient conveyor networks that bring Spore Pods from drills and collectors. Because the Press is a power consumer, pair it with adequate power generation and power routing so production does not stall. Positioning multiple presses adjacent to the same Spore Pod feed lets you scale Tar output quickly for fuel, ammunition, or other Tar-consuming factories.

Practical notes and strategies:

• Use Spore Presses to turn large, passive Spore Pod deposits into usable Tar rather than stockpiling raw pods. The conversion is efficient for players who have access to spore fields but need Tar for advanced turrets and industry.
• Keep conveyors, sorters, and overflow chests arranged so Spore Pods are diverted to presses when Tar demand is high, and sent to storage otherwise.
• Because the Press draws significant continuous power, connect it to a stable power network (Combustion Generators, Batteries, Power Nodes) and consider buffering excess power in Batteries if you plan to run many presses simultaneously.
• Tar produced by Spore Presses is commonly used as superior ammunition for flamethrower-style turrets and also serves other Tar-consuming recipes; convert Spore Pods early if your defense or production relies on Tar.
• Multiple presses scale linearly with input throughput; if you double the number of presses feeding from the same ore line, make sure drills and conveyors can supply the increased Spore Pod demand to avoid starving production.

Spore Press is a midgame production utility that transforms otherwise low-value biological resources into a versatile industrial material. Use it wherever Spore Pod deposits are abundant and Tar is required for your turrets or downstream factories.