Hazards

There are a number of 'Hostile' hazards any intrepid Astroneer might encounter in their explorations, and most are fatal.

Many can exist on all worlds, while a few are native to only one world.

Exploders
Exploders look like another form of decoration until you get near or disturb them. Upon filling in terrain at their base, or digging them up, they will explode (hence their name). This explosion is fatal to any Astroneer in the vicinity. These can be found everywhere in caves and usually have Artifacts beneath them making them an easy way to get research early on.

Needlers
These white, mushroom-like entities, can also be found in caves in many places. If an Astroneer draws too close to the plants they will extrude needles. These needles can damage Astroneers, but one hit is typically not fatal (needles extrude in quick successions, multiple hits will quickly kill an Astroneer. It is possible to dig the plant up to prevent the needles from protruding.

Pumpkins
These gourd shaped pumpkin flora release green clouds of gas that will follow Astroneers a short distance if they get too close. Like the Exploders, they also guard typically Artifacts. Similarly to needlers, they can be dug up to prevent them from producing gas,

Tumbleweeds
Tumbleweeds can be found on Arid planets. Getting hit by a single one is not fatal, but the winds that carry them carry many of them at once.

Worms
The local hazard on Radiated planets is a species of worm that bury themselves in the ground and wait for Astroneers to fall in. Especially in low lighting these can prove to make traveling the surface a difficult task. This can cause an Astroneer to lose all Equipment they currently have in their backpack.