RimWorld Odyssey Vacsuit & Vacuum Barrier Guide
Written by Alec Blackwood
Vacuum in RimWorld Odyssey will kill unprotected colonists in seconds. To survive it, you need either a Vacuum Barrier to block exposure or a full Vacsuit set to keep pawns safe. This guide explains how both systems work, how to get them, and when to use each.
What Vacuum Does
Vacuum shows up in space zones like derelict stations and asteroids. It instantly starts draining oxygen from any pawn not protected. That means normal armor, clothing, or power armor won’t help. Without protection, your colonists will pass out fast and die soon after.
How to Survive Vacuum
You have two reliable options:
Wear a Vacsuit and Vacsuit Helmet
Use Vacuum Barriers, Gravship Walls, and Oxygen Pumps to seal the space
Most colonies will need both setups. Mobile crews need suits. Stationary bases need barriers.
How Vacuum Barriers Work
Vacuum Barriers are buildable structures that seal off open areas from vacuum. They're great for building airlocks, backup oxygen rooms, or sealing leaks.
Requirements:
Research: Orbital Tech
Construction Skill: 6
Materials:
40 Steel
2 Components
2 Gravlite Panels
Deconstruction Yields:
20 Steel
1 Component
1 Gravlite Panel
Vacuum Barriers don’t produce oxygen. They just block vacuum from entering or spreading. You’ll still need oxygen sources inside the sealed area.
How Vacsuits Work
Vacsuits let pawns survive in vacuum without needing environmental protection. They're heavy, but they work anywhere.
Crafting Requirements:
Research: Orbital Tech
Crafted at: Machining Table
Materials:
3 Components
90 Steel
30 Plasteel
Stats:
Mass: 12 kg
HP: 180
Sharp Armor: 25%
Blunt Armor: 52%
Heat Armor: 66%
Cold Protection: up to -90°C
Heat Protection: up to 15°C
Movement Penalty:
Wearing a Vacsuit lowers base move speed by -1.25 c/s. This penalty scales based on the pawn’s Moving stat. Fast pawns lose more speed. Use movement buffs or bionics to offset it.
Note: Vacsuits must be worn with a Vacsuit Helmet to fully protect against vacuum.
Best Use Strategy
Use Vacsuits for mobile jobs like salvage, mining, rescue, and combat in vacuum zones
Use Vacuum Barriers to make airlocks, base interiors, or critical oxygen-safe zones
Combine both for full protection and flexibility
Never rely on just one system. Vacsuits run out fast if you're defending a base. Barriers can fail during raids. Use both.
Final Blurb
Vacuum isn’t just another status effect in RimWorld Odyssey; it’s instant death if ignored. Vacsuits protect your colonists. Vacuum Barriers protect your base. Get both, plan ahead, and don’t open doors without checking your helmet.
FAQ
Q: Do I need both a Vacsuit and a Helmet?
Yes. Wearing just one won’t protect you from vacuum.
Q: How do I unlock Vacsuits and Barriers?
Research Orbital Tech to unlock both at once.
Q: Can I survive in vacuum with just barriers?
Only inside sealed areas with working oxygen. You’ll still need suits for any outside work.
Q: Do Vacsuits protect against heat or cold?
Yes. They’re excellent at blocking extreme cold and offer decent heat protection.
Q: Are Vacuum Barriers reusable?
Yes. You can deconstruct them and get back part of the materials.
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