Elements & Categories

Basic Elements

• Sand: Basic powder that falls and piles up
• Water: Flows and interacts with other elements, can evaporate when heated
• Fire: Burns flammable materials and spreads, requires fuel to continue
• Wood: Can be burned and supports plant growth
• Stone/Wall: Solid structures that don't easily break down
• Dirt: Foundation for plants, can become wet dirt when watered
• Lava: Melts materials and ignites flammable elements, cools into stone

Element Categories

• Solids: Static elements that don't move unless acted upon
• Powders: Granular materials that fall and form piles
• Liquids: Flow and take the shape of their container
• Gases: Rise upward and disperse throughout open spaces
• Life: Plants, seeds, and living organisms that grow and evolve
• Explosives: Elements that create powerful reactions
• Electricity: Conductors, insulators, and electrical components
• Special: Unique elements with specialized behaviors

Advanced Mechanics

Temperature System

Every element has a temperature that affects its behavior and interactions:

• Heat Transfer: Elements exchange heat with neighboring elements
• State Changes: Materials can melt, freeze, evaporate, or condense based on temperature
• Heat Tool: Increases temperature of targeted area
• Cool Tool: Decreases temperature of targeted area
• Temperature Visualization: Enable in options menu to see heat distribution

Chemical Reactions

• Water + Fire: Creates steam and extinguishes fire
• Acid + Materials: Dissolves most elements on contact
• Salt + Water: Creates salt water, which can evaporate to form salt crystals
• Oil + Fire: Creates longer-lasting flames
• Sugar + Water: Creates sugar water solution

Plant Growth

• Seeds: Planted in dirt/wet dirt, grow into plants with adequate conditions
• Trees: Oak and birch trees grow from their respective saplings
• Grass: Spreads across dirt surfaces and can be burned
• Roots: Absorb water to sustain plant growth

Special Tools & Features

Specialized Tools

• Eraser: Removes elements from the grid
• Move Tool: Shifts elements without changing their properties
• Sponge Tool: Absorbs liquids in the target area
• Extinguish Tool: Puts out fires without adding water
• Grind Tool: Breaks solid materials into powder form
• Mix Tool: Blends compatible elements together
• Cook Tool: Applies heat to food items, creating cooked versions

Electrical Elements

• Copper: Conducts electricity and can oxidize over time
• Wire: Transmits electrical signals through circuits
• Battery: Provides power source for electrical components
• Spark: Initiates electrical flow and can ignite flammable materials
• Heater/Cooler: Electrical components that modify temperature
• Input/Output: Create logic gates and control systems

Save/Load System

Preserve your creations for later use:

• Quick Save: Stores current state temporarily
• Named Saves: Create multiple saved states with custom names
• Export/Import: Share your creations with others via files
• Download Offline: Save the game as a standalone HTML file

Advanced Tips & Techniques

Building Effective Structures

• Reinforced Walls: Use steel or stone for heat-resistant barriers
• Water Reservoirs: Create contained areas to store liquids
• Pressure Systems: Use gravity and liquid flow to create machines
• Heat Management: Insulate explosive or volatile materials

Performance Optimization

• Grid Size: Smaller grids perform better on slower devices
• Element Quantity: Large amounts of liquids/gases impact performance most
• Lighting Effects: Disable DSPLE lighting for improved performance
• Simulation Speed: Lower speeds are easier for the physics engine to process

Keyboard Shortcuts

• 1-9 Keys: Quick select first 9 elements in toolbar
• E: Select eraser tool
• Q: Increase brush size
• A: Decrease brush size
• P: Pause/Resume simulation
• C: Clear entire grid
• F: Toggle FPS display

Mod Support

Extend Sandbox Delta with community-created modifications:

• Custom Elements: Add new materials with unique properties
• Behavior Scripts: Modify how elements interact
• Visual Themes: Change the appearance of the simulation
• Import/Export: Share mods with the community