What Actually Makes Aquilo Hard
Aquilo is not hard because of enemies. It is hard because of two rules:
| Rule | Consequence |
|---|---|
| No local resources | Everything except frozen ammonia must be imported |
| Everything freezes | Any building outside heat range stops working |
That means your cargo rocket manifest is not a suggestion - it is your entire base. Miss one item and you fly back, which costs a full round trip.
| Resource | Local on Aquilo? |
|---|---|
| Frozen ammonia | Yes (limited) |
| Ice | Yes (byproduct of brine separation) |
| Stone | No |
| Copper / Iron | No |
| Coal / Oil | No |
| Water | No (must melt ice) |
The Core Manifest
This is the minimum viable loadout. Scale quantities with your intended base size.
| Category | Item | Quantity | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | 
Heating
Heating towers | 4-6 | Nothing works without heat |
| Heat | 
Heat pipe
Heat pipes | 200+ | Build the grid - you cannot make these there |
| Fuel | 
Rocket fuel
Rocket fuel | 2000+ | Feeds towers and power |
| Power | 
Accumulator
Accumulators | 50+ | Solar is weak but stable |
| Power | Solar panels | 50+ | Low output, but free |
| Defense | 
Rocket
Rocket turrets | 10-15 | Main anti-strafer defense |
| Defense | Rocket ammo | 1000+ | Feeds the turrets |
| Defense | Laser turrets | 10-20 | Backup, no ammo needed |
| Build | 
Ice platform
Ice platforms | 200+ | The only buildable surface |
| Build | Concrete | 500+ | Cheaper than ice for large areas |
| Production | 
Chemical
Chemical plants | 10+ | Ammonia and ice processing |
| Production | 
Assembling
Assemblers | 20+ | Science and intermediates |
| Production | Inserters / belts | Plenty | You cannot craft more there easily |
The Three Things Players Forget
These are the items that end runs. All three are cheap - missing them is expensive.
1. Heat pipes
You cannot build a heat grid without them, and Aquilo does not produce them. If you arrive with heating towers but no pipes, you have heat sources you cannot connect. Pack 200+ even for a small base.
2. Surface for every tile
Nothing builds on Aquilo snow. You need ice platform or concrete for literally every tile you place, including under belts and power poles. This is the single most common resource shortfall.
| Surface | Cost | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
|
Ice platform
Ice platform | Higher | Early, small areas |
| Concrete | Lower | Large bases, once you have supply |
3. Spare heating towers
If one heating tower runs out of fuel, the buildings in its radius freeze, stop working, and stop consuming fuel - which can starve the next tower. One failure cascades into a total base freeze. Always pack 1-2 spares.
How Much Fuel Is Actually Enough
Rocket fuel is your limiting resource. It fuels the heating towers and is the input for several Aquilo recipes.
| Base Scale | Rocket Fuel Needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scout landing | 1000 | Enough to test the surface |
| Starter base | 2000-3000 | Heat grid + first science |
| Full base | 5000+ | Requires a Nauvis resupply rocket |
Do not land with under 1000. Running out of fuel on Aquilo means your heating towers stop, your base freezes, and you cannot fix it without a return trip.
Do NOT Bring These
| Item | Why to Leave It |
|---|---|
| Pollution-heavy builds | No biters on Aquilo - pollution is wasted |
| Mining equipment | Nothing to mine locally |
| Offshore pumps | No liquid water to pump |
| Large ore buffers | No ore to buffer |
Aquilo has no biter threat. Skip everything you would bring for defense against evolution - rocket turrets are purely for strafers, the flying enemy unique to this planet.
Pre-Launch Checklist
Before you hit launch, confirm:
| Check | Confirm |
|---|---|
| Heating towers + spares | 6+ packed |
| Heat pipes | 200+ packed |
| Fuel | 2000+ packed |
| Ice platform / concrete | 200+ / 500+ |
| Rocket turrets + ammo | 10+ / 1000+ |
| Chemical plants | 10+ |
| Platform can survive the route | Uncommon quality or better |
| Previous planet sciences running | All 4 complete |
The last row matters most. Do not visit Aquilo until the other planets are producing consistently - you cannot build Aquilo infrastructure without their unlocks.
Related Guides
- https://factorioguides.com/space-age/aquilo/aquilo-guide/ - full landing preparation and survival mechanics
- https://factorioguides.com/space-age/aquilo/excess-ice/ - the ice surplus problem you will hit on arrival
- https://factorioguides.com/space-age/guide/planet-order-guide/ - confirm Aquilo is your next planet
Community Verification and Resources
- Factorio Wiki: Aquilo - official planet data and required technologies
- Reddit r/factorio: what to bring to Aquilo - player checklists and stranded-run stories
Last updated: 2026-09-28 | Verified against Factorio 2.0 / Space Age.