Refined StorageSimpler alternative to AE2 — FE-powered ME-style network, no channels
About
The AE2 alternative many players prefer for its simpler infrastructure. Same idea — disks of items, terminals to access, auto-crafting via Crafter blocks — but powered by Forge Energy (no Energy Cells needed; runs off any FE source). No channels means you can branch cables arbitrarily. Lower throughput than AE2 at top tier, but vastly simpler to design. Refined Storage adds a powered storage network for items and fluids. A basic network uses a Controller, Disk Drive, Storage Disk, Cable, and Grid or Crafting Grid; larger setups add Importers, Exporters, External Storage, Wireless Transmitters, and Autocrafters.
Getting started
Make a Controller first if energy is enabled, then add a Disk Drive, 1k Storage Disk, and Grid. Early materials are mined or crafted: iron, copper, redstone, quartz for Quartz Enriched Iron/Copper, and Nether Quartz smelted into Silicon. There is no dedicated in-game guide item; use EMI/JEI for recipes and the official Getting Started docs.
What you can do
- Store items on 1k, 4k, 16k, and 64k Storage Disks or equivalent Storage Blocks.
- Store fluids with 64B, 256B, 1024B, and 4096B Fluid Storage Disks.
- Connect chests, drawers, and other inventories with External Storage and set insert/extract priority.
- Move items with Importers, Exporters, Interfaces, Disk Interfaces, Constructors, and Destructors.
- Encode Patterns in a Pattern Grid and run them in Autocrafters, tracked by an Autocrafting Monitor.
- Use a Wireless Transmitter with Wireless Grid or Wireless Crafting Grid, and link areas with Network Transmitter/Network Receiver.
Endgame goals
A top-tier setup has multiple powered Controllers, Disk Drives full of 64k Storage Disks, large fluid storage, Wireless Grids, and remote links through Network Transmitters. The main automation layer is Pattern Grid plus many Autocrafters with Speed Upgrades, managed through an Autocrafter Manager and monitored with Autocrafting Monitors.
Integrations with other AYN mods
- Mekanism — optional integration adds chemical storage disks/blocks, chemical import/export, and chemical processing patterns.
- EMI — recipe transfer into Crafting Grid and Pattern Grid, R/U key support, and search synchronization.
- Just Enough Items — recipe lookup and transfer support for Refined Storage GUIs.
- Functional Storage — External Storage can expose drawer inventories to the RS network.
- Sophisticated Storage — External Storage can read and write upgraded chests and barrels.
- Powah — common FE source for keeping Controller networks powered.
Tutorials & resources
- Modrinth — Refined Storage
- YouTube — search "Refined Storage minecraft tutorial"
- Official docs — https://refinedmods.com/refined-storage/
- Official autocrafting guide — https://refinedmods.com/refined-storage/guides/getting-started-with-autocrafting.html
- Direwolf20 — YouTube mod spotlights and pack playthroughs covering RS basics and automation.
- ChosenArchitect — YouTube ATM-style playthroughs with Refined Storage storage rooms and autocrafting.