How to Beat Every Bot in Scrap Mechanic
A practical field guide to the enemy roster, the weapons that actually work, and the 1.0 combat changes.
Why combat matters even for builders
Survival Mode is a builder first, but you cannot build anything if the bots flatten your base at dawn. Combat is a small but essential part of the loop: most engagements are short, decisive, and reward preparation. This page covers every enemy you can meet in the 1.0 chapter, plus the weapons that counter them.
The enemy roster
Surface bots
- Totebot — Cardboard-look scout. Two sledgehammer hits. Stops chasing once you break line of sight for 5 seconds.
- Haybot — Orange farmer with a pitchfork. Throws hay bales for 25 damage each at medium range. Resistant to blunt weapons; vulnerable to fire and Spud rounds.
- Tapebot — Tape-themed sniper. Deals 60+ damage from across the map, hiding behind warehouse walls. Use smoke or peek-corners to bait shots.
- Farmbot — The boss-tier enemy. Drops Warehouse Keys on death. Slow, heavily armoured, and the 1.0 patch added a charge attack that closes distance quickly.
- Red Totebot — A rebalanced 1.0 variant with more HP and a self-destruct on melee. Watch your radar.
Drilling Thunder additions
- Cablebot — Spawns near power lines in the underground. Fires shock procs that disable vehicles. Keep distance and finish with a Connad.
- Minerbot — Slow but extremely tough. Use the new Plasma Drill at range or bait it into collapsing tunnels.
- Trash Bot — Boss fight that takes place on warehouse rooftops. Bring three of every ammo type and pre-place cover blocks before you trigger the encounter.
Weapons in the current meta
| Weapon | Range | Damage | Best against |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sledgehammer | Melee | High | Totebots, wall repairs |
| Spud Gun | Medium | Medium | Farmbots, Haybots |
| Spud Shotgun | Short | High | Tapebots, indoor defence |
| Spudling Gun | Short | Medium | Trash Bot adds |
| Connad | Medium | Area | Clusters, Haybots |
| Spud Launcher | Long | High + fire | Trees, base clearing |
| Plasma Drill | Long | Highest | Minerbots, endgame bosses |
| Fire Extinguisher | Short | Utility | Self-extinguish and fire walls |
Weapon crafting recipes are listed on the recipes and crafting page.
Combat tips the community swears by
- Always carry a sledgehammer. It is the cheapest weapon and one-shots Totebots.
- Pair a Spud Gun with a sniper seat for safe Farmbot kills. Build the seat on a 3-block tall pillar and bots cannot reach you.
- Use the controllers system to wire turrets to motion sensors — you can take a coffee break while the bots aggro onto a wall of bullets.
- Carry a Fire Extinguisher at all times. Spud Launcher splash damage is real and your own creations will burn.
How combat changed in 1.0
Drilling Thunder rebalanced raid aggression, slowed down Haybot projectile spam, and introduced a new armour system for Farmbots. The first shot no longer staggers them — you need to either hit the exposed back plate or chain two Spud Guns together.
For advanced tips on integrating combat into your base design, read the defensive base layout guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Which weapon should I craft first?
A Spud Gun. It is the only reliable mid-range weapon for early Farmbot kills and unlocks the rest of the game.
Can bots destroy fully metal bases?
Metal is the strongest building material but it is not indestructible. High-tier waves will whittle it down over a long raid, so always layer your defence.
Do bots path through water?
Totebots and Haybots will path through shallow water but avoid deep pools. Use this to your advantage with moat layouts.
What is the best boss strategy for the Trash Bot?
Build a circular bunker with Spud Guns on every cardinal direction. Keep moving clockwise and let the turrets do the heavy lifting while you repair between phases.