Mekanism

Overview

Mekanism adds a massive suite of machines, tools, armor, and logistics systems to Minecraft. The mod introduces its own ores (Osmium, Copper, Tin), a custom gas chemistry system, tiered energy storage, universal transmitter networks for energy/fluids/gases/items, and a progression of ore processing that scales from 2x output all the way to 5x. Every machine can be upgraded with Speed and Energy upgrades, and core processing machines can be combined into Factories for parallel operation.

The mod also adds powerful tools like the Atomic Disassembler (a multi-mode super tool), Jetpacks, Free Runners, a Flamethrower, and full sets of tools and armor in six new material tiers. You can browse every item and recipe Mekanism adds using the tabs on this page. This guide walks you through the full progression from mining your first Osmium Ore to setting up a complete 5x ore processing factory.

Ore Processing Tiers

Mekanism's signature feature is its tiered ore processing system. Each tier adds more machines to the pipeline but increases your ore yield significantly. Understanding this progression is the key to mastering the mod.

Tier 1: Ore Doubling (2x)

The simplest setup requires only an Enrichment Chamber and an Energized Smelter. Ore goes into the Enrichment Chamber, which produces 2 Dust per ore. The Dust is then smelted into Ingots. This is where every player starts and provides an immediate 2x return on your mining.

Tier 2: Ore Tripling (3x)

Tripling requires the Purification Chamber, which uses Oxygen gas to process ore into 3 Clumps per ore. Clumps go through the Crusher to become Dirty Dust, then through the Enrichment Chamber to become clean Dust, and finally through the Energized Smelter for Ingots. You will need an Electrolytic Separator to split Water into Hydrogen and Oxygen to feed the Purification Chamber.

Tier 3: Ore Quadrupling (4x)

For 4x processing, you need a Chemical Injection Chamber, which uses Hydrogen Chloride gas to produce 4 Shards per ore. Shards feed into the Purification Chamber and follow the same chain as 3x processing. Hydrogen Chloride is produced by infusing Hydrogen and Chlorine gases in a Chemical Infuser. Chlorine comes from electrolyzing Brine (Salt + Water in a Thermal Evaporation Plant).

Tier 4: Ore Quintupling (5x)

The ultimate ore processing tier uses the Chemical Dissolution Chamber with Sulfuric Acid to dissolve ore into a chemical slurry. The slurry is cleaned in a Chemical Washer (requires Water), then crystallized in a Chemical Crystallizer into 5 Crystals per ore. Crystals feed into the Chemical Injection Chamber and follow the full 4x chain. Sulfuric Acid is produced by oxidizing Sulfur Dust in the Chemical Oxidizer and then combining it with Water via the Chemical Infuser. This is the endgame of ore processing and requires significant infrastructure.

Machines and Systems

Core Processing Machines

Mekanism includes over 30 distinct machine types. The core processing machines (Enrichment Chamber, Crusher, Energized Smelter, Osmium Compressor, Combiner, Purification Chamber, Chemical Injection Chamber, and Precision Sawmill) can all be automated using Factories. Factories come in three tiers: Basic (3 parallel operations), Advanced (5 operations), and Elite (7 operations). You can change which recipe a Factory performs using the Recipe Type selector on its right side.

Chemical Processing Machines

The Chemical Oxidizer converts solid items (like Sulfur Dust) into gas form. The Chemical Infuser combines two gases into a third (e.g., Hydrogen + Chlorine = Hydrogen Chloride). The Chemical Dissolution Chamber uses Sulfuric Acid to dissolve items into slurry. The Chemical Washer cleans dirty slurry using Water. The Chemical Crystallizer converts clean slurry or other gases back into solid items. The Rotary Condensentrator converts between gas and fluid forms. These machines form the backbone of advanced ore processing and material creation.

Utility Machines

The Digital Miner is a programmable automated mining machine that can filter for specific ores and extract them from a huge radius beneath it. The Formulaic Assemblicator is an auto-crafting table that stores recipes on Crafting Formulas and can bulk-produce items. The Seismic Vibrator maps all ore deposits in a column below it, viewable with a Seismic Reader. The Electric Pump extracts fluid from the world (range of 80 blocks), while the Fluidic Plenisher does the reverse, filling in areas with fluid (up to 4,000 blocks).

Thermal Evaporation Plant

The Thermal Evaporation Plant is a multiblock structure that uses solar heat (or a Resistive Heater) to evaporate fluids. Its primary use is converting Water into Brine, which can then be electrolyzed to produce Sodium and Chlorine for higher-tier processing. The plant can reach a maximum temperature of 3,000 and loses 0.02 heat per tick. Adding Solar Panels to the top provides 0.2 heat per panel per tick. In cold or rainy biomes, a Resistive Heater (1,000 J per unit of heat) can supplement or replace solar heating.

Lasers

Mekanism adds Lasers that can break blocks and deal damage. The Laser Amplifier stores laser energy and can redirect or amplify it. The Laser Tractor Beam collects items from blocks broken by lasers. When the aesthetic world damage config option is enabled (default: true), lasers will break blocks they hit, and the Flamethrower will start fires.

Transmitter Networks

Mekanism uses universal transmitters to move energy, fluids, gases, items, and heat between machines. Each type comes in four tiers (Basic, Advanced, Elite, Ultimate) with increasing capacity.

Universal Cables transfer energy (Joules) with capacities of 3,200 / 12,800 / 64,000 / 320,000 J per cable segment for Basic through Ultimate tiers. Mechanical Pipes transfer fluids. Pressurized Tubes transfer gases between gas-producing and gas-consuming machines. Logistical Transporters move items with color-coded sorting and filtering. Thermodynamic Conductors transfer heat for the Thermal Evaporation Plant and Resistive Heater setups. All transmitter types form dynamic networks automatically when connected, merging and splitting as you add or remove segments.

Energy Storage

Energy Cubes store Joules and come in four tiers. The Basic Energy Cube holds 2,000,000 J with an output rate of 800 J/t. Advanced holds 8,000,000 J at 3,200 J/t. Elite holds 32,000,000 J at 12,800 J/t. Ultimate holds 128,000,000 J at 51,200 J/t. For truly massive power distribution, the Induction Matrix is a multiblock energy storage structure that scales by adding Induction Cells (storage) and Induction Providers (output) inside the frame. Each tier of cell and provider increases capacity or throughput dramatically.

Gas Tanks store gases in four tiers: Basic (64,000 mB), Advanced (128,000 mB), Elite (256,000 mB), and Ultimate (512,000 mB). Fluid Tanks store liquids: Basic (14,000 mB), Advanced (28,000 mB), Elite (56,000 mB), and Ultimate (112,000 mB). The Dynamic Tank is a multiblock fluid storage structure that can hold enormous amounts of a single fluid, scaling with size. An Easter egg makes it produce audible sparkles when enabled in the config.

Alloys and Control Circuits

Mekanism's crafting progression is gated by two material trees: Alloys and Control Circuits. Enriched Alloy is made in the Metallurgic Infuser by combining Iron Ingots with Redstone infuse material. Reinforced Alloy upgrades Enriched Alloy with Diamond infuse material. Atomic Alloy upgrades Reinforced Alloy with Refined Obsidian infuse material. These three alloy tiers appear in nearly every machine recipe.

Control Circuits follow the same tier pattern. Basic Control Circuits are crafted from Osmium Ingots and Enriched Alloy. Advanced Control Circuits wrap a Basic Circuit in Enriched Alloy. Elite Control Circuits wrap an Advanced Circuit in Reinforced Alloy. Ultimate Control Circuits wrap an Elite Circuit in Atomic Alloy. Machine recipes require the circuit tier that matches the machine's complexity level.

Tools and Armor

Mekanism adds six material tiers for tools and armor: Lapis Lazuli, Osmium, Bronze, Glowstone, Steel, and Refined Obsidian. Each material has a full tool set (Pickaxe, Axe, Shovel, Hoe, Sword) plus a Paxel, which combines the functionality of a Pickaxe, Axe, and Shovel into one tool. Bronze is crafted from Copper and Tin (3 Copper + 1 Tin in the Metallurgic Infuser with Tin infuse material). Steel is made by infusing Iron with Carbon (from Coal/Charcoal) in the Metallurgic Infuser.

The Atomic Disassembler

The Atomic Disassembler is Mekanism's ultimate multi-tool. Powered by 1,000,000 J of internal energy, it functions as a pickaxe, axe, shovel, hoe, and weapon all in one. It deals 4 to 20 half-hearts of damage depending on charge level (2,000 J per hit). It has multiple mining modes: Normal (efficiency 20, 3x3 area), Slow (efficiency 8, 1x1), Fast (efficiency 128, 5x5 area), Vein Mining (mines connected ore/log veins), and Extended Vein Mining (mines any connected block type up to 128 blocks within 10 block range). Sneak-right-click to cycle modes.

Special Equipment

Jetpack and Armored Jetpack

The Jetpack is a chest armor piece that uses Hydrogen gas (24,000 mB capacity) for flight. It has three modes: Regular (hold jump to fly), Hover (maintains altitude), and Disabled. The Armored Jetpack combines a Jetpack with armor plating, providing Diamond-level chest protection while retaining full flight capability. The Armored Jetpack absorbs 80% of incoming damage up to a maximum of 115 damage points before breaking.

Scuba Tank and Gas Mask

The Gas Mask (helmet slot) and Scuba Tank (chest slot) work as a set for underwater breathing. The Scuba Tank holds 24,000 mB of Oxygen and feeds it to the Gas Mask while submerged. Fill the tank at a Chemical Infuser or from an Electrolytic Separator's Oxygen output.

Free Runners

Free Runners are energy-powered boots that negate all fall damage while charged. They consume energy on each fall impact proportional to the damage prevented. They also allow you to walk up 1-block steps automatically without jumping.

Flamethrower and Electric Bow

The Flamethrower uses Hydrogen gas (24,000 mB tank) to shoot a stream of fire. It lights mobs and blocks on fire when the aesthetic world damage config option is active. The Electric Bow is an energy-powered bow that deals additional damage based on its charge and can toggle a flame mode for fire arrows without needing Flame enchantment.

Advanced Systems

Teleportation

Mekanism includes a Teleporter system that allows instant travel between linked Teleporter blocks. Each Teleporter requires a Teleportation Core (crafted from Atomic Alloy and Diamonds with Lapis dye) and consumes energy based on the distance traveled. The Portable Teleporter is a handheld device that lets you teleport to any linked Teleporter without needing to stand on one. The Quantum Entangloporter takes this further by teleporting energy, fluids, gases, items, and heat across any distance, even between dimensions, using frequency channels.

Robit

The Robit is a portable companion robot that follows you around and provides access to a Crafting Table, Furnace, Anvil, and portable inventory. It is crafted using Atomic Alloy, Energy Tablets, a Machine Block frame, and a Refined Obsidian Ingot. The Robit needs to be charged on a Chargepad and will follow the player who owns it.

Digital Miner

The Digital Miner is arguably the most powerful utility machine in Mekanism. It mines blocks within a configurable radius and can be set to target specific ores using OreDict filters, item filters, or mod ID filters. It has a Silk Touch mode that uses 6x more energy but retrieves blocks in their silk touch form. The miner replaces mined blocks with air (or optionally with a replacement block) and deposits everything into its internal inventory, which can be piped out.

Cardboard Box

The Cardboard Box is a simple but incredibly useful item that lets you pick up and move any block, including tile entities with their stored data intact. Right-click a block to box it up, then place the box elsewhere and right-click to release the block. By default, this even works on vanilla Spawners (configurable).

Decorative Blocks

Mekanism adds a full set of Plastic Blocks in 16 colors, crafted from HDPE Pellets (polyethylene produced from Ethylene gas in the Pressurized Reaction Chamber). Plastic Blocks have several variants: regular, Slick (very low friction, great for ice-style transportation), Glow (emits light), Reinforced (blast resistant), and Road (increased movement speed). Plastic Fences are also available. Glow Panels provide colored lighting and can be placed on any surface.

Salt Blocks are a simple storage block for Salt (4 Salt = 1 Salt Block). Obsidian TNT is a blast-resistant version of TNT with a fuse time of 100 ticks (5 seconds) and a blast radius of 12, much larger than vanilla TNT's radius of 4. Balloons can be crafted in 16 colors from Leather, String, and a dye.

Configuration Options

Mekanism is highly configurable. Key settings include ore generation rates (Osmium: 12 veins/chunk, max 8 per vein; Copper: 16/chunk; Tin: 14/chunk; Salt: 2/chunk, max 6 per vein). All tool and armor stats are individually configurable, so server operators can rebalance materials as needed. Energy conversion ratios between Joules and other mods' energy systems can be adjusted (defaults: 1 RF = 2.5 J, 1 EU = 10 J, 1 FE = 2.5 J, 1 Tesla = 2.5 J).

Baby Skeletons can be toggled (enabled by default, they are miniature Skeletons similar to baby Zombies). The Walkie Talkie voice server runs on TCP port 36,123 and must be explicitly enabled. Spawner pickup with Cardboard Box can be toggled. The aesthetic world damage option controls whether Lasers break blocks and the Flamethrower starts fires.