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r/EvolveIdle•
Coastis

What's my best path to Cataclysm?

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Somehow, I've managed to avoid even unlocking this challenge so far and I'm curious what my best path to it will be at this point. I understand i need to build the world collider on an unstable planet to unlock it, but is this planet then destroyed and i have to pick a new one?

The reason i ask is that i'm planning the following path....

BH into Evil and onto an unstable planet -> trigger the Cataclysm unlock -> EM field on the same planet (if it still exists? Would building a WC not blow things up again?) -> Go for Iron Will and then Failed History

Is this viable or have i missed something?

Posted Oct 21, 2022, 11:33 PM UTC

311
Bungo_pls•

Upon activating cataclysm you will immediately reset as the same race in a new run except this time you will not have a home planet tab at all. You will have a preset amount of structures scattered across the solar system and some techs researched.

If you plan on doing both achievements for all the associated perks I recommend doing Failed History first then Iron Will. Aside from the convenience of doing them back to back faster, all the perks from your first run will make the second faster. I also found building the world collider faster than the bioseed ship anyway. The last Iron Will perk has no effect in cataclysm because space casinos are unlocked by default as well. Meanwhile +2 geothermal energy is huge because 90% of your power comes from them in cataclysm.

Be aware that knowledge generation will be excruciatingly slow and the primary bottleneck throughout the run. Good ideas for preparation would be MAD and ascend on the planet first, and use a custom race tailored to the challenge.

5
CoastisOP•

Upon activating cataclysm you will immediately reset as the same race in a new run except this time you will not have a home planet tab at all. You will have a preset amount of structures scattered across the solar system and some techs researched.

So i get to decide when/if i start the cataclysm? If so, then it looks like i'm going back to my original plan, as i need to do an EM run in Evil anyways. I have to say, it all sounds very exciting, i'm looking forward to it!

Meanwhile +2 geothermal energy is huge because 90% of your power comes from them in cataclysm.

I'm glad you mentioned that, as previously i was questioning the value of doing failed history. Looks like i'll be doing them both back-to-back then!

Thanks for the excellent response!

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Bungo_pls•

The "Dial it up to 11" research option is the optional activation for cataclysm mode and is available via random event after finishing the world collider on any playthrough with an unstable planet. Choosing "stabilize" research instead will permanently lock you out for the rest of the run.

It's a fun game mode and very unique. I like the theme of the survivors trying to escape their home system. And the perk rewards are excellent. But the game isn't kidding when it says it is slow. I finished both my runs in about 7 days each vs a normal bioseed that takes me 2.5 days.

I did it in the heavy universe because I have much more mastery there than anywhere else (170%). Fuel is never really a bottleneck in cataclysm even with the heavy debuff. Just don't do it in antimatter because production would be even worse and storage is never much of a concern.

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CoastisOP•

Excellent, it will take some setting up but i'm really looking forward to experiencing it, and of course the perk looks great too!

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Cymelion•

I think Cataclysm you have to get to Bioseed or above from memory.

I recommend magic for the universe for the extra benefit from mana then make a custom race with a bunch of production benefits and knowledge increasing and knowledge cost reducing traits.

I don't think you can EM field and Cataclysm at the same time and still keep your sanity.

You can build a WC again and cause another cataclysm because there is an achievement for doing so which is beneficial.

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CoastisOP•

So skip the EM field then is what i'm hearing, lol. In which case, i think i'll probably just do the cata in my current heavy universe, as it's where i have the most mastery. Thanks for the info!

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Cymelion•

All good it's a long slog but if you properly plan for it, it's not as bad as it could be.

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ShadoowtheSecond•

Do you get enough mana in cataclysm to make magic worthwhile? You have a baseline 20% debuff to everything, since it expects you to use mana to make up for it.

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Smilly666•

One important suggestion - do the ascension on planet first. Sundial knowledge output increase will save you like 50% of run:p

Also proeprly made custom race is gamechanger for Cata.

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CoastisOP•

A good suggestion, yeah i plan on doing a MAD and a "quick" EM-field on the planet first, this and a custom race for the cata should set me up nicely :D

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svejoru•

This is good advice. Just started my cata after doing exactly this (first pillar) and I couldn't imagine playing the scenario with an even slower knowledge gain.

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