Crystal Extractor Not Working?
Don't panic. If your extractor isn't collecting resources, it's usually one of these 5 simple reasons.
Common Symptoms
- ❌ No XP Drops: You aren't seeing Farming/Sailing XP.
- ❌ Empty Bank: No resources are appearing in your bank.
- ❌ "Can't Build Here": You can't place the facility.
The 5-Step Fix Checklist
Go through these steps in order to solve 99% of "not working" issues.
- Check Your Sailing Level: You strictly need Level 80 Sailing to build and operate it. Boosting works for building, but you might need the level to operate it efficiently.
- Is it Charged? The Crystal Extractor requires Crystal Shards to function. Check if it has run out of charges.
- Is Your Bank Full? If your bank is completely full, the extractor cannot deposit resources and will stop working.
- Are You in a Valid Zone? The extractor only works in specific maritime zones (e.g., Deep Sea, Coastal). It won't work while docked at a port.
- Did You Toggle it On? Right-click the facility and ensure it is set to "Active".
"Crystal Catcher" vs "Crystal Extractor"
If you are searching for this, you are likely confusing two items:
- Crystal Extractor: The facility that harvests resources (Loot).
- Wind Catcher: The sail upgrade that increases speed (Speed).
If you want the speed upgrade, check our Wind Catcher Guide.
Understanding the Timer
The Crystal Extractor works on a passive timer, similar to Farming patches or Bird Houses.
It attempts to harvest a resource every 5 minutes (approx. 500 ticks).
Yes, it works while you are logged out! However, the internal buffer fills up after 6 hours. You must log in to "empty" it to the bank (automatic upon login) to reset the timer.
Use the Watchdog Plugin to get an alert when the 6-hour buffer is full.