Terraforming Station

The Terraforming Station is a landscaping building unlocked for 750 Science Points that enables Builders to place terrain blocks, effectively adding solid ground wherever you need it. Each terrain block requires 6 Dirt to construct, with Dirt sourced from the Dirt Excavator or other extraction methods. This is the only way to add new natural terrain to the map, making the Terraforming Station essential for land bridge construction, gap filling, riverbank extension, dam reinforcement with natural terrain, and creating elevated building foundations from solid ground rather than Platforms.

Terrain blocks placed by the Terraforming Station behave identically to natural terrain: they block water flow horizontally (like Levees), support buildings and Paths, and can be excavated again with Dynamite or the Dirt Excavator if needed. This makes placed terrain the most versatile building material in the game, functioning as a permanent, solid foundation that requires no ongoing support. Unlike Platforms (which are elevated structures) or Levees (which are specialized water barriers), terrain blocks serve all purposes simultaneously, making the Terraforming Station particularly valuable for large-scale map modification projects.

To run an effective terraforming operation, you need a reliable Dirt supply chain. Build one or more Dirt Excavators to produce Dirt, store it in Dirt Piles near the Terraforming Station, and keep Builders assigned to handle placement. The 6 Dirt per terrain block cost adds up quickly for large projects, so consider running multiple Dirt Excavators to keep pace with ambitious building plans. Position the Terraforming Station near your active construction zones to minimize builder travel time. Common terraforming projects include building natural dams across rivers, creating elevated plateaus for building placement, filling in terrain gaps between landmasses, and constructing retaining walls for deep reservoirs.