Monoliths
Monoliths are stone towers you find while exploring a planet on an exploration run. Each one shows a reward icon above it. Stand on the tower and stay in the activation ring until it finishes charging to claim that reward.
Obelisks are a separate tower type imbued with cosmic energy. Each variety has a different effect when activated, instead of granting a monolith reward.
The gallery below shows every kind of monolith that can appear on an exploration run:
Reward types
Section titled “Reward types”| Kind | What you get |
|---|---|
| Stat bonus | A ×2 boost to one run stat (such as damage or speed) for a limited time, granted as a status effect. A countdown appears on the run HUD. |
| Attribute bonus | An instant stamina refill for your pet on that run. |
| Chest item | An item added to your run inventory, the same as loot from a chest during the run. |
| Equipment | A temporary weapon, tool, or shield that lasts the rest of that run, up to a cap (3, or more with Monolith Equipment Slots research). If you are already at the cap, a screen asks you to give up the pickup or replace one temporary grant. Inventory gear is separate and is not replaced. See Equipment Augments for permanent gear. |
| Power cartridge | A choice of three power cartridges from the pet’s equipped cartridge deck, if any. Pick one to use only for the rest of that run (it does not go into your ship deck or inventory). |
Mining monoliths
Section titled “Mining monoliths”With a mining tool equipped, you can break down a monolith tower the same way you mine crystal ore nodes. The monolith is destroyed and drops Crystal Chunk into your run inventory.
Crystal chunks are used for equipment augment rerolls and other crafting recipes. If you mine the tower down while standing in the activation ring, you still receive its bonus reward.
Timed bonuses
Section titled “Timed bonuses”Stat boosts use countdown timers on the run HUD. Timers pause while the run is paused, including when you open menus that pause the world.
Monolith Bonus Duration research at the Research Module makes those timed stat boosts last longer. It also stretches timed obelisk durations where those towers have a duration. Temporary equipment from monoliths is not on a timer.
Spawn rate
Section titled “Spawn rate”Monolith Spawn Rate research at the Research Module increases how often monoliths and obelisks spawn on exploration runs, improving your chances of running into one. Each research level adds a little to the spawn-rate multiplier. A placed Spectral Pillarstone ship artifact also raises those spawn rates on exploration runs and in the Vora Hive. It does not change auto-run mining mix.
Where monoliths appear
Section titled “Where monoliths appear”Monoliths spawn on exploration runs when you are controlling your pet yourself. They also appear in the Vora Hive challenge mode.
Auto runs do not spawn monoliths or apply these rewards.