# Somersloop & Mercer Sphere

> Canonical source: [Somersloop & Mercer Sphere](https://satisfactorybase.its-live.dev/guides/somersloop-mercer)
> Language: en

Version check pending: Amplifier slots, the combined power formula and the fixed research-cost chain need reconciliation with current export corrections.

Production Amplifier slots and formulas, the Dimensional Depot with its upload and capacity upgrades, and the Alien Power Augmenter.


## Somersloop – Production Amplifier

:icon[Desc_WAT1_C|28] **106 [Somersloops](/wiki/items/somersloop)** exist on the map (Patch 1.0), usually hidden or guarded, often near Uranium or poison gas. Stack 50, not sinkable. MAM research consumes 3 (Somersloop Analysis 1, Power Augmenter 1, Production Amplifier 1); 103 remain → at most **10 Alien Power Augmenters** (10 each) plus 3 for amplification, or any mix.

Unlock: MAM *Alien Technology – Production Amplifier* (1 Somersloop, 100 [SAM Fluctuator](/wiki/items/sam-fluctuator), 50 [Circuit Board](/wiki/items/circuit-board)).

### Slots and effect

| Building | Slots | Output bonus per slot | Max output |
|---|---|---|---|
| :icon[Desc_SmelterMk1_C] [Smelter](/wiki/buildings/smelter), :icon[Desc_ConstructorMk1_C] [Constructor](/wiki/buildings/constructor) | 1 | +100 % | ×2 |
| :icon[Desc_FoundryMk1_C] [Foundry](/wiki/buildings/foundry), :icon[Desc_AssemblerMk1_C] [Assembler](/wiki/buildings/assembler), :icon[Desc_OilRefinery_C] [Refinery](/wiki/buildings/refinery), :icon[Desc_Converter_C] [Converter](/wiki/buildings/converter) | 2 | +50 % | ×2 |
| :icon[Desc_ManufacturerMk1_C] [Manufacturer](/wiki/buildings/manufacturer), :icon[Desc_Blender_C] [Blender](/wiki/buildings/blender), :icon[Desc_HadronCollider_C] [Particle Accelerator](/wiki/buildings/particle-accelerator), :icon[Desc_QuantumEncoder_C] [Quantum Encoder](/wiki/buildings/quantum-encoder) | 4 | +25 % | ×2 |
| Miners, Water/Oil Extractors, Resource Wells, [Packager](/wiki/buildings/packager), generators | – | cannot be amplified | – |

- `Output = base × (1 + used / total)`; the input stays unchanged – the Somersloop “creates” output from nothing. By-products are doubled as well (e.g. Heavy Oil Residue with Plastic).
- `Power = base × (1 + used / total)²` → fully slotted ×4. Together with 250 % clock: ×13.43 power, ×5 output ([overclocking](/guides/overclocking#combined-with-a-somersloop)).
- With partial slots the bonus .25/.5/.75 is distributed cyclically (e.g. 3 × 1.25 → 3 4 4 4; 3 × 1.5 → 4 5 4 5).
- The Somersloop stays in the building and is returned when it is dismantled; it is not consumed.
- **Planning:** Somersloops pay off at the end of a chain on expensive parts (Alien Power Matrix, Space Elevator parts, Nuclear Pasta) – double output for the same input.
- In [SatisfactoryBase's planner](/planner) you set Somersloops directly on the machine node – a stepper next to Overclock, clamped to the recipe's slot count, with a live output/power factor and a node badge; the build cost summary and the world's Statistics tab both count how many of the 103 available Somersloops are in use.

## Mercer Sphere – Dimensional Depot

:icon[Desc_WAT2_C|28] **298 [Mercer Spheres](/wiki/items/mercer-sphere)** exist on the map (Patch 1.0). Stack 50, not sinkable. MAM needs (Alien Technology): Mercer Sphere Analysis 1, Dimensional Depot 1, Manual Depot Uploader 3, Depot Expansion 200/300/400/500 % = 3/7/13/23, Upload Upgrade 30/60/120/240 = 3/7/13/23 → **97** for all research. The remaining 201 build Dimensional Depot Uploaders (1 each).

| Level | Upload rate (items/min) | Stacks per item | MAM cost (Mercer + SAM Fluctuator) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 15 | 1 | Dimensional Depot: 1 Mercer, 11 SAM Fluctuator |
| Level 1 | 30 | 2 (200 %) | 3 Mercer + 47 SAM Fluctuator each |
| Level 2 | 60 | 3 (300 %) | 7 Mercer + 103 SAM Fluctuator each |
| Level 3 | 120 | 4 (400 %) | 13 Mercer + 151 SAM Fluctuator each |
| Level 4 | 240 | 5 (500 %) | 23 Mercer + 199 SAM Fluctuator each |

- **Dimensional Depot Uploader** (`Desc_CentralStorage_C`): build cost 1 Mercer Sphere, 10 SAM Fluctuator, 10 Modular Frame, 100 Wire; 1 belt input; 5 × 10 × 4.25 m; stackable.
- Capacity is a **quota per item type** (not slots): base 1 stack (e.g. 100 Iron Plate … 500 Screws). The Uploader stops when the quota is full and the belt backs up → route the overflow through a Smart Splitter to the [AWESOME Sink](/guides/awesome-sink).
- Manual Depot Uploader (3 Mercer, 17 Computer, 29 SAM Fluctuator): upload from the player inventory (5 buffer slots).
- Contents are available to all players when building and crafting; downloads of up to 1 stack per action are free; no fluids. MAM costs must be in the **inventory**, not in the depot. The depot also removes radioactive items from your inventory.

## Alien Power Augmenter

:icon[Desc_AlienPowerBuilding_C|28] Unlock: MAM *Alien Technology – Power Augmenter* (1 Somersloop, 100 SAM Fluctuator, 50 Computer). Build cost: 10 Somersloop, 50 SAM Fluctuator, 100 Cable, 50 Encased Industrial Beam, 25 Motor, 10 Computer; 28 × 28 × 28 m.

- Produces **500 MW** itself and adds a grid bonus of **10 %** (unfuelled) or **30 %** (fuelled with **5 [Alien Power Matrix](/wiki/items/alien-power-matrix)/min**). Bonuses of several augmenters add up; the base is the total generation including the 500 MW of each augmenter.
- Example: 5 000 MW + 1 augmenter → (5 000 + 500) × 1.10 = 6 050 MW; 2 unfuelled → 6 000 × 1.20 = 7 200 MW.
- Alien Power Matrix (Quantum Encoder, 0–2 000 MW): 5 SAM Fluctuator + 3 Power Shard + 3 Superposition Oscillator + 24 m³ Excited Photonic Matter → 1 Alien Power Matrix + 24 m³ Dark Matter Residue per 24 s (2.5/min). 5/min for one fuelled augmenter = 2 Quantum Encoders (or 1 with a Somersloop). Unlock: MAM Alien Technology – Alien Power Matrix (50 Singularity Cell, 100 Power Shard, 500 SAM Fluctuator).
- Fuelling only pays off with very large generation (wiki: break-even roughly from ≈ 60 000 MW base, because matrix production itself costs ≈ 12 000 MW).

## Alien Technology chain

SAM Analysis (10 SAM) → SAM Reanimation (20 SAM) → SAM Fluctuator (10 Reanimated SAM, 100 Steel Pipe, 200 Wire) → Mercer Sphere Analysis / Somersloop Analysis → Dimensional Depot, Production Amplifier, Power Augmenter → Alien Power Matrix.


- [Somersloops on the map](/wiki/collectibles/somersloops)

- [Mercer Spheres on the map](/wiki/collectibles/mercer-spheres)

- [Overclocking](/guides/overclocking)

- [Power grid](/guides/power-grid)