Arcadia-7 is a planet wrapped in mystery. Between the scattered audio logs from previous expeditions, the aggressive alien fauna that definitely don’t want you there, and the bizarre monolith structures jutting out of the ground, StarRupture gives you plenty of environmental storytelling to piece together. But those monoliths? They’ve been causing confusion since the game’s early access launch.
These imposing structures look important—like they should be interactable or serve some critical gameplay function—but their actual purpose isn’t immediately clear when you first stumble across one. Let me break down everything you need to know about monoliths in StarRupture, including where to find them, what they actually do, and whether you should be worried about them (spoiler: yes, you should).
Quick note: StarRupture is currently in early access, so monolith functionality could expand or change in future updates. This guide reflects how they work as of the current build, but keep an eye on the roadmap for potential changes.
Where to Find Monoliths in StarRupture
Monoliths are scattered across Arcadia-7, but you don’t have to search the entire planet to find your first one. The nearest monolith to your starting position is located slightly northwest of your Landing Pod, sitting in a shallow crater.
If you need a landmark to orient yourself, this monolith is positioned directly southeast of SMB “Purple Haze”—that’s the Selenian Mining Base on the western side of the map where you can grab the Rotor blueprint. If you’ve already made the trip to Purple Haze to snag the Tube blueprint, you’ve probably already spotted this monolith.
Identifying Monoliths on Your Map
Once you discover a monolith, it gets marked on your map automatically. Look for a rectangular icon with an unusual symbol in the center—it’s pretty distinctive once you know what you’re looking for.
As you explore more of Arcadia-7, you’ll discover additional monoliths in various locations. Make sure you’ve unlocked your map fully so you can track these structures as you find them. Each one you discover gets permanently marked, making it easier to navigate around them—or avoid them, depending on your situation.
What Do Monoliths Actually Do?
Here’s the important part: Monoliths are enemy spawn points. Specifically, they trigger waves of hostile creatures that will attack your base once you’ve upgraded your base core for the first time.
How Monoliths Trigger Enemy Waves
The moment you upgrade your base core, monoliths activate and start spawning enemies that march toward your base. The more you upgrade your core, the larger and more dangerous these waves become. This escalation means you can’t just throw up a few turrets and call it a day—you need to continuously scale your defenses as your base grows.
This creates an interesting dynamic: Upgrading your base core unlocks better technology and production capabilities, but it also paints a bigger target on your back. You’re essentially in an arms race with the planet itself.
Defensive Considerations
If you’re planning to upgrade your base core, make sure you’ve done the following first:
- Built adequate perimeter defenses around your base
- Stockpiled ammunition and repair materials
- Set up automated defense systems if possible
- Prepared healing items like the medtool
- Upgraded your weapons using weapon mods
For help dealing with an infected or damaged base core, check out our guide on fixing infected base cores. If you’re struggling with base layout and defense positioning, the Building Drone can help you construct fortifications more efficiently.
Can You Interact with Monoliths?
Short answer: No, not currently.
If you approach a monolith too closely, you’ll start taking radiation damage. There’s no prompt to interact with them, no way to destroy them, and no apparent method to disable their enemy-spawning function. They’re essentially environmental hazards that you need to work around rather than eliminate.
From my time playing, getting too close is just asking for trouble. The radiation damage ticks quickly, and there’s no benefit to standing next to one. If you need radiation protection for other areas, you might want corrosion resistance instead—check our guide on increasing corrosion resistance for toxic zones.
Strategic Implications
Knowing that monoliths spawn enemies changes how you approach base placement and expansion. Here are some strategic considerations:
Distance from monoliths matters: When choosing where to expand your base or set up mining operations, check your map for nearby monoliths. The closer you build to one, the shorter distance enemies have to travel to reach you.
Upgrade timing: Don’t upgrade your base core impulsively. Make sure your defenses are ready for the next wave tier before you commit to the upgrade. Getting caught with inadequate defenses mid-wave is a fast track to losing critical infrastructure.
Resource planning: Enemy waves mean you’ll be burning through ammunition and potentially repairing structures. Factor this into your resource automation plans. Having automated ore extraction and production lines set up before upgrading makes dealing with waves much more manageable.
Scout ahead: As you explore new areas, mark monolith locations on your map. If you’re planning to build an outpost or secondary base somewhere, knowing where the nearest enemy spawn point is located helps you prepare appropriately.
Will Monoliths Get More Features?
Almost certainly. StarRupture is in early access, and developer Creepy Jar has confirmed that more story content and missions are coming in the full 1.0 release. Given how prominently monoliths feature in the game’s visual design and lore, it would be surprising if their only function remains “spawn enemies here.”
The current implementation feels like a foundation that will be expanded. Future updates might add:
- Interaction mechanics for monoliths
- Lore revelations about their purpose
- Quest objectives tied to monolith locations
- New abilities or mechanics related to these structures
For now, though, treat them as enemy spawn points and plan your base defenses accordingly. Keep an eye on the StarRupture roadmap for announcements about new features.
Essential Resources for Base Defense
Since monoliths force you into defensive gameplay, here are some guides that’ll help you prepare:
- How to unlock grenades for area denial
- How to get War Bonds for purchasing defensive equipment
- How to unlock all weapons to maximize your combat options
- How to beat Goliath for tough enemy encounters
- Basic building materials for constructing fortifications
If you’re just starting out and feeling overwhelmed by all these systems, our beginner’s guide covers the fundamentals you need to survive your first days on Arcadia-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you destroy or disable monoliths in StarRupture?
No, at least not in the current early access build. Monoliths cannot be destroyed, disabled, or interacted with in any way. They function as permanent enemy spawn points that activate once you upgrade your base core. Your only option is to build strong enough defenses to handle the waves they generate. Future updates might change this, but for now, they’re environmental fixtures you need to work around.
How far away from monoliths should I build my base?
The farther, the better—but you’re somewhat limited by resource locations and the map layout. Your starting base is already positioned with a monolith relatively nearby, so you’ll need to defend it regardless. For secondary bases or outposts, check your map for monolith locations and try to maintain as much distance as possible while still accessing the resources you need. At minimum, give yourself enough space to build defensive perimeters.
Do monolith enemy waves get harder with each base core upgrade?
Yes, absolutely. Each time you upgrade your base core, the waves spawned by monoliths become larger and more dangerous. This scaling continues as you progress, so your defenses need to scale proportionally. If you’re getting overwhelmed by waves after an upgrade, it’s a sign you need to invest more in defensive structures and unlock better weapons before upgrading further.
Will monoliths get more functionality in the full release?
Very likely. The developer has confirmed additional story content and missions are coming in the 1.0 release, and monoliths feature too prominently in the game’s design to remain simple spawn points forever. They seem designed to be mysterious story elements, so expect them to gain additional purpose or interactivity as development continues. Until then, focus on their current function: defending against the waves they produce.
Want to master more of Arcadia-7’s systems? Grab StarRupture on Steam and check out our comprehensive guide collection, including resource gathering, power management, and character progression.
