retusa

Retusa is a water-bound support unit that heals allies and fires homing torpedoes and a short-range laser. It appears as part of Mindustry’s naval support line and functions as a mobile Repair Point with added offensive capabilities specialized for engagements at sea. Retusa cannot traverse land and its torpedoes are designed to operate in water; the unit was added in Build 127 and has undergone several balance and behavior changes since then.

Retusa’s core role is sustained repair: it provides a continuous repair rate of 45 health per second to nearby friendly units and blocks. To supplement its healing, Retusa mounts two distinct weapons. A rapid laser (two mounts firing at 1.36 shots/sec each) deals 12 damage per hit, restores 5.5% repair to blocks on hit, and can target air. The water-bound torpedoes fire at 2 shots/sec, have 1 direct damage and 40 area damage in a roughly 4.0-tile radius, apply 4% healing on impact, home with modest homing power (0.05), and cannot travel over land (they detonate if they cross solid ground). Torpedoes also have inaccuracy and limited lifespan and are intended for naval confrontations.

Using Retusa effectively focuses on keeping sea forces healthy while contributing supplemental offense. Its healing outclasses a single Repair Point for moving fleets, making it valuable in sustained naval battles or escorting fragile high-damage units. The laser provides anti-air capability and extra DPS against nearby targets; the torpedoes punish clustered enemy ships but are ineffective against land-based targets or shore defenses when their path intersects solid ground.

• Position Retusas with your fleet so their repair aura covers the most valuable or fragile units; they are best used amid other naval units rather than alone.
• Avoid relying on torpedoes to hit targets behind or beyond land: torpedoes detonate prematurely on contact with terrain, so keep engagement zones clear of islands or coastal obstructions.
• Counter Retusa by applying high burst damage to minimize the time it has to heal; concentrated fire or two-shot turrets can neutralize its repair advantage. Placing defensive structures two tiles away from the shore prevents torpedoes from reaching them.
• Retusa is outclassed in some roles by later support units: Oxynoe’s overclock field and Cyerce’s dual repair points provide stronger or more versatile support in later tech tiers.
• Retusa is relatively fast for a tier-1 unit (movement speed adjusted in earlier builds) and historically had the highest build speed at certain percentages, reflecting its role as a quick naval support platform.

Retusa’s name derives from the Retusidae family of small sea snails, matching the marine gastropod theme of the naval support line.