raycast_terrain
Sample MapBuilder terrain height at world (x, y). Returns z (the surface height). Use to place props on the terrain surface.
This record as markdown: /tools/sbox/raycast-terrain.md
What raycast_terrain does on Sbox
AI agents call raycast_terrain to retrieve information from Sbox without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
Why raycast_terrain is rated Low
The tool only samples and returns height data from the terrain. It performs a read-only spatial query and does not modify any game state, place objects, or trigger any external operations.
From the tool's definition 'Sample MapBuilder terrain height at world (x, y). Returns z (the surface height).' — purely queries/reads terrain data with no side effects
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs raycast_terrain safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Sbox, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For raycast_terrain, this is the rule to start with:
raycast_terrain is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Sbox, apply this rule, and every raycast_terrain call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about raycast_terrain
Sample MapBuilder terrain height at world (x, y). Returns z (the surface height). Use to place props on the terrain surface. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Sbox MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Sbox MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for raycast_terrain: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Sbox. Nothing to install.
raycast_terrain is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the raycast_terrain rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for raycast_terrain. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
raycast_terrain is provided by the Sbox MCP server (sbox-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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