Wall Mode changes placement, not selection
A normal Filter is drawn like a conveyor surface. Wall Mode produces a vertical boundary across a moving or falling material stream. Current community reports describe it as useful where a horizontal Filter would reshape or slow the route. The material rule stays independent: Allow or Block decides what crosses; Wall Mode decides how the Filter is placed.
Switch and place Wall Mode
- Select the Filter tool
The shortcut applies while placing Filters, not while holding an unrelated tool.
- Read the shortcut hint
Look at the lower-left controls in case R has been rebound.
- Press R once
Current players report that this switches conveyor and wall placement.
- Inspect the ghost preview
Do not infer success from the keypress alone; the preview should show the intended orientation.
- Place a short test segment
Wall Mode naturally stretches vertically. Current players report that horizontal wall sections may need individual placement or copied columns.
- Configure Allow or Block
Choose the crossing stream, release a small sample, and watch both sides.
| Control | Changes | Does not change | Completion check |
|---|---|---|---|
| R / placement mode | Conveyor-style versus wall-style structure | Selected material | The ghost preview has the intended orientation. |
| Allow or Block | Which selected solid crosses | Wall geometry | Samples reach both planned exits. |
| Drag direction and length | Where the structure is built | Selected rule | No unfiltered gap remains. |
| Symptom | Check | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| R appears to do nothing | Is the Filter tool selected, and is the binding remapped? | Select it again, use the displayed binding, and test in open space. |
| The preview changes but the result is horizontal | Was the placement drawn along the wrong axis? | Cancel and place a short vertical segment. |
| The wall is vertical but the wrong material crosses | Is Allow or Block reversed? | Reconfigure the Filter instead of toggling R. |
| Material leaks around the wall | Is there an end gap or adjoining corner gap? | Extend or seal the boundary and retest with a shallow feed. |
| Material reaches the wall and stops | Is the crossing cell or destination blocked? | Clear the far side and provide an exit. |
Update record
- 2026-08-21 — Replaced an unrelated Reddit URL with the current Wall Mode PSA.
- 2026-08-21 — Added placement-axis checks and separated Wall Mode from Filter selection.
Frequently asked questions
What key switches Filter Wall Mode?
Current Early Access players repeatedly report R while the Filter building tool is selected. This is community cross-checked rather than supported by a dedicated official control page, and a remapped binding may differ.
Why does R work but the material takes the wrong route?
R changes placement orientation, not Allow or Block. Check the wall preview first, then reopen the Filter configuration and confirm which stream should cross.