Satisfactory Alien Tech: SAM, Somersloop, Mercer Sphere & Depot

An alien planet like the one in Satisfactory comes with plenty of strange organisms and items. You’ve probably run into them while playing, but weren’t quite sure what to do with them. That’s where the MAM (Molecular Analysis Machine) helps: it lets you research unusual finds and unlock new recipes and features. This is especially true for the alien matter you can discover across the planet. From SAM Ore to Somersloops and Mercer Spheres, the planet offers items that are perfect to research in the MAM.

Where to find in Satisfactory: Locate SAM Ore, Somersloops, and Mercer Spheres

To kick off research, you’ll actually need three resources. After all, there are plenty of unknown aspects of the planet that might lead to useful technological breakthroughs. You’ll have to explore the map and head out into the wild, away from your factories. We already have a complete guide to exploring so you’re well prepared (Exploring Satisfactory: Gear, Combat, and Resources) .

• SAM: SAM, also known as “Strange Alien Matter,” is a type of ore. It’s recognizable by its purple color and is relatively rare. Deposits are scattered across the map, and there’s no single best spot to mine it. You can harvest it by hand or with a Miner, like other ores.

• Mercer Sphere: Mercer Spheres are spread all over the map and are an important research resource. There are currently 298 of them (Version 1.1), and you can simply pick them up when you find them.

• Somersloop: Similar to Mercer Spheres, you’ll only find Somersloops by exploring. They’re rarer, with only 106 total (Version 1.1). They’re often guarded by enemies or located in hard-to-reach places.

MAM research in Satisfactory: Alien tech and branching paths

You can start researching alien technology quite early once you’ve found some of the resources above. This research unlocks several key features, including the Dimensional Depot, which lets you store items in a kind of cloud. Some parts of the research are tied to milestones and require resources like Computers or specific machines, which you’ll only unlock later.

SAM Ore, Reanimated SAM, and SAM Fluctuator: The basics

We recommend starting with SAM Ore extraction and unlocking the first three research nodes. These recipes form the foundation for the other two branches and can be activated early in the game.

• First collect 30x SAM to unlock the initial two nodes. This grants an Object Scanner upgrade and the recipe for Reanimated SAM.
• Reanimated SAM is a key resource that lets you convert ores into other ores.
• Use Reanimated SAM, Steel Pipes, and Cable to craft SAM Fluctuators. These are the basis for all upcoming recipes in this branch.

Alien Energy Amplifier and Somersloop: Boost power efficiently

The right side of the MAM research focuses on using Somersloops, the strange alien stones that look like a pink S. Once you’ve found and researched one, you can target your Object Scanner to find more. The branch isn’t very long, but it unlocks another way to generate power.

• Find a Somersloop to start the research and upgrade your scanner.
• Use 10x SAM Fluctuators to progress. That’s why you should handle the basics first, or you won’t get far.

The next node gets interesting: you can unlock a new power source. If you need a lot of power, this branch is perfect. However, all steps require Somersloops, which are limited.

• Use 1x Somersloop, 100x SAM Fluctuators, and 50x Computers to unlock the Alien Energy Amplifier. This machine not only produces additional power using Somersloops, it also increases your grid’s overall power output. Each amplifier on the grid adds 10% more power. The catch is that Somersloops are limited.
• Continue down this path to unlock crafting the Alien Energy Matrix. To produce it, you need Power Shards, which you unlock via Power Slugs. The matrix is a late-game item that you’ll primarily use in Tier 9. 5x matrices boost an amplifier’s power increase from 10% to 30%.
• On the other side, you can unlock a new form of overclocking, the Production Amplifier. It’s also nicknamed “Overslooping” and likewise uses Somersloops to improve machine output without increasing resource consumption.

Dimensional Depot: Cloud storage for items in Satisfactory

On the left side of the alien tech research, you’ll work with Mercer Spheres to unlock the Dimensional Depot. This is a cloud storage system that gives you access to your stored items anytime, anywhere. Unlock the base recipe with 1x Mercer Sphere and 11x SAM Fluctuators to continue researching the depot.

As you progress, you can unlock further upgrades:

• With an additional 3x spheres, 29x fluctuators, and 17x computers, you can use the Dimensional Depot directly from your inventory and deposit items there.
• On one branch, you can increase the depot’s capacity step by step by investing more spheres and fluctuators. There are 4 tiers, each adding one stack per item.
• The other branch works the same way, but speeds up your upload rate. You can upgrade your initial 15 items/min to up to 240 items/min in four steps.

Keep in mind, just like with Somersloops, that Mercer Spheres are limited. You’ll need 97 spheres for the MAM. You can put the rest into expanding your storage system.

Conclusion: Research alien tech and produce efficiently

Researching alien technology on the planet is a great addition that unlocks several key features. Once you’ve laid the groundwork with SAM Fluctuators, you can focus on improving your power production and your storage system in the two other branches. Both are extremely useful and become indispensable later in the game.

To generate more power and store your items in the Dimensional Depot, rent your own Satisfactory server from us. Then you can explore the alien planet and collect strange artifacts that power your production lines!