Locus

Locus is a heavy, spammable ranged ground unit that serves as a durable damage dealer in Mindustry. It alternates shots at enemies using a hitscan rail-type weapon that pierces targets, giving it strong performance against both buildings and grouped enemy units. Locus units have more than double the bulk of other units in the same tier, which lets them soak damage, resist anti-splash strikes, and protect backline attackers from piercing weapons. Their relatively short build time and fast replenishment make them well suited for early- to mid-game pushes and base defense where rapid reinforcement is important.

The Locus main weapon fires at 3.33 shots/sec (0.3 s reload, 18 ticks), deals 36 damage per hit, and uses a pierce mechanic with a 0.8x damage multiplier per pierced target. Its effective hitscan range is roughly 20 tiles (bullet length 20), and it has a turn speed of 1.4 degrees/tick, allowing it to track targets reliably. The weapon is implemented as a RailBulletType (hitscan/pierce); bullets have zero travel speed in conventional terms because they are instantaneous hits. The unit’s design emphasizes a high rate of fire, strong single-target hits that can also chip multiple units in a line, and durability to remain in sustained fights.

Practical usage and interactions:

• Locus excels when massed: surround a target or choke point to maximize how many Loci can fire simultaneously; their bulk and hitscan pierce make them effective at breaking bases that lack heavy splash defenses.
• They are effective defenders as well: low build time allows quick response waves and their high armor reduces the effect of single high-damage strikes.
• Hitscan pierce prevents simple deletion by point-defense-only mechs like Cleroi’s counterplay when used alone; combined compositions of Locus and Cleroi can use Loci as damage soakers while Cleroi walk over them to finish fights.
• Fast firing lets Locus handle incoming unit missiles and gives them value against mobile ranged units when amassed.

Counters and weaknesses:

• Locus cannot penetrate massive walls; strong splash or high-area damage can disrupt clumps.
• Sublimates with ozone or cyanogen ammo destroy Loci very quickly (Sublimates with ozone destroy in about four seconds; cyanogen in about two), making elemental ammo a strong counter.
• Titanium (Titan in some sources) and other high-splash units are effective against clumped Loci because they can chip or reach backline targets that single-target turrets might miss.
• Terrain and chokepoints can be used defensively to force Loci into disadvantageous approaches if you lack anti-armor units.

Mechanical and historical notes:

• Locus was added in Build 136. Its main weapon firing rate was decreased in Build 141 (from 4.28/sec to 3.33/sec). Range was increased in Build 147 (from 19 to ~19.5/20). Build 152 adjusted drown time in water to scale with hitSize and increased overall drown time (240 → 450 ticks) and added a floor effect multiplier (units move faster on certain terrain). Build 155 gave Locus (and Precept) the ability to instantly destroy a power node on contact; this unit has a hidden stat that allows it to instantly crush power nodes to prevent easy path-blocking via spamming.
• The Locus weapon’s technical parameters reported across sources: 0.3 s reload, 1.4 turn speed, bullet lifetime short (hitscan), pierce enabled, 36 damage, bullet length/effective range ~20 tiles, and 9 fragments reported in some internal parameters (implementation detail).

Tactical tips:

• Pre-position Loci to gain surrounds at choke points for maximal sustained damage output.
• Avoid letting Locus swarms be funneled into Sublimates with ozone/cyanogen ammo or into splash from Titanium clusters.
• Use mixed compositions (tanks plus mechs) where possible: tanks soak while mechs exploit openings.
• Be cautious when attempting to block paths with explosive containers against Locus swarms, as Loci can prevent solid block placement and may shoot down vulnerable core units before traps become effective.