Returnal: How to Find (& Use) Reconstructors

Returnal is a roguelike third-person shooter that features six procedurally generated areas of the map called biomes. These biomes contain levels that must be fully beaten to progress in the main storyline. This process is made more difficult by the lack of autosaves and even checkpoints in Returnal. Players must finish the level in its entirety to be able to save their progress.

Fortunately, there is another option in Returnal that eases the harshness of not being able to save the game: reconstructors. Reconstructors are located randomly within levels, acting as a one-time checkpoint for players to use to their advantage. These machines will allow Selene to respawn at the location of the reconstructor rather than the beginning of the level.

Returnal: Reconstructors Explained

Use of a reconstructor in Returnal costs players a significant amount of ether, six ether to be exact, but it is often a good idea to use them. Considering enemies will respawn every time Selene dies, the use of a reconstructor can significantly benefit players having a difficult time progressing in Returnal. Not to mention, respawning at a reconstructor allows players to keep the weapons and upgrades in their inventory that would have normally been lost at death. Even if players are not finding Returnal difficult, it is often a wise decision to use a reconstructor.

Selene describes reconstructors as “a device with a sentient-shaped imprint”, which is exactly what the large, round stones look like. Approaching a reconstructor reveals a prompt allowing players to spend six ether on “a xeno-tech device for accurate reconstruction of complex entities per environment.” This is just a fancy way of explaining that Selene will be reconstructed at the device’s location upon her next death. Once players spend the required six ether at the device, a short cutscene will be triggered, after which players will have successfully activated the reconstructor.

Returnal: Where To Find Reconstructors

Reconstructors are randomly spawned within biomes, so there’s not a surefire way for players to locate the devices. However, reconstructors seem to be more prominently found behind the blue doors that lead to auxiliary rooms in the biomes. Sometimes, reconstructors will be spawned deep into a biome, but other times, they will be spawned toward the beginning of the level. Like the rest of the areas in the biomes, reconstructors will never be in the same place for each playthrough of Returnal, so players will need to do a bit of searching to reap the benefits.

Returnal is available exclusively on PlayStation 5

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Joe Johnson
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Joe Johnson is a Game Guides writer from Charlotte, North Carolina. Working in journalism since his graduation from Appalachian State University, Joe is a fan of all things video games!

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