Planet-X Elixir Guide: Costs, Vials, and Refill Stations
By Murtagh9050 • Updated September 2026
Elixir powers almost everything you do in a hunt: scanning for crates, firing weapons, using gadgets, riding the hoverboard, and holding your shield. Run out at the wrong moment and your options disappear.
This guide covers exactly what things cost, how to get elixir back, and how to plan your spending so you never get caught empty.
New to Planet-X? Start with the Beginner's Guide and Top 5 Mistakes New Players Make.
The Short Version
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Your elixir bar holds 100.
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The scanner and hoverboard each drain 2.5 per second, about 40 seconds from full. The shield drains 1.2 per second, about 83 seconds.
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Big-ticket items (Launcher, Shockwave, gadgets, hoverboard boost) cost 15 to 20 each, so a full bar gets you only 5 or 6 uses.
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You can bring 5 vials into a match, and you can loot 1 more from a player you eliminate if they haven't spent all of theirs.
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Keep about 30 elixir in reserve, enough for 12 seconds of hoverboard or 25 seconds of shield.
What uses Elixir
Three things stand out once you see the numbers side by side:
1. Scanning is your hidden cost. It drains as fast as the hoverboard, 2.5 per second. You can only scan for 40 seconds before you need an elixir refill!
2. Assault Rifle and SMG are cheap. Sniper and Launcher are not. The AR and SMG cost 0.4 per shot, about 250 shots from a full bar. A Sniper shot costs 10, so a full bar is only 10 shots. The Launcher and Shockwave cost 20 each, so 5 uses.
3. Gadgets add up fast. Ground Shield and Smoke Bomb cost 15. Reposition Chip, Tracer Drone, and Decoy cost 20. Two gadgets and a boost can take half your bar. Choosing your loadout is partly an elixir decision, so read Gadgets before you go in.
The knife and knife throw cost nothing.
How to Restore Elixir in Planet-X
You have two ways to get elixir back during a hunt: elixir vials and refill stations.
🧪 Elixir Vials (Emergency Recovery)
You can bring 5 vials into a match. Each one is single use and refills you to full in about 1 second. If you use each one at empty, that's up to six full bars of elixir in a hunt.
You can also loot vials. When you eliminate another player, you can take 1 vial from them, as long as they haven't spent all of theirs. A win can restock you, but don't plan around it. A player who fought hard has often used their vials already, so there may be nothing to take.
Use a vial when:
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You have to finish a fight and don't have enough elixir to do it
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You're extracting with valuable loot and can't risk running dry
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You're trapped or pressured and need a full reset to get out
Don't use a vial when:
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You've just dropped below 50%. That's comfort spending, not strategic spending.
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A refill station is nearby and nobody is pressuring you.
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You could disengage instead.
With five vials, you can afford to use them sooner than when the limit was lower. But each vial you spend early is one you won't have in the last 30 seconds before extraction. Decide in advance how many you'll spend before you find a prize, and how many you're holding for the exit.
⚡ Elixir Refill Stations
Each map has several refill stations (usually 3 to 4, sometimes more). To refill, stand on the station and stay on it. You regenerate about 12.5 elixir per second, so a full refill from empty takes about 8 seconds. You can't use your weapons while refilling.
That's a long time to stand on the station. Use a station when:
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You've cleared nearby enemies
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You're in a low-traffic area
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You have natural cover
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You're between scanning cycles, not in the middle of pressure
Know where the stations are on your map before you need one. Finding one while empty and being chased is how hunts end.
Elixir Through a Hunt
1. While scanning.
Scan with a plan. Scan in a spot you're willing to stay in, then move. Never scan down to your reserve. If you're near it, stop and either refill or go find a safer spot.
2. Before a fight.
Ask whether the fight is worth the price. If it isn't blocking your path or threatening your extraction, skip it. Read Should You Avoid Fights in Planet-X? and use the Engagement Optimizer to decide when to engage and when to run.
3. On the way to extraction.
This is where your reserve pays off. You'll want elixir for the hoverboard, your shield, and possibly a gadget. If you're carrying a valuable prize, use a vial rather than take a risk. See the Extraction guide.
Common Elixir Mistakes
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Scanning constantly without a plan. At 2.5 per second, this is the biggest drain most players don't notice.
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Using the hoverboard casually. It's for escapes and extraction, not for saving a few seconds of walking.
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Firing without a reason. Every shot costs elixir, and it adds up even with cheap weapons.
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Spending vials on comfort. Dropping under 50% is not an emergency.
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Spending everything before you find a prize. Then you're stuck with no way to get out.
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Standing on a refill station in the open. You can't use weapons while refilling.
When to Spend Elixir Aggressively
Sometimes it's right to spend. Do it on purpose when:
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You've secured valuable prizes and need to extract
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You're being pressured and must escape immediately
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An enemy has a prize you want
Spending is fine. Panic spending is what gets you killed.
Next Steps
Once you’re comfortable managing Elixir, you’ll notice:
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Fewer panic deaths
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More successful extractions
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Better decision-making under pressure
If you haven’t already, read:
Both pair perfectly with mastering Elixir.
Ready to play seriously? Read the Ultimate Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much elixir do you have in Planet-X?
Your bar holds 100.
- How many elixir vials can you bring into a match?
Five. You can also loot 1 more from a player you eliminate, if they still have at least one.
- How fast does the hoverboard drain elixir?
2.5 per second, so about 40 seconds from a full bar.
- Does scanning use elixir?
Yes, at 2.5 per second. That's about 40 seconds from full.
- How long does the shield last?
About 83 seconds of continuous use, since it drains 1.2 per second.
- How much does the Sniper cost per shot?
10 elixir per shot, so 10 shots from a full bar. The Assault Rifle and SMG cost 0.4 per shot.
- How much do gadgets cost?
Ground Shield and Smoke Bomb cost 15. Reposition Chip, Tracer Drone, and Decoy cost 20.
- How fast can I refill elixir?
A vial takes about 1 second. A refill station regenerates about 12.5 per second, roughly 8 seconds from empty, but you can't use weapons while refilling.
- What happens if I run out of elixir?
You lose access to everything that costs elixir. Only the knife and knife throw are free. That's why we recommend keeping about 30 in reserve.
- Are these numbers official?
No. They're based on in-game testing and can change with game updates. We update this page when they do.
Final Tip
You don't need perfect aim to succeed early in Planet-X. You need to know what things cost, keep a reserve, and spend vials on purpose. Do that and you'll extract more often.