CRASH COURSE: The Loot

Welcome to your CRASH COURSE on The Loot.

In Wildgate, loot isn’t just about shiny things. From hardpoints that make your ammo go BRRR! to ancient weapons that whisper "maybe don’t give this to Mophs," the items you find (or steal) can have a big impact on your in-game experience. They can affect the survival of your ship, the size and type of explosions you bring to the Reach, how quickly you can get from Point A to Point "SEE YA," and more...

Can't tell a hardpoint from a handheld? Let's crack open a few loot rooms and see what's inside!

BEFORE WE DIVE IN...

When you first enter the Reach with your crew, the only things you bring with you are your prospectors, the weapons and equipment you select as part of your loadout, and your ship. To increase your survivability and chances of success, you'll want to locate upgrades (known in Wildgate as loot). 

Loot can found in appropriately-named loot rooms, which will open after completing Points of Interest. The types of loot you can find in the Reach fall into three categories:

• CANNONS - Cannons are your ship's guns. Before they can be used, cannons must be mounted into turrets, which are located in various locations around your ship. DIfferent ship types can support different quantities of cannons.
  
  
• HARDPOINTS - Hardpoints provide additional tactical bonuses and capabilities for your ship. Similar to cannons, hardpoints must be installed into designated placements across your ship's hull before their benefits kick in. 
  
  
• GADGETS - These are handheld devices that usually are one-time use or have a limited duration. They can range from weapons to utilitarian trinkets. 

 

CANNONS: BOOM, SHAKE THE ROOM

At the start of every match, you'll find standard cannons equipped in each of your ship's turrets. These cannons are servicable, but ultimately simple. Functional, but pretty flavorless! Thankfully, there's a variety of weapons-grade upgrades just waiting to be found in the Reach. 

Here are some examples of cannons you can find:

• Long-range? The SNIPER CANNON hits hard and tactically.
  
  

• Up close? SCATTER CANNONS or THERMAL CANNONS will turn ships and shields into scrap.
  
  

• Need some space? The MACRO CANNON knocks enemies back like a Lucky Docks bouncer on a Friday night.
  
  

• If you’re super lucky, you may even find an ENTROPY CANNON. Congratulations! You’re now a problem—perhaps the problem. (Just make sure someone doesn’t decide it’d look better on their ship instead of yours.)

 

HARDPOINTS: TACTICAL TREATS

While hardpoints technically all come in the same shape and size, their greatly varies!

Some hardpoints are passive, conveying persistent benefits as soon as they're installed, while others require you or your crew to activate their primary ability—usually by pushing a big, bright red button. Some are defensive in nature, boosting your shields or resources for example, while others (you guessed it) provide more offensive functionality focused on sowing chaos and space crimes in equal measure.

Here are some examples of hardpoints you can find:

• AMMO REGEN - Enables passive regeneration of ammo for cannons.
  
  

• SHOCK FIELD - Temporarily wraps your ship in electrical energy that does more than just tickle rival boarders. Perfect for crews who enjoy setting "healthy" boundaries.
  
  

• PROBE SENSOR - Amplifies your probe scan range, which means you might get info earlier than anyone else (including but not limited to the location of rival ships).
  
  

• SMUGGLER'S TURN - Boosts your ship's rotation speed and lets you drift like a true Lucky Docks SpeedStar. Punch it, Sammo! (rawwwwrawrwarawll)
  
  

• LASER RAM - Projects a short-range beam from the hull of your ship that converts enemy hulls into deep-fried. plasma-glazed regret.
  
  

• MINE LAYER - Dumps collision-activated explosives into space, which can be great for both defensive and offensive strategies. Just be careful not to run into your own mines. 😅

 

GADGETS (AND GIZMOS APLENTY)

Whether you're boarding, floating, or holding down the fort, a good handheld gadget can swing the tide of any battle! Gadgets are perfect for diving overboard, last-minute loot grabs, or causing minor diplomatic incidents, so be sure to use them "responsibly." Or don’t—we’re not your parents! In fact, the more creative the use....the better.

Here are some examples of gadgets you can find:

• TRACTOR BEAMS pull in loot, Artifacts, or even whole ships from a big distance.
  
  

• The STAR LANCE is a high-impact beam that melts shields and hulls in one shot—even piercing two items (or prospectors) at once!
  
  

• CLAMP JETS provide a powerful, though temporary speed boost to whatever object they're attached to.  Whether it’s your own ship or an enemy ship, choose wisely! (Rumor has it they also work on prospectors.)

 

EMBRACE THE CHAOS

Finding and combining loot in Wildgate isn't always just about what's best; it's also about what's fun! And whether you want to fight at range, fight close up, or try not to fight at all, the Reach is both your battlefield and your playground here. 

There's so many possibilities: A Shock Field and Laser Ram turn your ship into a close-range deathtrap. A Sniper Cannon with a Probe Sensor give you long range vision and precision. How about some Mine Layers and a Tractor Beam? Pull'm up and knock'm down. 

While your loot room drops are as random as the Reach itself, a real prospector makes their own luck. So don't just wait for good things to find you when there's four other ships out there to pillage with doors that open! (You see it → you like it → you want it → you steal it.)

Wildgate’s loot is big, bold, and begging to be used in creative ways. So, pick something ridiculous, push some buttons, and see what happens. Don't like what happens? Find some more loot and fly, fly again. (Worst case: You get a big laugh and someone else gets a great replay out of it!)

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