Ultimate Mining Tycoon Alloys and Tempering Guide
Turn paired metal bars into alloy value spikes before electronics and Power Cores.
Once basic smelting pays the bills, Ultimate Mining Tycoon mid-game cash comes from alloy and tempering chains. The Alloy Furnace ($100K) merges two metal bars into one alloy bar with a +20% combined value, and the Tempering Forge can double bar value — together they fund Circuit Maker and Electromagnet upgrades long before you afford a Power Core Assembler. This guide covers machine costs, belt routing, the one-sided temper trick, and how alloys feed superconductors.
Live reference: Innovation Inc. v0.5.13, place ID 18680867089. Pair with Factory Layout, Circuit and Electronics, and Machines Reference.
Why alloys matter
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Flat value jump | Two bars → one alloy at combined value × 1.20 |
| Universal input | Alloy bars work anywhere metal bars work (except another Alloy Furnace) |
| Superconductor fuel | Superconductor Constructor wants alloy + ceramic casing |
| Circuit density | Alloy coils raise Circuit Maker output vs raw coils |
Skipping alloys and jumping straight to Power Core usually starves upstream machines. Treat the Alloy Furnace as the bridge between early smelting and electronics.
Machines you need
| Machine | Approx. cost | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ore Smelter / Blast Furnace | Early | Ore → metal bars (+ stone byproduct on blast) |
| Tempering Forge | Mid | Doubles metal/alloy bar value |
| Alloy Furnace | $100K | Two bars → one alloy bar (+20%) |
| Coiler | Mid | Bars → coils for circuits |
| Splitter / Overflow Splitter | Support | Balance dual Alloy Furnace inputs |
| Filter | Support | Peel gems off the metal spine |
Buy the Alloy Furnace only after a reliable smelter → sell path exists. Spending $100K while belts jam wastes a Minidumper-sized haul.
Basic alloy layout
[Unloader] → [Smelter] → [Splitter]
├→ [Tempering?] → Alloy input A
└→ [Tempering?] → Alloy input B
[Alloy Furnace] → [Coiler / Tempering / Sell]The Alloy Furnace has two inputs and one output. Feed bars from two lanes — same ore type or mixed — then route the alloy bar downstream. Keep the spine straight; elevators are fine when you need a return loop, but avoid decorative connector mazes that eat the 4,000 complexity budget.
Tempering strategy (extra value)
Tempering doubles a bar. Community layouts often temper only one Alloy Furnace input, then temper the alloy output again. Because the untempered side keeps the alloy eligible for a fresh temper pass, you squeeze more value than tempering both inputs and selling the alloy raw.
Practical order:
- Smelt a steady bar stream.
- Temper the right (or left — pick one) input lane only.
- Merge both lanes into the Alloy Furnace.
- Send alloy through Tempering Forge with an overflow splitter so surplus does not jam.
- Sell tempered alloy or feed coils / superconductors.
Watch the embedded video for a concrete elevator-and-splitter build that visualizes this loop.
Alloys into later chains
| Next machine | Needs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Coiler | Alloy or metal bar | Alloy coils boost Circuit Maker |
| Superconductor Constructor | Alloy bar + ceramic casing | Required for Power Core path |
| Frame / Plate / Bolt lines | Alloy as metal substitute | Same recipes, higher base value |
| Philosopher’s Stone (prestige) | Infused bars | Place after Ore Upgrader lines |
Full Power Core routing lives in Endgame Factory and Circuit and Electronics.
Blast Furnace vs Ore Smelter for alloy lines
Blast Furnace smelts with a value penalty but produces stone every ore, which helps kiln → glass → Circuit Maker ratios. Ore Smelter preserves more metal value but can starve glass if stone is scarce. For alloy-into-circuit plots, many players prefer Blast Furnace consistency until stonework is solid.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Feeding Alloy Furnace into itself | Alloys cannot re-alloy — route elsewhere |
| Both inputs empty unevenly | Use splitters/buffers so neither side starves |
| Mixing gems on metal belts | Filter gems before smelters |
| Buying Alloy Furnace before Cap ~$50K/run | Stabilize early money first — Early Game Money |
| Ignoring v0.5 alloy color fixes | Uranium/Plutonium/Unobtainium alloys should keep looks after type changes |
Prestige interaction
After your first 3-Medal reset, install Ore Upgrader so cheap surface ores climb tiers before smelting. Alloying upgraded bars multiplies the Upgrader’s effect. Do not prestige-reset mid-alloy rebuild without a screenshot of your belt plan — machines wipe, knowledge does not.
Related pages
- Circuit and Electronics
- Factory Layout
- Machines Tier List
- Machines Reference
- Factory Chain Reference
- Updates Hub — Alloy Furnace appearance fixes in v0.5.0
Master alloys before chasing $4.5M assemblers — tempered alloy bars are the mid-game paycheck that funds everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
How much does the Alloy Furnace cost?
About $100K in the Build Shop. Buy it after a stable smelter-to-sell line exists.
Can I alloy two of the same bars?
Yes. Same-type or mixed bars both work. You cannot feed an alloy bar back into another Alloy Furnace.
Should I temper before or after alloying?
Often temper only one input, then temper the alloy output again for extra value. Test both if your belt space is tight.
Do alloys feed Power Cores?
Indirectly. Superconductor Constructor needs an alloy bar plus ceramic casing; Power Core Assembler then combines that with electromagnets and casings.
Is Alloy Furnace required before prestige?
Not required, but it speeds the $80M / 3-Medal target. Most efficient mid-game plots run alloys before the first prestige.