Applied Energistics 2 Mod — Guide
World Generation and Resources
AE2 adds several new resources and structures to the Minecraft world generation to facilitate its high-tech progression.
Meteorites
Meteorites are large structures made of Sky Stone that crash-land throughout the world. They are essential for early-game progression as they contain Sky Stone Chests at their center. These chests hold the rare Inscriber Presses (Calculation, Engineering, Logic, and Silicon) required to create processors.
Ores and Crystals
| Resource | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Certus Quartz Ore | The primary material for AE2 components. | Found at various Y-levels in the Overworld. |
| Charged Certus Quartz | A rare, glowing variant of Certus Quartz used for crafting Fluix. | Found rarely within Certus Quartz veins or created in a Charger. |
| Sky Stone | A dark, blast-resistant stone that makes up meteorites. | Found at meteorite impact sites. |
| Fluix Crystal | A multipurpose crystal created by reacting Charged Certus Quartz, Redstone, and Nether Quartz in water. | Created through world-crafting or a Fluix Aggregator. |
Crystal Growth
Pure versions of Certus Quartz, Nether Quartz, and Fluix Crystals can be grown from Seeds (crafted from dust and sand). Placing these seeds in water will slowly grow them into full crystals. This process can be significantly accelerated using Crystal Growth Accelerators placed around the water block.
The Inscriber and Processors
The Inscriber is the most important machine for mid-game progression. It is used to press raw materials into circuits and then assemble those circuits into Processors.
Processor Recipes
All processors require a two-step process: pressing the components and then assembling them with Redstone.
| Processor | Components | Press Required |
|---|---|---|
| Logic Processor | Gold Ingot + Silicon | Logic Press |
| Engineering Processor | Diamond + Silicon | Engineering Press |
| Calculation Processor | Pure Certus Quartz + Silicon | Calculation Press |
| Silicon | Silicon (from Smelting Quartz Dust) | Silicon Press |
ME Storage System
The ME (Matter-Energy) system allows for the digitization of items.
Storage Components
- ME Drive: A block that holds up to 10 Storage Cells. This is the primary storage hub.
- Storage Cells: Available in 1k, 4k, 16k, and 64k sizes. Each cell can hold a limited number of unique item types (63) and a total number of items based on its capacity.
- ME Storage Bus: Allows the network to access external inventories (like chests or barrels) as if they were part of the digital storage.
Access Terminals
- ME Terminal: Provides a searchable interface to view and withdraw items from the network.
- ME Crafting Terminal: An upgraded terminal that includes a 3x3 crafting grid that pulls resources directly from storage.
- ME Fluid Terminal: Used for managing liquids stored in Fluid Storage Cells.
Spatial IO
Spatial IO is an advanced feature that allows for the storage of physical space. By surrounding an area with Spatial Pylons, a player can use a Spatial Anchor and Spatial Storage Cells to "capture" that area.
- Function: The captured area is moved into a separate dimension. When the cell is used again, the area is swapped back into the world.
- Use Cases: Moving entire bases, creating portable rooms, or sequestering dangerous entities/explosions.
Core Mechanics: Power and Channels
To operate an AE2 network, you must understand the two fundamental constraints: Energy (AE) and Channels.
Energy (AE)
AE2 uses its own energy unit called AE. Most networks require an Energy Acceptor to convert FE (Forge Energy), RF, or EU into AE. * Vibration Chamber: A basic generator that consumes solid fuels to produce AE. * Energy Cell: Stores AE for the network to use during power fluctuations.
Channels
Channels represent the data capacity of the network. Most functional blocks (buses, terminals, interfaces) require 1 channel to operate. * Ad-hoc Networks: A network without an ME Controller can support up to 8 channels. * ME Controller: The brain of larger networks. Each face of a controller can provide 32 channels if connected to a Dense Cable. * Cables: * Glass/Covered Cable: Carries 8 channels. * Dense Cable: Carries 32 channels but cannot connect directly to most machines (must be split into smaller cables).
Automation and Auto-Crafting
AE2's auto-crafting system allows you to request any item, and the system will calculate and execute the necessary steps to build it.
Components of Auto-Crafting
- ME Pattern Provider: Holds Blank Patterns encoded with recipes. It pushes ingredients into adjacent machines (like Furnaces or Molecular Assemblers).
- Molecular Assembler: A high-speed crafting machine that executes standard 3x3 recipes.
- Crafting CPU: A multi-block structure made of Crafting Storage (determines how complex a craft can be) and Crafting Co-Processors (increases speed).
- Blank Patterns: Encoded in a Pattern Encoding Terminal to teach the system how to make an item.
Logic Flow
When a player requests an item via the Terminal, the Crafting CPU checks the storage for ingredients. If missing, it looks for patterns to craft those ingredients, eventually sending items to the Pattern Providers to begin the process.
Tools and Equipment
AE2 provides several high-tech tools for the player:
- Wireless Terminal: Allows access to the ME network from a distance. Requires a Wireless Access Point connected to the network.
- Meteorite Compass: Points toward the nearest chunk containing a Meteorite.
- Matter Cannon: A weapon that uses blocks (like Cobblestone) as ammunition, dealing damage based on the mass of the block.
- Network Tool: Used to inspect the channel usage and energy consumption of any block in the network.
- Color Applicator: Used to dye cables and other AE2 components on the fly.
- Certus Quartz Tools: Early-game tools made from Certus Quartz, comparable to Iron.
Entities and Mobs
Applied Energistics 2 is a technology-focused mod and does not introduce new biological mobs or creatures to the Minecraft world. All interactions are centered around blocks, items, and energy systems.
However, the mod does include a few unique entities: * Tiny TNT: A smaller, more controlled explosive used for precision clearing or crafting (like creating Singularity). * Spatial Entities: When a region is stored in a Spatial Cell, any entities (mobs, players) within that region are also stored as data until the cell is released.