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Drones
May 16, 2026 at 08:28 AM
Initial version
Drones are deployable scouting devices in Rooted, separate from the ROTOR robots that act as hostile enemies. A drone lets a player survey terrain, locate resources, and observe contaminated zones without exposing the character to spores or hostile fire.
Property | Detail |
|---|---|
Function | Aerial scouting of the open world, including locations not yet accessible on foot. |
Power | Energy-consuming. Drones require an energy supply to operate, which ties them to the electricity progression. |
Role | Identifying nearby resources and threats, scouting paths into contaminated zones. |
Limitations | Hostile factions also field drones, so deployment in heavily contested areas is risky. |
A backpack-style drone companion was introduced as part of the Phase 3 announcements. The team has hinted that the backpack drone is being developed for interactive support roles rather than scouting alone. Specific abilities have not been finalized in public posts, so capabilities listed below are limited to those already shown in current builds.
Drones are most useful when paired with salvaging runs in unfamiliar territory. Sending the drone ahead reveals enemy positions, environmental hazards, and dense salvage areas before the player commits resources to a route. Co-op groups can split roles, with one player driving the drone while teammates approach on foot or in vehicles.
Drones are not invulnerable. Hostile survivors and ROTOR units may down a deployed scout, and energy depletion forces a return to base. Players need to balance scouting time against the energy cost of running and recharging the drone.
More drone capabilities are expected to arrive in subsequent patches, including expanded companion behavior and additional interactions with the electricity and automation systems. Updates will be added here as new features ship.
