Knuckle Cracker Wiki

ERN (Entangled Rift Node) Crystals are special upgrade items found scattered around maps. They are used by the ERN Portal to provide global upgrades. They can also be assigned to individual units to greatly enhance that single unit's effectiveness. Most ERNs are buried underground and must be excavated using a Terp before they can be used. To assign an ERN, either choose the desired upgrade in the ERN Portal or set a unit's ERN button to “WANT”. If one or more ERNs are available, the nearest one will slowly float toward the unit that wants it, activating the upgrade upon reaching its destination. Freshly-excavated ERNs will stay in the same location indefinitely until put to use, but if a structure using an ERN is destroyed, the ERN will float to a high altitude and randomly drift around the map; as a result, it is generally best to immediately re-assign ERNs belonging to destroyed structures so that when they are needed they won't be far away, saving on travel time.

The following player-built units can accept ERNs:

Pylon - Increases maximum connection distance to other pylons from 22 to 36 (Only one pylon needs an ERN; two pylons with ERNs still have a 36 tile maximum connection length)

Miner - Increases energy production from 1 to 5, or bluite production from 0.3/sec to 1.5/sec

Refinery - Though it can hold an ERN, it doesn't seem to benefit in any noticeable way from its presence; this is likely a bug

Terp - Increases maximum range from 25 to 50 (does not increase rate of terraforming as power zones did in CW3)

Cannon - Increases fire rate from 4/sec to 8/sec per second and maximum range from 9 to 18, and decreases ammo consumption from 0.25/shot to 0.2/shot

Mortar - Increases fire rate from 0.333/sec to 0.667/sec and maximum range from 13 to 26, and decreases ammo consumption from 3/shot to 2/shot

Sprayer - Increases fire rate from 3/sec to 6/sec and maximum range from 9 to 18, and increases “always on” pumping rate to 1.5x normal

Sniper - Increases fire rate from 1/sec to 2/sec and maximum range from 30 to 45, and decreases ammo consumption from 6/shot to 3/shot

Missile - Increases fire rate from 2/sec to 4/sec and maximum range from 40 to 60, and decreases ammo consumption from 4/missile to 2/missile

Bomber - Increases fire rate from 1.5/sec to 3/sec and decreases ammo consumption from 4/bomb to 2/bomb, effectively increasing bomb capacity per flight from 20 to 40

AC Bomber - Increases fire rate from 3/sec to 6/sec and doubles anti-creeper payload without an increase in ammo consumption

Shield - Increases shield radius from 10 to 14

Beacon - Increases effect radius from 20 to 32

ERN Portal- See page for upgrade details

Additionally, the following map-specific units can accept ERNs:

Bertha - Fires three projectiles instead of one in a small area

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