How To Use Equipment To Create Great Games, Part 9: Trigger Power-Ups

5 min readMay 23, 2025

We’re breaking down some of the many uses of the On-Equip feature in this 11-part series.

Welcome back with another entry in our ongoing series exploring the power of The Sandbox Game Maker’s “On-Equip” feature.

For those new to the series, On-Equip is a versatile tool that enhances Player experiences by allowing items to trigger specific actions or effects when equipped. By integrating On-Equip mechanics, creators can introduce new levels of interactivity, making gameplay more dynamic and engaging.

In this installment, we’ll dive into how creators can use On-Equip to trigger Power-Ups.

Ready to learn more? Update to the latest version of Game Maker and prepare to see what’s possible with On-Equip!

This article is part four of an 11-part series about using On-Equip. To read more, click one of the links below:

Using Equipment to Trigger Power-Ups

Power-Ups are a classic game mechanic that temporarily or permanently enhance Player abilities. By using the On-Equip feature, Players can receive gear that improves their attack power, speed, damage resistance, or health regeneration, creating new layers of strategy and progression in your game.

Imagine a scenario where a Player is struggling against powerful enemies. Equipping a special sword could boost their attack power, or wearing enchanted boots might increase their speed. This system gives Players more control over their character’s development and rewards exploration and decision-making.

This kind of mechanic is common in many game types, but it is especially popular in RPGs. Players often collect different types of equipment for different in-game scenarios, such as boss battles, where more power, speed, or health might be needed.

How This Could Appear in Your Game or Experience

Players may encounter Power-Ups in several ways:

Exploring the World: Items could be hidden in treasure chests, scattered throughout dungeons, or earned through exploration.
Defeating Enemies: Certain powerful foes might drop unique gear that boosts attributes when equipped.
Completing Quests: Power-Ups could be rewards for completing specific missions or challenges.
Purchasing from Shops: Players could buy items from in-game merchants or craft equipment that grants special abilities.

Regardless of how they acquire the gear, once equipped, the benefits should be immediately apparent, allowing the Player to continue their adventure with newfound strength. Attributes that can currently be affected using Power-Ups include:

Health — Able to heal or damage the Player.
Attack Power — Can increase or decrease attack damage.
Damage Resistance — The Player can take less or more damage.
Oxygen — Speeds up or slows down how fast oxygen is used.
Speed — Can slow down or speed up the Player.

Stay tuned for additional attributes that may be able to receive Power-Ups.

How to Implement

Start by creating the equipment item. Ensure the item is collectible and set an “On-Equip” message. This message will be used in the Rule System to trigger the “buff” when the item is equipped. “Buff” refers to the positive status effect or change that enhances equipment, making it stronger or more effective. In this context, when we say “buff,” we are referring to the equipment’s Power-Ups. The two terms can be used interchangeably.

Next, set up a Message Rule in the Rule System. Create a “Send Message” rule, selecting the On-Equip message from the equipment. If you want multiple pieces of gear to trigger different effects, set up different check messages accordingly.

Once the message rule is in place, apply Power-Ups to the equipment. The On-Equip feature can currently affect several attributes, including health, attack power, damage resistance, oxygen depletion rate, and speed. When setting these attributes, they will be highlighted in the message system, allowing you to fine-tune the effects to match your game’s needs.

After applying Power-Ups, test your game to ensure that the effects are triggered correctly when items are equipped. Adjust the parameters as needed to maintain game balance and ensure a smooth experience for Players.

If you want Power-Ups to last indefinitely rather than for a limited time, implement a timer system. Set a timer variable to :00 seconds and create a timer rule with a countdown. When the timer reaches zero, send a message to reset the attribute to its buffed state. Loop the process by linking the timer message back to the attribute adjustment. This ensures that the Power-Up remains active as long as the Player has the item equipped.

For health regeneration effects, use the timer method to restore health at intervals, such as adding +10 health every 10 seconds. Make sure the effect persists while the item is equipped, ensuring that the regeneration mechanic functions correctly in gameplay.

For more detailed information, check out the GitBook.

Potential Uses for Power-Ups

You’re faced with a quest that calls for a fast completion time. If you are unable to collect all of the tasks in the given time, you will put the villagers at risk. To make sure you complete the quest quickly, you first equip your Boots of Great Speed, allowing you to move faster than ever before.

Or, you’ve come across the Helmet of Restoration, allowing you to survive passage through a lava pit on your journey to save the queen!

After saving the queen and slaying the dragon, you pick up the armor he dropped and equip it, becoming much stronger, allowing you to protect the kingdom you’ve just saved.

Unleash Your Creativity with On-Equip

Power-Ups offer a world of possibilities, allowing you to create exciting game worlds that Players keep revisiting. By strategically utilizing the many On-Equip mechanics, you can introduce new layers of interactivity and immersion into your creations.

Get started today and discover the transformative potential of the On-Equip feature in shaping your gaming experiences in The Sandbox.