At a Glance
- What Debris are: Randomly discovered debris fields that drop crafted items instead of ore or alloy.
- Why it matters: Provides valuable items mid- to late-game, boosting progression beyond ore smelting.
- How to collect & use: Unlock via the Debris Scanner project and enhance yield with debris harvesters.
What Are Debris in Idle Planet Miner?
In Idle Planet Miner, Debris refers to lootable debris fields that appear once you unlock the Debris Scanner project. Unlike asteroids—which yield raw ores or alloys—debris produces already-crafted items, offering a unique and efficient reward stream.
Why Debris Matters
- High utility in later stages: Obtaining crafted items directly accelerates your research and unlock paths, especially when you’re bottlenecked by crafting speed or resource gathering.
- Enhanced galaxy value: Items typically have a higher sell value than raw materials, improving overall income and enabling you to buy projects and rooms faster.
- Mid-game boost: Debris offers a satisfying power spike in your galaxy’s progression, especially when projects like Asteroid Refined Drilling and Debris Scanner start paying off.
How to Collect and Use Debris
1. Unlock the Debris Scanner Project
- Located under the Asteroids and Debris section of the tech tree.
- Requires researching Superior Asteroid Harvester first.
- Debris Scanner requires: 1 Collider and 8 Gravity Chambers
2. Improve Debris Harvesting
After unlocking the scanner, invest in upgrades to maximize returns:
- Debris Harvester – requires Uru Alloy & Quadium Alloy, multiplies debris value by ×1.3.
- Advanced Debris Harvester – adds another ×1.3 (multiplicative).
- Superior Debris Harvester – stacks with previous upgrades for exponential gains.
3. Manage Debris Spawns
Debris appears at timed intervals as you progress through the galaxy. The more harvesters and upgrades you unlock, the greater the long-term payoff from each field.
Pro Tips for Maximizing Debris
- Unlock strategically: Wait until you have solid crafting infrastructure so debris rewards scale better.
- Pair with boosts: Sync debris collection with production bonuses or crafting speed boosts for maximum efficiency.
- Long-term ROI: Crafted items from debris drastically cut down time spent on large projects compared to relying solely on crafting or mining.
Final Thoughts
Debris in Idle Planet Miner is more than just background clutter—it’s a powerful resource accelerator. By unlocking the Debris Scanner and upgrading harvesters, you gain access to crafted items that fast-track your galaxy’s development and provide a major advantage in both mid- and late-game stages.