Mono

Mono is an expendable mining unit that automatically harvests nearby copper and lead and deposits mined resources into the nearest Core. It is a dedicated miner derived from the Draug Miner Drone and functions as a compact, autonomous alternative to stationary drills. Monos appear as mass-produced mining drones that require lead and silicon to manufacture rather than just power.

Monos have a high mining bonus and fast tile-based speed, making them highly efficient for gathering basic ores. Their mining speed bonus is +250%, which yields an effective rate of about 2.33 items per second, outperforming multiple Mechanical Drills in aggregate output while removing the need for conveyor networks over mined veins. They can be issued commands by the player and (in later builds) can be selected and directed in command mode. Monos can be set to mine sand and scrap when directly controlled by a player and when the "double-tap/click to mine" option is enabled, allowing them to support metaglass and phase fabric production without unloading the Core.

Design and balance history show Monos are a rework of the earlier Draug Miner Drone: health was increased during that rework, movement speed was standardized to tile/sec values, command limits were removed, and selection/command interaction was improved across several builds. They were altered from being produced with power alone to requiring specific materials (lead and silicon), and their operational range and selectability were increased in later updates.

Practical usage and interactions:

• Monos excel at clearing and sustaining ore lines without infrastructure; a modest unit cap can replace multiple drills and conveyor setups, freeing veins for higher-tier production.
• Use groups of Monos to supply a Core with continuous copper/lead; they are particularly effective on maps with concentrated ore pockets.
• When player- or logic-controlled and with the appropriate option enabled, Monos can harvest sand and scrap to support metaglass and phase fabric, enabling on-site production without Core unloading.
• Monos are not well suited as kamikaze attackers. Although they have more health and greater item capacity than Flare-class suicide units, they are slower, costlier to produce, and their mining income makes sacrificial use inefficient.
• Factory production requires lead and silicon inputs; plan resource pipelines accordingly rather than relying solely on power-driven production.
• Monos benefit from micro-management: directing them to specific veins or ordering them to avoid low-value areas improves overall yield and longevity.

Monos form the first in a naming line based on numerical prefixes; their focus on singular mining tasks is reflected in their name. They also appear as a character in fan projects (e.g., Animdustry) with abilities themed around incremental gains.