Promethium in RimWorld is not a default resource in the vanilla version of the game but is often introduced through popular mods that expand the industrial and technological depth of the colony-building experience. Players looking to craft, mine, or process Promethium typically do so for advanced energy sources, weaponry, and futuristic technology. Understanding how to obtain and make Promethium is essential for colonies aiming to scale into high-tech production or survive more aggressive threats. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Promethium in RimWorld where it comes from, how to produce it, and what to do with it.
Understanding Promethium in Modded RimWorld
Promethium is generally introduced by content-heavy mods such as Rimatomics, Save Our Ship 2, or other futuristic and space-oriented expansions. It’s typically portrayed as a highly volatile or radioactive substance, useful for powering advanced reactors or crafting powerful equipment. Since it doesn’t exist in the base game, using Promethium involves installing mods that support it.
Popular Mods That Include Promethium
If you’re planning to use Promethium, ensure you’re using mods that actually incorporate it into the game. Some notable ones include:
- Rimatomics Adds nuclear energy systems, reactors, and Promethium as part of the fuel chain.
- Save Our Ship 2 Introduces interstellar travel and high-tech materials like Promethium.
- Vanilla Expanded Power or Resources May include Promethium as a rare resource or fuel type.
Always check the mod description and compatibility before installation to ensure that Promethium functions correctly in your current mod setup.
How to Find Promethium
Once the appropriate mod is installed, Promethium can appear in different forms depending on the mod’s design. It may be mined from veins, refined from ores, or synthesized through industrial machinery.
Mining Promethium Ore
In many modpacks, Promethium spawns as a natural resource in select biomes or deep within mountains. To mine it:
- Use adeep drillandground-penetrating scannerto locate underground Promethium nodes.
- Build the properdrilling rigsand assign skilled miners to operate them.
- Transport the raw Promethium ore to your stockpile for refinement.
Be cautious when mining Promethium, as some mods make it unstable or hazardous, causing radiation damage or fires if mishandled.
Events and Quests
Some mods allow you to acquire Promethium through quest rewards, trade events, or drops from crashed ships. Accepting high-risk quests or exploring ancient ruins can sometimes yield Promethium or related components.
How to Make Promethium
If Promethium cannot be mined directly, or you need refined Promethium fuel, then you’ll need to create it through a series of industrial processes. The method depends heavily on the mod you’re using, but here is a general outline of how Promethium is made.
Step 1: Set Up Industrial Infrastructure
Begin by building the required machines and workbenches. These may include:
- Refinery or Smelter Used to process raw ores into usable material.
- Promethium Synthesizer Specialized equipment often introduced by mods like Rimatomics.
- Fuel Reprocessor For converting nuclear waste into usable Promethium fuel.
Make sure these facilities are powered and placed indoors. Many require research before construction becomes available.
Step 2: Research Promethium Technology
Promethium crafting typically sits behind a long research chain. Unlock the necessary technologies, such as:
- Advanced Nuclear Power
- Fuel Processing
- Promethium Chemistry
Use a high-skill researcher with a proper lab setup to speed up progress. Some advanced benches require multi-step research that spans several in-game days or weeks.
Step 3: Gather Input Materials
Creating Promethium usually requires one or more of the following ingredients:
- Uranium Commonly required as a base nuclear material.
- Plasteel May be needed for containment or stabilization.
- Chemfuel Occasionally used as a binding or ignition agent.
- Raw Promethium Ore Must be refined into a stable or weaponized form.
Some recipes involve combining uranium and chemfuel in a synthesizer to produce Promethium rods or batteries.
Step 4: Craft the Promethium
Once everything is ready, interact with your refinery or synthesizer. Choose the Make Promethium recipe, and ensure that all ingredients and a skilled crafter are available. The process may take a few in-game hours or even days depending on your mod settings.
After the process completes, you’ll have Promethium in your stockpile, ready for use in advanced energy generation or weapon construction.
Uses of Promethium in RimWorld
Once you’ve produced or gathered Promethium, the real fun begins. This material is highly valuable and has a wide range of applications across different mods.
Power Generation
Promethium is commonly used as fuel for reactors or high-efficiency generators. In Rimatomics, you can insert Promethium rods into nuclear cores to generate massive amounts of electricity.
Weapon Crafting
Some mods allow Promethium to be used in crafting powerful weapons such as:
- Plasma rifles
- Explosive turrets
- Promethium grenades or artillery shells
These weapons often deal fire or radiation damage, making them especially useful against mechanoids or armored enemies.
Trade and Economy
Promethium is considered a rare and valuable commodity. Use it to trade with passing ships or faction caravans for silver, medicine, and high-end components.
Ship Construction
In mods like Save Our Ship 2, Promethium is essential for constructing ship reactors and interstellar fuel sources. Colonies aiming to launch into space or travel between planets must gather or manufacture large quantities of it.
Safety Considerations
Promethium is often volatile, especially in nuclear-themed mods. Always store it in:
- Reinforced storage roomsto prevent accidental explosions
- Separate stockpilesaway from colonist bedrooms and kitchens
- Rooms with fire suppression systemsor auto-extinguishers
Colonists exposed to unshielded Promethium for long periods may suffer from radiation sickness or burns, depending on the mod. Assign only well-protected pawns to handle and move Promethium materials.
Making Promethium in RimWorld requires the right combination of mods, infrastructure, materials, and research. Though it is not a native part of the base game, Promethium adds a rewarding layer of complexity and utility to your colony’s technological progress. Whether you’re using it for nuclear power, advanced weapons, or space travel, mastering the process of creating Promethium can give your colony a serious edge. With proper planning, safety measures, and a bit of patience, Promethium can become a central part of your RimWorld endgame strategy.