Outbound \u2014 All 7 Power Sources Ranked
The complete generator comparison: output day vs night, biome suitability, and the multi-source builds veterans actually run.
Full power-source comparison
| Source | Type | Daytime | Night/Storm | Reliability | Best biome | Drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Unit | Burns Biofuel | ★ | ★★ | ★★ | Burst power, emergency | Consumes Biofuel each cycle |
| Solar Panel | Solar | ★★★★★ | 0 | ★★★ | Daytime open biomes (Coast, Canyons) | Zero output at night/cave |
| Wind Turbine | Wind | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | Storms, mountains, exposed bases | Needs open terrain |
| Rainwater Turbine | Rain + flow | ★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | Riverside bases, rainy biomes | Inactive in dry weather |
| Geothermal Vent | Heat differential | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Mountain hot-spring spots | Fixed-location module |
| Tidal Capacitor | Tide cycle | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | Coastline placements | Only Coast biome |
| Reactor Core | Fissile fuel | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Endgame all-day power | Late-game craft, expensive |
Recommended builds by progression
Early game (T1\u2013T2)
- 1\u00d7 Power Unit for emergency burst power.
- 2\u00d7 Solar Panel on the roof.
- Total: covers a small base in any open biome during daylight.
Mid-game (T3 \u2014 Coast / Canyons)
- 4\u00d7 Solar + 1\u00d7 Wind roof combination.
- 1\u00d7 Tidal Capacitor if you base on the Coast.
- 1\u00d7 Rainwater Turbine mounted on the Lift module (free water + power on rainy days).
Late game (T4\u2013T5 \u2014 Mountains)
- 1\u00d7 Reactor Core as the primary day/night source.
- 2\u00d7 Wind Turbine as backup.
- 1\u00d7 Geothermal Vent if you camp on a Mountain hot-spring tile.
Power output math (per in-game hour)
- Solar Panel: 2 PWR/h at noon, 0 at night.
- Wind Turbine: 1.5 PWR/h baseline, up to 4 PWR/h in storms.
- Rainwater Turbine: 0 in dry weather, 1.2 PWR/h in rain.
- Reactor Core: 5 PWR/h, constant.
A typical mid-game base needs 6\u20138 PWR/h sustained. The 4\u00d7Solar + 1\u00d7Wind build hits ~9.5 PWR/h at noon and ~4 PWR/h overnight \u2014 stable for everything except Reactor-tier crafting.
Common power questions
What is the best power source in Outbound?
It depends on biome. Solar is best in open daytime biomes (Coast, Canyons). Wind is best in Mountains and exposed coastline. The Reactor Core is the late-game endgame answer — 5-star output day and night, but expensive to craft. The most stable mid-game build is Solar + Wind in parallel.
How many power sources are there in Outbound?
Seven: Power Unit (Biofuel burner), Solar Panel, Wind Turbine, Rainwater Turbine, Geothermal Vent, Tidal Capacitor, Reactor Core. Most are unlocked progressively via the Workshop and Fabricator tiers.
Should I use Solar or Wind in Outbound?
Use both. Solar covers daytime in open biomes; Wind covers storms, dawn/dusk and the Mountains where Solar is weak from snow cover. The output stacks — they’re not mutually exclusive.
When does the Reactor Core unlock?
Fabricator Tier 3 — typically reachable in late Coast / early Mountains progression. Materials cost: 1 Adamant Metal + 4 Hardened Metal + 2 Electronics + 1 Rose Mineral.