Barriers

Barriers are landscaping buildings used to block the spread of Contaminated Terrain and, in one variant, to stop irrigation. They are placed on ground squares and function as impermeable walls that Contaminated Terrain cannot spread beneath. Barriers are primarily deployed around bodies of Badwater or other contamination sources to limit damage to crops and long-growing groves such as Oaks and Maples, which die quickly when contamination reaches them.

A single Barrier tile stops Contaminated Terrain from spreading under that tile. Because Contaminated Terrain spreads around gaps, effective containment requires building Barriers continuously along the entire perimeter of the area to be protected. Any hole in the row allows contamination to pass through and spread outward up to seven blocks from the source; barriers therefore must be placed without gaps and include diagonal placement where needed to seal corners. Paths cannot be constructed on top of a Contamination Barrier. To provide a walkable route across a wall of Barriers, build a Platform above the line and add Stairs on each side.

There are two functional variants. The standard Contamination Barrier blocks only contamination. The Iron Teeth (Irrigation Barrier) variant also blocks irrigation; when using this variant you must ensure a pure water source or an alternative irrigation route behind the barrier to keep adjacent land watered if irrigation is required.

Practical notes and strategies:

• Lay barriers continuously around the perimeter you want to protect, including diagonals at corners, to prevent leaks; a single missing tile negates the containment.
• Use Barriers to protect groves and long-growth crops, since contaminated tiles rapidly kill plants that cannot tolerate contamination.
• For Badwater bodies or other contamination sources, place barriers close to the source to minimize the area at risk, but leave access for maintenance if needed.
• If you need pedestrian access across a barrier line, span the barrier with a Platform and add Stairs to maintain movement without creating a contamination gap.
• When using the Irrigation Barrier variant, plan an alternate irrigation supply on the protected side because the barrier blocks water flow as well as contamination.
• Combine barriers with terrain management (paving, platforms) and water-routing structures to create secure, irrigated zones safe from Badtides and other contaminant events.