Completing the Quest: Solving for All Planetary Samples in Alters

Collecting Planetary Samples is essential for significant upgrades in The Alters. There are only a few of them throughout the game, and locating them involves tracking Interal Trails using the Luminator. This task can be tricky since the trails frequently lead off the main paths, requiring you to navigate around obstacles and find alternate routes to pick up where you left off.

Despite the effort involved, it’s worth it. The technologies you unlock with these Samples are some of the finest available. Here’s a guide on how to find each Sample so you don’t miss any.

Act 1

The first Act expands on the Prologue’s tutorial, so there aren’t many Planetary Samples to discover. However, be sure to grab the two available before moving on!

Northeast

The first Interal Trail is vital for researching the Luminator. Head south from the base, reach the Mineral deposit, and then take the eastern path leading north, crossing the lava river.

Once you reach the trailhead (the glowing green light), go back to the Scientist to start researching the Luminator. When equipped, head back to begin the trail, which goes up the ledges to the right and then loops south through the east area. If you haven’t yet, you can collect a cargo pod at the hill’s peak. The Planetary Sample is situated in the southeast area, so grab it before returning to the Mineral deposit.

South

The second Interal Trail of Act 1 becomes available only after the last Magnetic Storm of the Act, so you need to find it in the final week before Sunrise. Its starting point is located southwest of the Organics field, along the main central path from the Minerals deposit.

Follow the path uphill and take a right at the top. Navigate around the small lava pool and climb the ledge beyond it, continuing to follow the trail to its end where you can collect the Sample on your left.

Act 2

Exploring in Act 2 can be quite challenging until you research and construct the Climbing Hook Upgrade, which only appears on the tech tree when you try to scale a high wall without it. We recommend doing this before you attempt to collect any samples, as it will save you time in the long run.

West

Midway between the base and the Enriched Metals deposit to the west, you’ll find a high climb that leads into the Rapidium Caves. The trail starts at the bottom; once you activate it, climb up and venture to the back of the first cave chamber, located to the right of the Energy Gate.

Northwest

In the cave north of the Rapidium deposit, you can find this trail just east of the cargo container housing the last Qubit Chip. The trail can be a bit confusing as it quickly ascends to an overhead path, leading you to backtrack or progress without clear direction.

Your destination is the hill in the northwest section of the Mineral deposit. The quickest route is to backtrack to the Rapidium deposit and take the land bridge. This allows you to promptly pick up the trail again and follow it to your goal while collecting the Holochip along the way. Alternatively, you can go through the Energy Wall to the south, but this longer route is less efficient.

Regardless, at the top of the hill, look for the sample atop the rock formation.

South

You’ll encounter this trail anomaly to your left as you enter the southern part of the canyon, just southwest of the base. After activating it, climb the ledge on the opposite side, enter the cave, and climb again. No need to cross the gorge using any natural bridges.

At the summit of your second climb, continue straight ahead and eliminate the Pulsating Anomaly; once it’s down, you can safely gather the Sample on the cliff wall to your right.

Northeast

Climb the cliff directly behind the base to find this trail after the first Magnetic Storm of Act 2. The fastest route to the Planetary Sample is to head back down the cliff towards the base and turn left, entering the tunnel leading to the Organics field in the northeast. You’ll find the Sample at the back of the first cave chamber.

Extreme South

The last Interal Trail of Act 2 only appears after the second Magnetic Storm, so you need to collect it in the week leading up to Sunrise. Head to the ledge overlooking the southern Metals deposit to kick off your search.

The Sample is easy to find; just climb down the ledge towards the Minerals, turn left, and follow the wall into a dead-end cave. This spot also features a hole in the ceiling where you can thread a pylon connection to the Metals Outpost above, making it a useful map marker.

Act 3

You won’t start seeing Interal Trails in the final Act until after the first Magnetic Storm. Use this time to secure your resource supply and locate the rebels; they need to be supplied before the second Magnetic Storm or they will perish.

South

After the first storm, an Interal Trail will appear just outside the base, to the southwest. To save time navigating through obstacles, climb down the nearby ledge and head south into the darkened valley; the Planetary Sample is just inside the area’s entrance.

North

The last Planetary Sample in Act 3 (and the game) becomes available as Sunrise approaches. Locate the twisting cave west of the Enriched Metals deposit, north of the base to start the trail, then backtrack to the southern area of the deposit’s radiation field.